Growing pains in youngster?

[Mitchyden]

Can young horses get growing pains?

I've got a five year old Arab who has been going really well but over the last couple of months she has starting losing a back leg whilst walking along. She isn't worked hard but does three days a week hacking and two schooling, she has also done four pleasure rides.

She is a very lazy horse and seems particularly worse when she's having a really sluggish day, she is ok coming down hills and in fact motors down them, but not so good going up them which could be because she's bone idle! Occasionally her back end goes when I turn her tight getting her out of her stable. She has never done it at a trot or canter.

I'm probably a bit paranoid but I bought her for endurance and last year my other competition horse was diagnosed with a bone spavin which has more than likely cut short her endurance career. Of course I'm now concerned that my youngster has a bone spavin.

A couple of people on the yard have said that it could be growing pains and that she's not muscled up properly but of course I'm thinking the worse! Anyone heard of a horse with growing pains?

p.s. Rachel if you read this, don't reply as you know I'm a totally paranoid person!!!!

 

[VioletStripe]

Have you had her looked at by a vet? No idea if youngsters can get growing pains, will be interested to hear! xx

 

[jenz87]

What do you mean by "loosing a back leg", do you mean when they go from standing they drag a back leg a bit? Kind of leaving it behind? If so it will be tying up, probably too much sugar

 

[Mitchyden]

I haven't had her looked at by a vet as she's not actually lame and only does it a few times on a hack. I don't really want to get a vet unless I have to as the last time I did that with another horse, that leg was excluded from insurance apparently because I suspected a problem even though there was nothing wrong in the end!

By losing a back leg I mean it sort of gives way a bit, nothing major but as if it's not locking into place properly. I don't think it can be too much sugar as she's a barefoot horse so I'm particularly anal about the level of sugars she's allowed!

 

[fatpony]

Could it be stifle locking? Difficult to tell from description but basically the leg locks in the extended position. Difficult for.them to get .the.leg.forward.underneath them for.next.step. Can happen with.poor muscle mass. You would need to do.lots of steady hill.work though there is.an.op.that Will help.if iy doesn't resolve.

 

[Cluck]

No horses should not get growing pains! However, if they are going through a growth spurt and get butt high and unbalanced then I would do only very light work for a month or two.

It sounds like your horse may be having stifle or SI issues. It could be related to lack of strength but if it were my horse I'd want it checked by a vet.