HELP - unlevel behind, other symptoms - advice needed!!!

[Hollyanna]

Just looking for other peoples experiences….My mare doesn't track up evenly behind, mainly in walk when ridden. she isn't lame, but its very obvious she isn't tracking up as evenly with both hind legs in walk. She's sound in trot, however if I do quite a lot of flat with her (e.g. I ride two tests at a competition) by the time she is ready for the second test she can become very tight and choppy in front and become a bit stilted, like she is trying to canter all the time.

I haven't had the vet up yet as i know they will just tell me to rest her and see how it goes….. and she isn't lame, so i worry i am just being paranoid!! she isn't actually lame, just not quite right. There are some other things, which may or may not relate to this…. she is a little cold backed (particularly if clipped out) and has been for a number of years, and is very sensitive about the type of saddle i use on her, i have to walk her a few minutes after putting saddle on as she walks like a crab, this stops after a couple of minutes. Recently i have noticed she is eating the trees in the field (not poisonous) and her legs have recently filled when kept in (which they have never done before)… and she does wee quite a bit. In the last year she can be quite stuffy when i get on her (however i put this down to being stiff from coming in with all this rain!). She always wee's after i have ridden and never poo's whilst i am riding.

I am just wondering if anyone has a similar experience to this. She isn't lame, i would say tight. I am wondering if its possibly a hormonal problem or kidneys or something which makes her tight - my friends mare had a lump on her ovaries which caused stallion like behaviour, but wondering something like this?

She has had tack checked, teeth and back done recently and her temperature is normal. The back lady says she has tight hamstrings behind but this is regularly treated, so don't think its this…..

any ideas very welcome!

 

[Dottie]

Didn't want to read and run. She does sound quite uncomfortable from what you describe. It would probably be worth having a vet out to check her over. I know what it's like worrying about them and at least with a vets opinion you'll know where you are. Good luck

 

[stencilface]

My boy used to, maybe still does, stride unevenly behind and he had proximal suspensory desmitis in one hind. I had him treated a few times by a chiro to help with any associated sacro problems and the psd was treated with shockwave therapy and box rest

 

[Shay]

Something is clearly wrong. I don't think you're going to have much option but to get the vet out. I presume your back person would have spotted a physical issue. You might want a blood test to check other functions; liver, kidneys etc.

 

[Primitive Pony]

My horse had/has a few similar issues, particularly not tracking up properly on one hindleg - had physio see him and nothing identified (apart from tight hamstrings) - treated and dealt with but it recurred, along with two instructors who didn't think there was anything recognisable, eventually diagnosed by vets with SI problems and hind suspensory problems. I put off calling vets and should have got them straight away I suspect - so my advice is to get it all checked out, assuming you are insured.

 

[soulfull]

i too would be calling the vet. s
does sound like suspensory (I seem to be saying that a lot lately)

 

[paulineh]

It sounds as if there is a minor tying up. This sounds like a muscular problem.

There are 2 things I would do after a vet has ruled out any problems.

1) Is the horse on magnesium , this year has been bad for magnesium depletion and magnesium is needed for muscle and never function.

2) I would ask your physio to teach you some stretching exercises also my Chiropractor gave me a tip, I use a muscle rub (Human) and massage the muscles this helps to warm them up.

The equilibium massage pad is very useful. My horses get a good session of stretching 2-3 times a week.

The only other thing I know that can cause a gated type of movement is a gut problem (Ulcers) try giving him some think like Rennies tablets.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would be wanting a work up from an equine vet and probably input from a ACPAT physio preferably one who is used to working with the vet I chose.
On the dipping down when mounting IME this is almost always a symptom of something not nice .
The two last saw one had bone spavins and the other has suspensory issues in the hocks .
You need diagnosis the longer you work like this the less chance there is you can do something about it.
The things you describe are normal things you see with horses where something is going wrong .

 

[Birker2020]

I would be wanting a work up from an equine vet and probably input from a ACPAT physio preferably one who is used to working with the vet I chose..

I agree with the above, you deffo need a lameness work up. My post that I have put about my horse being lame (incidentally sorry to hijack post but please can someone look at my video???) I have decided to get a lameness work up otherwise the horse will go sound again and then lame and sound and lame and its no good worrying myself and potentially hiding something, if there is something that can be done.

Sometimes getting a diagnosis, even if its not what you want can be a nightmare!

 

[LouiseG]

Vet definitely and then physio!! If there is something wrong you want it dealing with quickly!