Hind Leg always stretched out to the back

[mrs27mk]

hello,
we recently rescued a 16 year old haflinger mare. I don't know nothing about her past ,however she had an eye injury that can't be fixed anymore so she is scheduled for surgery to be taken out. her eye injury is on the right side. I lately noticed also that she always resting her right hind leg all the way out backward, I will attach a picture. in the picture is not as extreme as she normally does it. what could be the reason for this? the previous owner also told me that she didn't noticed the horse doing it much in the summer.. we have very cold wyoming winters and she does it on a daily basis when resting...

 

[milliepops]

My wobbler stands like this sometimes. Is it similar? With him its a proprioception thing, he doesn't really know he's left his leg there
though if she always chooses to stand like it I would think it more likely to be relieving pain.

 

[mrs27mk]

yes that's how she is always resting

 

[Tash88]

I am by no means a vet and just basing my response on what I have observed with my horse and subsequent research online. Could she be in some gastric discomfort if she is always stretching her right hind out? Hind gut discomfort can show on the right hind side, so she could be stretching that leg out to relieve discomfort.

How is she in herself, is she showing any other signs?

My horse was standing more like this a week or so ago when he was in some discomfort, now he is a bit better he is standing more normally again.

I don't want to worry you unduly and like I said I am not a vet, just offering an opinion. Best wishes with her.

 

[mrs27mk]

thank you very much for the reply. I have been doing some research and came across the gastric discomfort as well. she is eating fine , other then that she is moving fine , doesn't seem to have any other issues or signs of issues I should say. I was also wondering if it maybe has something to do with the eye injury she has on the same side. maybe collided with something on that specific side that made her have the eye injury in the first place ?since I don't have any info on how it happen in the first place ?

 

[Hackback]

When she walks off does she move normally or does the leg 'click' back into place?

 

[mrs27mk]

she walks off normally

 

[ycbm]

I have a horse coming up six who has always done it. My vet says not to worry if he does it with either leg. My physio says if there is an issue it will be with the stifle joint.

If it's only ever the right hind then I would suspect either the right stifle or the hindgut.