Hind leg letting down

[Mylovelygirl]

Hi My lovely girl had a successful tendon sheath operation in her hind leg 18 months ago A few months ago I noticed the same leg began letting her down slightly but recently it has been letting her down more . I have Vet coming but I just wondered if anyone has similar experience.

 

[foxy1]

What do you mean by 'letting her down'?
Is she lame?

 

[Mylovelygirl]

No she is sound. But when I ride or lunge her the leg appears to just give way- in walk and trot but not canter so far

 

[mini_b]

Is it almost like the leg gets left behind? Disappears behind them? Mine did this before arthritic changes were found in hocks and stifles.

He was sound on a hard surface, flexion tests etc but continued to drop a leg sometimes until about 6 months ago where he presented lame on a circle. After investigations he had early signs of changes in his hocks and stifles.

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Thank you mini-b I wouldn’t say it looks like leg gets left behind though. Just more like it collapses momentarily. Problem is it prob it only does about once in half hour so may not do it when vet comes

 

[mini_b]

Mine never did it when the vet came! Annoyingly or not.

Yes - he would maybe only do it once or twice during a schooling session. I think perhaps we are talking about a similar thing.

I stopped working in an arena (weather and light permitting) on the lunge and on small circles and did lots of inhand pole work to help strengthen the stifles.

I would certainly get a vet work up, it could be weakness or it could be an indicator of an underlying issue. Even if the horse doesn’t demonstrate it on the day.

Does your horse do this on a hard surface or an arena surface?
Does it tend to be on a circle?

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Mine never did it when the vet came! Annoyingly or not.

Yes - he would maybe only do it once or twice during a schooling session. I think perhaps we are talking about a similar thing.

I stopped working in an arena (weather and light permitting) on the lunge and on small circles and did lots of inhand pole work to help strengthen the stifles.

I would certainly get a vet work up, it could be weakness or it could be an indicator of an underlying issue. Even if the horse doesn’t demonstrate it on the day.

Does your horse do this on a hard surface or an arena surface?
Does it tend to be on a circle?

She does it out on rides on soft or hard surfaces and in arena but not especilly on a circle. I wasn’t particularly worried as it was only slight and I thought still weak from being out of work but it has been getting worse which is why I have vet coming. Thank you for your reply

 

[mini_b]

She does it out on rides on soft or hard surfaces and in arena but not especilly on a circle. I wasn’t particularly worried as it was only slight and I thought still weak from being out of work but it has been getting worse which is why I have vet coming. Thank you for your reply

Hope you get to the bottom of it!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OP, do come back and update us on how you get on.

 

[Mylovelygirl]

OP, do come back and update us on how you get on.

Will do !

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Vet came today and said she has arthritis in her hock. Injection next week but no X-ray. Should I have asked for one?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Vet came today and said she has arthritis in her hock. Injection next week but no X-ray. Should I have asked for one?

Why did your vet suggest that they suspected hock arthritis? What procedures did they undertake?

What injection?

ETA It might well be hock arthritis, but it could also be other things. A positive diagnosis is always best.

 

[mini_b]

Glad you got the vet out!

Did you do a full work up?
How did they reach that conclusion?

 

[Cortez]

A momentarily "collapsing" hind leg is a classic sign of hock arthritis.

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Trot up on hard ground
Lunge in ménage trot
Steroid injection

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Trot up on hard ground
Lunge in ménage trot
Steroid injection

 

[Mylovelygirl]

And flexion tests

 

[mini_b]

Mine was uninsured, we went straight for injections following a lameness work up due to the “classic” symptoms he was showing.

Rather than investigate further than the flexions/trot up etc and then inject anyway.

Hope you get the result you are looking for!

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Thank you yes we are uninsured also

 

[Ownedby4horses]

Sorry to hear this OP, keep us posted on how things are after the injection. Sorry I don’t have anything more helpful to add. x

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Thank you. I will do

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When mine went lame with occult spavin, his hind leg gave way on every stride, he literally rolled. He had a year off then went back into work when x-rays showed the bones were fusing. He was never lame again but if asked to do a lot of work really using his hocks would occasionally catch a toe.

 

[Mylovelygirl]

Thank you. She is having her hocks injected next week for arthritis but I will def keep this in mind and mention to vet when he comes

 

[Birker2020]

A momentarily "collapsing" hind leg is a classic sign of hock arthritis.

There is a beautiful horse for sale at the moment in my price/height/age/breed range and I clicked on a series of video, (he is jumping xc fences) and on each one I straight away saw his leg was 'leaving him behind', it almost drags through the stride phase, this is classic spavin as my horse did the same and others I have seen have also since been diagnosed with spavin.

Needless to say I will not be paying him a visit, shame though as lovely, lovely horse.