Hind leg stiffness (help)

karabella

karabella

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Hi everyone i'm knew to all this here we go, i have a mare approx 5/7 yr old i got her unknown in foal (bought from field) she's had her foal weaned off around 6wk ago and been in work since hacking/flatwork pretty much everyday last sunday i did some flatwork and a couple of small jumps then walked her up the lane we pass the field where the other horses are i asked her to trot she went towards the gate and did a little buck thought nothing of it sometimes has a paddy near field carried on asked again little buck so walked rest of way i had a lesson on her on the tues after still doin bucks when asking for trot instructor said cause she in season just being moody so persevered, nxt day buck again every other stride got instructor back out to help me handle her still said cause of season anyway i thought more to it she looked stiff on one hind leg when i asked someone else to ride her so got vet out she did flexion tests etc nothing found just said muscle wastage on back end she checked when a rider got on the stiffness more prominent and dragging her toe so she's give her bute for ten days and told me to keep her on turn out and no riding, up to now she still looks stiff 4 days in and noticed today when going downhill to the field her hock looked sticky in movement anyone any ideas what it could be i wasn't supposed to be keeping this mare has not suited to me.
 
That is one long sentence! ;)

My boy gets fat legs and stiff at the hock - i feed him glucosemine. If I leave him in fat legs due to circulation and leave him out and fat legs from to much protein in grass.

Do her hocks click?
 
Hi her hocks don't click and there is no swelling or heat there was nothing obvious when vet checked other than stiffness shorting her stride and dragging her toe so on bute/turnout for 10 days and had toes rolled has suggested by vet i'm wondering if i've done to much to soon no experience of foals or bringing horses back into work (just returning to riding after a long break) or whether it could have been a previous underlying problem that's why she was cheap besides being pregnant.
 
The foal was 4mths the vet said he was ready to be weaned he was very independent and she was starting to kick him off she been back in work around 6wk been walking/trotting schoolwork hacking the odd canter till now when i thought i'd try a couple of jumps
 
My baby was weaned at 4months - mums milk was so rich.

Hmmm it's a tricky one.

IMO majority broodmares are mares that are broken! Healthy mares with normally leg problems.
She could have a old injury that as she's got fit and built back into work it's triggered and the outcome she's stiff and continues to get lame/worse the more you do - but that's more older horses. Until you x ray or ultra sound and nerve block her legs your not going to be able to tell. And therefore no if you can fix it.
I would follow vet advise and see if she walks it of in the next 10 days.

If it was just the bucking I would say check saddle and back - or could just be being a missy as your asking her to work and build muscle and its sore.

Could just be a few different issues that are unrelated. I wish you luck with her.
 
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because the vets advised turnout not box rest would i be able to take her for walks i know i can't ride her but just wondered if walking aswell would help any:)
thank's for the quick replies xx
 
I can't see why not. I don't really know. I doubt it will make it worse but I don't think it would help either.

Normally when stiff you would walk them - does she wander round her field?

I think if you want to spend time with her bring her in give her a groom and take her for a munch on the good grass. Maybe try and say on soft ground.
 
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If foal was only 4months & she's come back into what sounds like a lot of work for a mare that's just had a foal it is possible that she's strained something. And assuming from her age that prior to pregnancy she wouldn't have done much its all new to her body physically, as well as the fact imo she's probably not fit enough for jumping yet. Especially with the bucking. If the vet can't find anything wrong with her leg I'd ask for a referal to a back specialist.
 
Littlelegs is right. Also she may have a very weak core. Look on YouTube at activating your horses inner core.

I did 3 months of walk trot, long and low, lunging and hacking and long reining before I even cantered when I bought my broodmare back into work. Don't rush - you have loads time and shell make a better horse in the long term.
 
the vet was saying about x rays would you get this done what is the cost involved she is insured or get a back specialist 1st i wasn't planning on keeping her has she's not the family horse i was hoping for,the story i got with her is that she came from ireland and had a foal previous they said she still had milk bags when they got her i put an ad on preloved for any history and found out she was for sale last september for £2000 more than i paid for her has a wh pony pics of her jumping then on ads so could be old injury reocurring maybe? managed to trace them the girl said she was brill in all respects she just didn't feel suited to her otherwise she'd have bought her
 
I would say if you was jumped to early then her hinds could be damaged.
My old mare won the 5yo FEI championship - her tendons where torn to pieces. As long as she wasn't asked to jump or extend she was sound. Poor girl had no live after 6years old - jumping to big to soon. She's a baby maker now.

If insured I'd wait till your 11 days and then call the vet to re visit. If no better then x ray and ultra sound. Then nerve block. But your looking at about £3k. Well that's what it cost me.
 
Sounds likes she's been passed around - poor little lady. Ptob because a injury or because her buck! Maybe that's why she's a broodmare.
 
mmmm suppose is poss injury was already there she was defo jumping end of last year and she would have been pregnant then and had foal previous to that so people i bought her off said they also said she was poor condition when they got her and was adament they didn't know she was pregnant and she had been in field and they thought she just got fat , they had bought her for riding school supposedly so guess she not had time to build up at all they had shipped her to a dealer they knew to try sell her last sept
 
old injury sounds plausable
did vet discus it possibly being a hormone problem? how often is she having seasons? could her ovaries be sore?
some of them will have damage after foaling and if the vet feels there is muscle wastage it sounds like she may have had the problem for weeks/months possibly longer. maybe she has just got some sore muscled that need some attention but i agre 6wks walk work after foaling and then build up trot work slowly
 
vet didn't mention bucks being related to season just said she is a stroppy mare and seems a bit green she run her hand down her back and leg and was no reaction from her well i say none she kicked out at vet but she is funny with back legs when doesn't know you, she ok with me. i'd checked with my instructor been coming to yard years he was ok giving her lessons and said she'd be ok to do the odd jump trusted his opinion he more experienced than me
 
walked bella in yesterday for her bute leg still looks stiff and noticed when she walked downhill her hock wasn't always smooth movement it looked clicky no noise/heat/swelling still last day of bute tomorrow:confused:
 
littlelegs said:
If foal was only 4months & she's come back into what sounds like a lot of work for a mare that's just had a foal it is possible that she's strained something. And assuming from her age that prior to pregnancy she wouldn't have done much its all new to her body physically, as well as the fact imo she's probably not fit enough for jumping yet. Especially with the bucking.
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This

Tinsel Trouble said:
I would suggest you've done a bit too much too soon! I would start with 6-8 weeks of light hacking before you even consider lessons! You need a basic level of fitness and muscle and ligament strength before you can ask her to hold herself in a lesson.
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This, also.

karabella said:
it looked clicky
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:confused:
 
There is also the possibility that she incurred nerve damage whilst giving birth and without suitable time off work....... say to rear her foal to around 6 months old, you could possibly be doing more damage
 
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