Horse can't lift back leg properly - any ideas why?

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Christmas Crumpet

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Happy has been having ongoing treatment by the vet's since Feb for a sore back, spavin etc. He had his off hind hock medicated about 2 months ago and has been in work ever since. He's also had shockwave, H Wave and Cartrophen. He's normally ok about having his back legs picked up but not for too long.

Yesterday he wouldn't pick up his off hind for ages when I went to pick out his feet then he did but would only bring it forward underneath him and every time I tried to lift it behind him as you would to pick out feet, he snatched it back and tried to kick me. Any idea why? This is def. a new symptom and I'm unsure as to what it means. It is very out of the ordinary for him.

He is back to the vets on Tues for more shockwave etc so will leave it till then to ask them seeing as he seems quite happy otu in the field - unless someone tells me his leg is going to fall off or something similar.

Any ideas? Also in NL.
 
Could be something in the opposite foot, completely unrelated to past problems? That's always the first thing I suspect if a horse is reluctant to pick a foot up
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If he's at the vets anyway, I'd ask them to have a look, or ask your farrier to have a look in the meantime (just to rule out bruising/abcess etc).
 
Lifting a hind leg above a certain height causes rotation of the spine; could that be causing the pain if he is happy to have it held under but not out behind. If he's happy to lift the foot with it held under his body it sounds as if it is not the putting of weight on the other hind which is the problem. Would suggest the problem is hock or above - please report back after vet visit so I can see if my detective work is totally wrong!
 
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