Horse cutting back legs in field

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spotty_pony

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My mare keeps catching her hind fetlocks/pasterns with the opposite hoof. I'm not quite sure how she is managing this but it seems to whilst she is turned out (not when ridden) she lives out 24/7 and I'm wondering if she is just moving closed behind. She is only 5 and it is quite muddy out there at the moment so wonder if it is a balance thing. I am trying to keep the cuts as clean as possible but she keeps catching them so they aren't healing very quickly. Just wondering whether to stick a pair of bruising boots on behind and see if that helps. Hard to know what to do as the wounds are better getting the air to them and I don't want her legs getting hot but it's a nightmare trying to keep them mud free and to stop her from reinsuring herself. Keeping her in isn't an option... any ideas?

She is also unshod behind... I wonder if the farrier might be able to trim her differently next time to correct the problem?
 
Sausage boot on one hind? I’d also perhaps get a physio to have a look at her as she might be compensating and moving differently behind. My youngster can brush (he’s also 5) behind so I have used a sausage boot and overreach boots behind when needed. I often find it’s when he’s having a little growth spurt.
 
If you are wondering about her movement, get her led up in walk and trot in a straight line to observe from front and rear. Ask your farrier to observe too, so he can help make an informed decision as to the balance of the feet going forwards.
My farrier likes to see mine trotted up on a regular basis.
You are sure this is her feet and not being kicked or getting caught up in brambles etc? (Just throwing other possible suggestions in)
Young horses can struggle with balance, particularly on heavy or slippy ground.

Edit: agree with above, a sausage boot would be ideal.
 
If you don't ride as much in winter and are mainly arena based in the dark, then I would consider removing the hind shoes. Many horses are fine worked barefoot, particularly if only behind. If you decide to keep them on then I would have the farrier double check the balance and maybe feather the inner edge.

I would be observant of any change to ridden work, if if it an older horse maybe he is a bot stiffer in colder weather and when not free ranging as much?

I would echo checking for mud fever/mites too.

As there are new cuts on top of old ones, I would clean and boot. I would use a dressing under the boot until the skin was robust enough. It can still breathe overnight.
 
Fetlock ring on one leg solved this problem when my youngster kept taking chunks out of his coronet bands when galloping around for fun with his field mates.
 
Red-1 said:
If you don't ride as much in winter and are mainly arena based in the dark, then I would consider removing the hind shoes. Many horses are fine worked barefoot, particularly if only behind. If you decide to keep them on then I would have the farrier double check the balance and maybe feather the inner edge.

I would be observant of any change to ridden work, if if it an older horse maybe he is a bot stiffer in colder weather and when not free ranging as much?

I would echo checking for mud fever/mites too.

As there are new cuts on top of old ones, I would clean and boot. I would use a dressing under the boot until the skin was robust enough. It can still breathe overnight.
Click to expand...

As I said in the post - horse is barefoot behind and is 5.
 
Just a thought - what are you cleaning the wounds with? If it's Hibiscrub, then remember that it kills everything - bacteria as well as newly forming cells - so it actually delays healing. Apologies if you're not, but thought it worth mentioning, just in case ...
 
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