Horse dragging hind foot downhill

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jasperconran

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Hi all,

Got a quick question. The livery yard we are at, we have to walk the horses down quite a steep hill to get to the fields. Our field is also still quite rutty from all the rain we had this winter :( anyway getting back to my question!


My daughters 6 year old maxi cob has never really liked the hills since the day we have been there, but these last 2 weeks he has been playing up when we ride him down it. ie, feels like he is going to fall over his feet, wants to jog trot sideways, sometimes goes to buck etc.

Anyway today, my daughter was walking him out to his field and one of the others shouted out that he was lame. the girl said as he walked down the hill he was dragging his hind hoof behind him and didn't wanna pick it up, but once he got to the bottom of the hill he was fine!. So, we took back up to the yard (all fine uphill) trotted him up about 3 times and he was fine. no heat, no swelling, no nothing!!! although he has some good days when being ridden down the hill.

So my question is this, is he just being lazy? and still experiencing balance issues? to be honest, hes like it in the woods too, although has started to want to trot downhill just lately!!

Also the field as I mentioned is still quite rutty, and, is also flaming downhill :( and he did have a bit of a spaz attack in the field yesterday as one of the others got loose. so not sure if hes pulled something. I do feel for him as when my daughter walked him down his field to the bottom, one of his back hooves went under him and I thought ouch!!! but again, she said it was one of the ruts he went down.

I don't know, am I just being paranoid guys? is it just cos hes so young still? any advice would be great! thanks :)
 
I keep my horses on a steep hill (I'm in Wales :)) and I can assure you that a healthy, sound horse will not struggle with hills. One of mine came from a flat area (he was 17 months at the time) and he did need some time to adjust to the terrain, but was soon negotiating the gradients with no problems.

So I feel that your boy's trouble with hills could indicate a problem. A friend of mine's horse used to go down hills diagonally and that was finally tracked down as a saddle issue. So that is worth ruling out. It could also be a physical issue.

RE the ruts, could the field be harrowed and rolled?
 
When I first got my mare, she used to do a funny hop and sometimes feel weird going downhill but she had a slightly sticky stifle and now that she has matured and muscled up, she walks downhill like a trooper. So, if he's a little bit immature then it could be a stifle problem that will improve with work. If it's something that has come on suddenly, then it's probably an injury somewhere up high. It could also be a saddle issue when ridden, as if the saddle is too narrow, the points will dig in going downhill more so than on the flat.
 
I would also get your saddle checked. My cob started going sideways and threatening to buck when going down hill, it was because the saddle was pressing on her shoulders. This doesn't explain the hind leg dragging though, I would get a vet to check that.
 
We have arthritic hocks and hips and drag our toes coming down steep hills - I think anything that can restrict mobility in the back end can cause this so it could be an unlevel pelvis etc too. I'd second getting him checked out.
 
If he is doing this when being led down the hill, it may not be the saddle but still I would have it checked. I would then get a physio,. In my area we have a chiro vet she would be my first port of call. Don't forget to also mention it to your farrier.
 
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My mare started doing this, had her checked out with vet / Leahurst, she had fractured part of her off-side hock at some point (probably in the field), had caused a splinter of bone to score out cartilage over a period of time.

Listen to your horse, get the vet out.
 
STRIKER said:
Bone spavin
Click to expand...

I was just about to say the exact same thing! I second the above. My horse has exactly the problem. Vet. See how bad it is... more often than not, it's avoid hills but keep working. Use it or lose it scenario. I don't know if your boy is shod behind but my boy did improve when unshod behind but not fantastic. You have to manage it.
 
Get shod in front or put boots on, remove when you get to the field, so fronts can take more impact weight bearing to counteract the lack of hind movement
 
Same here - bone spavin.
Farrier was the biggest help in the first instance before I had the vet as he noticed uneven wear on hind shoes as well. Vet then did a full lameness work-up and x-rays.
 
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