horse dragging hind legs and teeth problem.

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Always Blue

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Hi there, friend has just 'rescued' a horse from going to meat...long story but anyway..he is a 16hh Anglo Arab X welsh cob, 9 yr old gelding. is quite poor condition wise...he has quite a weak back end and lacking in muscle, topline etc etc,and he is dragging his hind legs..so when walking toes dragging - (not lifting his legs up properly to walk) previous owner said was because he is very lazy..yes he is very laid back and chilled and lazy etc but surely he wouldnt drag his hind legs???
also he is having trouble eating....gets food stuck in side of mouth - ie like a hamster pouches...which results in a lump on his cheek...previous owner said was a hook?? ???????

friend is getting the dentist out asap and vet if needs be but though I would post on here to hear some advice...
Thanks
 
get teeth checked- could be hook but then my sisters horse does same and she has a tooth missing!
also why was he going for meat? was previous owner getting rid because of an injury to his back or pelvis?
also when you say he drags his feet-when did he have his feet trimmed/shod? :)
 
Sounds as if he needs the dentist pronto closely followed by McTimoney/ physio. Hope prognosis is positive x
 
Dentist defo in order and yes, I'd have thought vet for the hinds too. Depending how bad the dragging is (i.e. just ridden or even in the paddock?) and what state his feet are in (can't imagine a lot of care being taken if going for meat) it might be worth having farrier out for a trim/shoe (depending how he'll be kept) first so vet can see him in best possible state and anything foot-related can begin to be eliminated.
 
I hate to be the one to say it, but dragging hind feet is often linked to neurological problems which can also effect how the horse eats. The feet dragging with my horse was the first thing i noticed. Theres quite a few things that she does though that help you point to that conclusion, when shes walking for instance, does her tail move alot? Try and back her/him up and watch for co-ordination. Cross over the horses legs in front and behind and see if the horse shows resistance to this, if not theres a good chance its cos he/she cant feel it isnt right!! However, dont panic as theres lots of reasons that a horse could look neuro. Defo get the vet out though asap.

Does he still drag his back legs when ridden forward? Does he/she trip or stumble frequently???

Good luck whatever it is. I hope its just that the feet are a little long. Perhaps try rolled toe shoes???
 
To sound a note of optomism... My horse has always dragged his hinds a bit, particularly downhill. By chance I heard that there was an equine bodyworker in the area and asked her to come and have a look. She turned out to also be a well qualified KC trimmer. After much serious explanation of hoof balance and angles, I gave her permission to undertake a fairly radical trim. I had to first commit to a period of careful hoof care and remedial work. Proclaiming "no foot no horse" she set to work and literally, during her visit, his way of going improved. She said there was no point in working on his body until his hooves were sorted.
I had to first walk him in hand on tarmac, and for the first week he had a bit of an ouch on stones. (Before this he'd been rock crunching barefoot). I did everything she told me, applied the pastes and hoof disinfectant she'd recommended etc. Yesterday he walked out sound over gravel again, so I'll be starting to ride again tomorrow. Obviously I'll need to be considerate of him, and if necessary I'll boot him temporarily. However, it's worth it because I know only too well how this would have gone if I'd got the vet in to start checking him over, and how much it would have cost.
Because his hooves were unbalanced (even with what many thought was a good barefoot trim and he was sound), he had laid down a lot of false sole, which is like a callous we would get on our hand and for similar reasons. This will shed, and at that point he may feel a bit tender again. We're working to change years of unbalanced shoeing and trimming. I can already see thought that it's going to be worth it, and the toe dragging has nearly gone. So far it's cost me no more than an intial vet's visit.
There's a thought... you can pm me for the lady's details if you decide this is worth investigating.
 
he has a new full set of shoes on, she is having dentist out in next couple of days when he can come. will keep you all updated! thanks all for comments..x
 
Always Blue said:
Hi there, friend has just 'rescued' a horse from going to meat...long story but anyway..he is a 16hh Anglo Arab X welsh cob, 9 yr old gelding. is quite poor condition wise...he has quite a weak back end and lacking in muscle, topline etc etc,and he is dragging his hind legs..so when walking toes dragging - (not lifting his legs up properly to walk) previous owner said was because he is very lazy..yes he is very laid back and chilled and lazy etc but surely he wouldnt drag his hind legs???
also he is having trouble eating....gets food stuck in side of mouth - ie like a hamster pouches...which results in a lump on his cheek...previous owner said was a hook?? ???????

friend is getting the dentist out asap and vet if needs be but though I would post on here to hear some advice...
Thanks
Click to expand...

Maybe the horse was going to meat for a good reason?!

I wouldn't wait and get the vet 'if needs be', if you want to know what's wrong with the horse's legs get him looked at asap. It is likely to be pain related. I'm afraid no one on the forum can diagnose from your post.
 
Always Blue said:
Hi there, friend has just 'rescued' a horse from going to meat...long story but anyway..he is a 16hh Anglo Arab X welsh cob, 9 yr old gelding. is quite poor condition wise...he has quite a weak back end and lacking in muscle, topline etc etc,and he is dragging his hind legs..so when walking toes dragging - (not lifting his legs up properly to walk) previous owner said was because he is very lazy..yes he is very laid back and chilled and lazy etc but surely he wouldnt drag his hind legs???
also he is having trouble eating....gets food stuck in side of mouth - ie like a hamster pouches...which results in a lump on his cheek...previous owner said was a hook?? ???????

friend is getting the dentist out asap and vet if needs be but though I would post on here to hear some advice...
Thanks
Click to expand...

Off the top of my head the horse sounds older than nine.

Let us know what vets etc say x
 
Oh best of luck and how nice to read you are looking at lots of things to help this pony. :)
Just to say I know a pony who has had a lot of dental problems, abscesses, malformed mouth issues etc. and she has also problems with dragging, especially one, of her back legs. Sorting her teeth and getting them pain free has been a huge help to the dragging but she also has back problems as well.
 
Puppy said:
Maybe the horse was going to meat for a good reason?!

I wouldn't wait and get the vet 'if needs be', if you want to know what's wrong with the horse's legs get him looked at asap. It is likely to be pain related. I'm afraid no one on the forum can diagnose from your post.
Click to expand...

Have to say, I completely agree
 
Hello

I have a Arab x and he also drags his hinds on occasion when walking, he is coming back into work after a winter rest and is just darn lazy at walk! If you get him in an open field though hang on for dear life as he goes like you know what off a shovel! He has been fully checked out and for him it is his incredibly slow lazy walk, only ever does it in walk all other gaits are normal and often stupidly fast!

Hope its something simple for you but agree with the others get him looked at just in case.

P
 
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