Horse dragging hind toes

[ktj1891]

My ex racer to who is 7 drags his hind feet. I have had him two years and he has always done it. I used to only notice it in trot out hacking but I now notice it on walker (tbf it goes slow so he just shuffles along on it), while leading him in walk and trot, out hacking both in walk and trot and lunging. He doesn't do it in canter though. He's had his back done very regularly and he's getting it done again tomorrow.

I am also going to get the vet to check when he's due his jabs in jan. as its starting to get very frustrating now.

Just wanted to know how many possible causes it could be and if anyone else's horse has done this?

 

[Kate88]

My horse dragged her front ones in walk and trot and was diagnosed with navicular at 5 although im sure it's not always the case.

 

[jenningtons]

Hello I know a horse that recently had this problem they had the back lady and everything but in the end got out the vet and found it had some problems in its legs that it had to have treated

 

[Shysmum]

It can be a sign of arthritis - friends young pony did this and has been diagnosed with it.

 

[Amo]

My TB does this, can't remember the exact words but for him it was a case of he wasn't working correctly. He was working from the front too much which resulted in his back end becoming weak. Back person didn't pick it up my Physio did, couple of weeks into a Physio programme and he is doing much better although it is a slow, long process.

Good luck with it, hope it's something simple.

 

[ktj1891]

Yeah I am thinking about all things it could be. Doesn't seem too good!

 

[Littlelegs]

Have you asked your farrier or trimmer what they think?

 

[cold_feet]

I agree with Amo. Not working properly from behind.

 

[Rebels]

Spavin?

 

[ktj1891]

Have you asked your farrier or trimmer what they think?

my farrier knows he has his toes rolled but still does it!

 

[Cello_song]

My horse did this and was later diagnosed with bilateral bone spavin.

 

[ktj1891]

My horse did this and was later diagnosed with bilateral bone spavin.

what was the outcome, are you still able to do everything with him as before?

 

[Renvers]

My TB also does this and physio and stronger muscles through schooling helped for a couple of years but has turned out to have spavins too . Think getting vet to check is a good place to start but could be any numberof things including just needing to get stonger

 

[ktj1891]

My TB also does this and physio and stronger muscles through schooling helped for a couple of years but has turned out to have spavins too . Think getting vet to check is a good place to start but could be any numberof things including just needing to get stonger

yeah thats the thing though, how many avenues will I end up going down and how much money later?

 

[Tnavas]

What do his shoes wear like?

As you are having his back done it it sounds like it may be a problem in his hocks - early arthritis.

If not then try lunging and working over raised poles - it will make him lift his feet more to get over them

 

[tafyx]

my t.b has done it most of his life and always will. an ex racer and now nearly fourteen. he has arthritic hocks which obviously causes weakness in the back etc ultimately as he has to compensate through his body. I have him on cortaflex all year round and try and give him plently of exercise, although not doing great with this at the mo with the weather and lack of light! the cold and damp will not help either but thats winter. anything with msm, chondrotine and glucosamine will help, search the net for the best deals. as to how much he can do, i let him tell me, some days he can gallop like a youngster and i do some jumping with him when he is feeling well. i know within ten or fifteen mins of warm up riding how he is feeling now and so ride accordingly. good luck

 

[gooster]

Blue does this when he is walked down hill in hand. Earlier this year, he had a whole heap of tests at Leahurst due to left hind lameness. He had bone scans, x rays, ultrasound scans etc. All was ok except mild changes to his sesamoid ligaments. 3 months of box rest and that is healed and he is sound. He still drags his hind toes when walked down hill, have mentioned it to his vet and she is not concerned about it.

 

[0310Star]

My TB mare does it. She has front leg issues but nothing really in the backs! vet has basically said she is just a lazy madam but getting her to work better from behind has helped a lot, as well as keeping her in regular work and keeping her fitness up!

 

[muff747]

Is he shod or barefoot behind?

 

[Spendtoomuch]

Mine used to do this all the time, he only does occasionally. With him it was lack of muscle and effort on his part. He was very poor when I got him and worked very much on forehand. He two years (nearly) later he works a lot better and has a lot more muscle and picks his feet up. He will do occasionally now when he is being lazy. He is also an ex racer.

 

[Shysmum]

OP would be really interested to know what you do find out. The pony I was talking about has arthritic hocks, but he seems to be good now.

Hope it's good news, but I really don't think laziness is the problem

 

[millitiger]

It's not always a sign of lameness or laziness- just look at Opposition Buzz!
He always trails his hindleg toes in trot; some horses just move like that.

My Vinnie does it in trot and sometimes in walk if he is bumbling around- never does it in canter.

 

[cundlegreen]

It's not always a sign of lameness or laziness- just look at Opposition Buzz!
He always trails his hindleg toes in trot; some horses just move like that.

My Vinnie does it in trot and sometimes in walk if he is bumbling around- never does it in canter.

Nice to know about Opp Buzz! My 6 year old TB does this at trot, but has passed flexion test with flying colours, and when jumping, really folds up his hind legs (see previuos posts for a video). I've come to the conclusion that the fitter he gets, the better he moves. He now tracks up in trot which he didn't do to start with. I might add, that when he gets excited about something, then he's got a trot to die for!

 

[millitiger]

Vinnie has always had a great overtrack in walk and trot; he just toe taps every stride in trot

He also makes a super shape jumping and the toe tapping has never bothered him- I don't think anyone would notice it unless it was pointed out tbh.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

My cob toe taps too in the school in trot. 5 stage vetted in Feb passed, no mention of it by the vet

 

[Tnavas]

My cob toe taps too in the school in trot. 5 stage vetted in Feb passed, no mention of it by the vet

Clacking or Forging (toe tapping) is a sign of a horse running on the forehand.

Slow down and get him more together and you'll find he doesn't do it.

 

[millitiger]

Clacking or Forging (toe tapping) is a sign of a horse running on the forehand.

Slow down and get him more together and you'll find he doesn't do it.

I think Black_Horse_White is using the term "toe tapping" the same way I am- horse lifts hindleg up and while bringing it forwards and through 'taps' the toe on the floor before placing it down properly- just another name for dragging toe and not forging at all as nothing to do with hindfeet hitting front feet

 

[Fimbacob]

My pony does this in trot and I have had every check/test done and theres nothing wrong. Turns out he just has a low flight path/ lazy action. Now doing leg stretches and trotting poles whichis helping. If I let him go at his own speedy trot pace, he drags his toes, but now I ride him a lot more collected, he doesnt do it.

 

[moodymare_1993]

My old boy did this...the vet notice it when he came out to see him for a totally unrelated problem... That day y boy was diagnosed with ataxia...within. Months it got really worse, was told not to ride him as it was unsafe. I thought it was a balance issue as he has always done it too, I knew him for 5 years and out of that 5 I owned him for 3....don't want to jump to conclusions or anything.. But that's exactly how my boy started before I made the hard decision to have him Pts in march really hope this isn't the case with yours... but could be anything

 

[ktj1891]

Chiropractor said nothing wrong with him just slight soreness on back but she didn't continue treatment as she thinks his backend is under developed and thinks I need to get vet out to check him!