horse kicking out front feet in walk

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Ridererror

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Never really seen this before but have seen the one horse do it on a ocuple of fun rides etc I have been on. When walking it sort of flicks its front feet out with each step. What could be causing it? Seems fine, trots, canters, gallops on long distance ish fun rides, saint of a horse, used to nanny etc so doesn't seem in any kind of pain??? Anyone any ideas? I hate the thought of it doing all that work if there is damage somewhere?
 
My friend has a horse that sounds very similar, obviously hard to say without seeing but hers has a strange flicks walk! He’s never had any issues and everyone just accepts it’s his way of walking! She’s had him about 10 years now
 
poiuytrewq said:
My friend has a horse that sounds very similar, obviously hard to say without seeing but hers has a strange flicks walk! He’s never had any issues and everyone just accepts it’s his way of walking! She’s had him about 10 years now
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A few people did comment that that is just the way he walks so it probably is. I just wondered if there was an obvious cause and I was a bit clueless! He trots and canters perfectly and is a true gent! As far as I know/can see no other issues (but of course I only see him out and about in group rides
 
I was riding at a walk behind a Lusitano a couple of days ago, and noticed that its front legs were flicking out to the sides.

I mentioned it to the woman riding alongside me, and she told me that it's called "dishing" and is quite common in some breeds and isn't necessarily a defect.
 
Ah so the one I know definitely isn’t dishing. He moves very straight but with a (actually very pretty!) flick forward, almost like a slightly floaty hover.
 
is it still dishing though if the "flick" is straight in front? As his feet don't go to the side. It actually looks quite "pretty" and "dressagey" if that makses sense
 
Nope not dishing if straight in front.

I'm sure Nic at Rockley did an interesting blog on toe flick, and how it differs from heel first landing due to the hyperextension. I can't remember if it was avoidance of toe first landing let me see if I can find it.
 
nope, tried all the search terms I can think of, I'm sure it was in relation to a shod horse coming for rehab and heel first in shoes.
 
I have seen it several times as a result of kissing spines. When the horse does the flick and hover, I think it helps them avoid using their back. Two of them used to visibly hesitate with the foot six inches off the floor and shiver it before putting it down.

I'm not suggesting that all horses that do it have kissing spines, but I'd want back X rays if I was buying one!

Ridererror, it may be the work that's keeping the horse free of pain.
 
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ycbm said:
I have seen it several times as a result of kissing spines. When the horse does the flick and hover, I think it helps them avoid using their back. Two of them used to visibly hesitate with the foot six inches off the floor and shiver it before putting it down.

I'm not suggesting that all horses that do it have kissing spines, but I'd want back X rays if I was buying one!

Ridererror, it may be the work that's keeping the horse free of pain.
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That’s interesting! I’d never heard that.
 
My horse started this when he had thrush his heels sheared shortly after .
My old driving horse did it he had chronic DDFT trouble .
I call it spotty dog walking anyone remember the wooden tops .
I know now it’s something to worry about .
 
It's definitely indicative of a problem. Can be as simple as a trimming or shoeing or foot conformation issue, or can be something else (spine, hind limb etc).

As ester says it's the result of a hyperextension of the fireflies, but there will be a cause behind that.
 
my mare did a weird flick and hover when she had a fractured pedal bone, it was her way of trying to manage the load and the pain. And since healing she no longer does it. She did it with both forelegs not just the fractured one
 
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