Horse not lifting one hind hoof..ideas?!

simonsponygirl

simonsponygirl

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Please excuse that this is my first ever thread on here, up until now I have just browsed way too often! Following seeing everyone's pools of knowledge I thought I would seek some advice.

I have an ex racer, history goes had a fab summer starting competing, winter came got mud fever severely, now that has cleared up. Then pulled hamstring, had physio, in said hind leg when returning to work, soon cleared up. Now a few weeks on he is resisting to pick up one hind leg.

He will let me touch it all over, no heat, no swelling. Not lame at all, no difference in way of going eg canter lead etc. Yet still when I go to pick it up he plants it, or lifts up the other one holding it up.

When i have coaxed it up he kicked out, for about ten days this went on. No sign of pain in his back, however he is due a look at it which is booked for next week. I spoke to vets and they said to try a bute trial, has made no difference at all. Will ride tomorrow to see if I can feel anything under saddle, but just wondered if anyone had any experience of this?

Possible psychologically pain related to hamstring/mud fever scab picking? However very unlike him to kick out etc. My best guess is his back, I guess we will see but any advice would be great!
 
Which leg was the hamstring injury? If the other leg, it may be that he is either still in pain from the hamstring, or remembering pain from the hamstring and does not want the extra weight on that leg. I'm not sure how good bute is at covering a muscle/tendon pull?

I have a horse who is reluctant to pick up one hind foot at times, and when he does it snatches up. He's a young horse and I think his stifle "sticks" because it has done it once when I was riding him.
 
My mare did this with one of her fronts. She was fine in every other way. When I did manage to pick it up she still tried to put her weight on it, which resulted in her falling on her knees and banging her head. I got the vet out that said she had a stifle injury on the opposite back leg, which is why she didn't want to pick up her front as it forced her to put all her weight on bad leg if that make sense?
 
The hamstring injury was on that same hind leg. I wondered whether maybe it was sore to pick it up however when he was sore on it previously you could really tell in his gait etc!

Definitely see what you all mean through other side being the possible culprit. Hmm is there anyway I could tell, eg if I put pressure on a certain part or something?

Thankyou!
 
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