Horse shaking back legs when picked up?

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spotty_pony

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I am a bit worried about my boy and am looking for some advice.

This past week I have noticed that when I pick his back feet up to pick them out he has started shaking them - it looks bit like a muscle spasm but I'm not sure. He also picks them up higher than usual when he does this. I also noticed that on the first day he did this, he was sweating slightly on the insides of his hind legs - although he hasn't sweated again like this since.

The only change that I can think of directly before is that it started the day after we went Cubbing. I have checked his legs and can't find any signs of injury and he is sound and is hacking out as usual most days. He is worse before he is ridden as he has usually been stood in for a few hours before I ride him, although he still shakes them after exercise, but not as much. Is this a sign it could be stiffness related? He is slightly arthritic in his hocks

Does anyone have any advice/similar experiences? He doesn't seem to be in any pain, I'm just concerned as I haven't really experienced anything like this before!

Any advice much appreciated. :)
 
Sore muscles due to the extra work out cubbing would be my guess, possibly pulled something but not enough to be really obviously sore just enough for spasms when you pick the feet up, the sweating would indicate the affected area. Vet and or physio.
 
Get vet not physio for a proper diagnosis.
Did you jump many ditches, or slip on take off.
he may have strained his back pelvis.
Sweating in a specific area such as you described suggests trauma.

There is also a condition called shivering.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/35634.html

I have had a horse that used to do this in the hunt season, he had bone spurs on his hocks.
 
Yes I was wondering whether it could be due to injury. The sweating was on the inside of his hind legs at the top so wondering if it could be stifle or indeed pelvic related. It is on both sides but is slightly worse on the left side as he has never done this before when I've picked his feet out - and I've had him for seven years! No, we didn't jump any ditches - only jumped 4 fences in total (there was another fence but some of the horses were slipping going unto it so I decided not to do it) The only thing I can think of is that the first fence had a small drop after it and the ground was a bit deep and h stumbled slightly on landing, so maybe he has jarred something. I just find it odd that he is better having his feet picked out after exercise and not before... would this be a typical sign of injury?
 
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