Horse standing like a tripod

[cptrayes]

My hunter has been doing something odd for a few days. He is standing with both of his hind feet under the centre of his body, one in front of the other. His front legs are normal, not spread. His work is great, he is fit, jumping and schooling nicely. But this is not normal for him and I am worried about why he has started to do it. Clues anyone?


This is the pattern of his feet on the floor. The hind legs can be either way round.

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........................C..C

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[MCTM]

My little ex racer stands like this all the time. The lady that does massage on her said it could be related to tension in pelvis - but she's just had a bone scan and pelvis was fine so I can discount that! Other possibility is tightness in hamstrings, which Lottie is also prone to.

Not much help but I wouldn't worry too much if everything else is fine.

 

[cptrayes]

That's good to know, thanks. A list A physio saw him a month ago and said he was fine, but he has started doing this since then. I wondered about tight hamstrings, he lives on a very steep field and I have just started jumping him again in preparation for the new hunting season. In fact it started immediately after his first whizz round a farm ride, jumping all the way, now I think of it.

 

[Brownmare]

My tb mare has always had a tendency to stand like this and is usually better when schooled regularly. However she had a long layoff with a suspensory ligament strain and when I reintroduced lateral work she did a serious tripod impression! In her case she has a general tightness in all the hindlimb adductor muscles and I now routinely massage and stretch the area after strenuous exercise.

I would guess it is nothing to worry about and will resolve with massage but if it continues I'd investigate pelvic pain.

 

[shadowboy]

One of the really good pc ponies on our yard stands like this. He's never been lame although had recently had a few muscle issues over his pelvis that needed sorting. He's 16 and still going strong

 

[cptrayes]

Thankyou peeps. I watched him walk today and he's the straightest horse I've ever owned. I think he may just have got a bit tight from starting jumping again for the new season after a 3 month break from it. Fingers crossed.