Horse struggles to stand on 3 legs for farrier?

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MeganMarie

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Hi everyone,

So i’m having a bit of bother with my gelding, just a niggly thing that something isn’t quite right. When he’s shod, he almost struggles to stand on 3 legs. He not naughty or nasty when having it done, it’s just as if he can’t stand on 3 legs for long periods of time, and i’m thinking it might be pain related. When the fronts are done, he almost rocks back, like he’s doing a downward dog pose, and then we have to kind of pull him back up... he’s never fallen over though, he does this with both fronts, and he wants to put the leg that’s being shod down. The hind legs, he struggles to have them held for long periods of time also and wants to put it down, this is for both. Which makes me think, he clearly struggles with standing on 3 legs. He’s only 6. We’ve had him since April. He has regular physio etc. and he passed his 5 stage vetting when we got him.
I was wondering whether any of you have had a horse do something similar? Could he be foot sore? He’s not lame. The farrier hasn’t picked anything hoof-related up.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance :)
 
Can he cope for short periods of time? Is he showing other signs of losing his balance, or is it mostly that he wants to put his feet back down? Is this something new, or that has got worse?
 
Theocat, he can cope for short ish periods of time, like when picking his feet out etc. No, I don’t think so. When it comes to it, it’s almost like he tires quickly from standing on 3 legs and needs to put it down. He does often rest both hind legs a lot, but a lot of horses do that. Maybe it’s just a weird thing he does, and maybe i’m just reading into (I do do that a lot!) Umm, well he’s only been shod a few times since we’ve had him and I wouldn’t say it’s got worse. :)
 
is he shod all round? I only ask as most farriers take all the shoes off in one go and some horses have to stand on the barefeet while each shoe is put on, it may be that his feet have become sensitive so his not comfortable once the shoes are taken off, you could try next time just taking one shoe off at a time and see if it makes a difference.
 
How does he get on with lifting a hoof for you to clean it?

If he manages to stand on three legs for a short time, could it just be that he finds it uncomfortable and difficult to be on three legs for a longer time?

ETA.
This is what happens when I open a thread, get distracted, and come and post a reply without checking what other people have written in the meantime...
 
ester said:
I would absolutely get him checked out.
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So would I, he may not appear lame but I would suspect he is bilaterally and that having to stand for a while with one up is uncomfortable or painful, even if it is because the shoes are off the other he should not be that sore without them.
 
I had similar with one of mine, particularly on his hinds. He was fine having me pick his feet out but the farrier holds them higher for longer. The osteopath found soreness which she alleviated and gave me exercises to strengthen him. He is now much better all round.
 
One of my mares is very sensitive when standing without her shoes for the farrier. He now takes them off in pairs, for example front left and hind left, shoes those feet, then does the other 2. My mare is perfectly sound when she is shod and has always been like this. The farrier told me it is not unusual to shoe sensitive horses like this.
 
Carrottom said:
I had similar with one of mine, particularly on his hinds. He was fine having me pick his feet out but the farrier holds them higher for longer. The osteopath found soreness which she alleviated and gave me exercises to strengthen him. He is now much better all round
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OP........Ask the farrier to use a foot stool when working on the hinds; he can adjust this to a comfortable height for the horse, it gives the horse stability and support......and saves his back.

I would also get a vet to check the horse ASAP.
 
It’s arthritis in mine. I can hold his feet up long enough to pick them out easily but he no longer wears hind shoes (he’s retired anyway) and I give Bute a few days before he’s trimmed.
 
I think there are FAB suggestions, but sometimes it is respect and understanding the importance of the request too.

I don't often talk about respect with horses, but they do commonly go through a stage where it is slightly bothersome to keep their leg up, so they simply put it back down, weather you are there or not. I find flexing the joint more when they think the thought discourages that line of action.

I would only do that though once the horse has been taught to stand square, to lift the feet, to balance, and once physical issues have been ruled out. Also once the horse is basically confident to have their legs lifted and held.

With some horses they are not better with a net there as they are concentrating on eating, not lifting.
 
poiuytrewq said:
It’s arthritis in mine. I can hold his feet up long enough to pick them out easily but he no longer wears hind shoes (he’s retired anyway) and I give Bute a few days before he’s trimmed.
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Snatching the feet was a sign of arthritis in mine as well.
 
MeganMarie said:
Hi everyone,

So i’m having a bit of bother with my gelding, just a niggly thing that something isn’t quite right. When he’s shod, he almost struggles to stand on 3 legs. He not naughty or nasty when having it done, it’s just as if he can’t stand on 3 legs for long periods of time, and i’m thinking it might be pain related. When the fronts are done, he almost rocks back, like he’s doing a downward dog pose, and then we have to kind of pull him back up... he’s never fallen over though, he does this with both fronts, and he wants to put the leg that’s being shod down. The hind legs, he struggles to have them held for long periods of time also and wants to put it down, this is for both. Which makes me think, he clearly struggles with standing on 3 legs. He’s only 6. We’ve had him since April. He has regular physio etc. and he passed his 5 stage vetting when we got him.
I was wondering whether any of you have had a horse do something similar? Could he be foot sore? He’s not lame. The farrier hasn’t picked anything hoof-related up.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
Possibly ulcers.
 
I give extra bute to my Ardennes in the run up to his feet trim because his arthritis makes it uncomfortable to balance on 3 legs. You could try danilon before the farrier next comes and if there's a big improvement then it's a clue you're dealing with a pain issue
 
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