Horse toe dragging left hind

[ChelseaGostomska]

Recently bought a 6 yr old KWPN in June, had full 5 stage vetting and full seat x rays inc back and neck. Horse flew through vetting.

Since coming to me he slowly declined in regards to top line and weight, he was scoped with grade 4 bleeding ulcers which are taking a while to heal. The day before he was scoped he had a full lameness work up ridden and non ridden as wanted to figure out if any lameness was causing ulcers.

I have noticed today whilst long reining he is toe dragging his left hind. I put him in a circle and could slightly see it it again so I took him out on the hard and trotted him on a circle and couldn’t notice anything he looked great, he didn’t toe drag at all in the hard even in walk.

I have not noticed him toe dragging at all when ridden. I am aware some lazy horses or horses with a less developed hind end can do this however I am conscious it was only the left hind. He is pretty close behind and his back end is under developed. He has not been in much work since being scoped two months ago as his ulcers was so bad but I am beginning to up his level of work.

I will obviously get in touch with my vet tomorrow but I am wondering has anyone else experienced this? I am hoping it’s just lack of muscle development but also aware it could be stifle, SI, hocks.

 

[LEC]

If lacking topline it could be the issue -
Personally I would get a really good physio out and make a plan with them first and see if you can get improvement in a month with some careful exercises done daily and if it’s still present after a month consider the vet. There is a lot you can probably improve with some daily in hand exercises with raised poles, lateral work and strengthening the thoracic sling.
Hillwork I find really good but you need to be working on the strengthening while doing it or it just stays the same. I have also found an over reach boot on the weaker hind a useful way when working them in hand just to make them aware of it while adding no pressure/weight to the leg.

 

[ChelseaGostomska]

If lacking topline it could be the issue -
Personally I would get a really good physio out and make a plan with them first and see if you can get improvement in a month with some careful exercises done daily and if it’s still present after a month consider the vet. There is a lot you can probably improve with some daily in hand exercises with raised poles, lateral work and strengthening the thoracic sling.
Hillwork I find really good but you need to be working on the strengthening while doing it or it just stays the same. I have also found an over reach boot on the weaker hind a useful way when working them in hand just to make them aware of it while adding no pressure/weight to the leg.

Hey,

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it’s a really helpful response, I love the idea of using an overreach on the weaker hind so will definitely try this!

He had the physio last week who said he felt super fluid which is good so hopefully just needs muscle. I have added in spirulina so hoping that does something!

Fortunately I have a very good relationship with my vet so will send him a video and speak to him tomorrow, I am just stressing in the mean time.

 

[Birker2020]

I have also found an over reach boot on the weaker hind a useful way when working them in hand just to make them aware of it while adding no pressure/weight to the leg.

You can also use a curb chain around that fetlock. It's to make them more aware of that leg like LEC said. It's called proprioception but the advantage with a heavy curb is that they can feel the additional weight and feel/hear the jangle

 

[YourValentine]

I've used a rubber ring (no idea if they have a technical name) that goes round the pastern for proprioception in re-hab related to toe dragging. Issue was weak SI massively helped by the right work and regular physio.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

I've used a rubber ring (no idea if they have a technical name) that goes round the pastern for proprioception in re-hab related to toe dragging. Issue was weak SI massively helped by the right work and regular physio.

Sausage boot? That's what I was going to recommend!

 

[Tiddlypom]

A sausage boot/overreach boot/chain is a great idea if a horse just has a weaker hind limb that needs activating. I used an overreach boot on the weaker hind under chiro vets direction and it transformed the horse’s canter. Horse perfectly happy wearing her single boot.

It’s important to only use it for short periods of rehab, though, a few minutes, or the horse gets accustomed to it. So no turning the horse out in it, for instance .

 

[SEL]

Hey,

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it’s a really helpful response, I love the idea of using an overreach on the weaker hind so will definitely try this!

He had the physio last week who said he felt super fluid which is good so hopefully just needs muscle. I have added in spirulina so hoping that does something!

Fortunately I have a very good relationship with my vet so will send him a video and speak to him tomorrow, I am just stressing in the mean time.

I've used Forage Plus top line supplement so successfully with horses that need a bit more protein that I've recommended it to a few bodywork clients - much better than spirulina.

How did you get on with your vet? Lots of horses tweaking themselves in the mud at the moment.

 

[sjdress]

My horse was dragging toe due to stifle injury. Stifle treated and no longer dragging. Horse was very weak and has taken about 6 months to get right