Horse unbalanced picking up hind leg

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atropa

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Hi all,

The horse I ride has always tended to lean on me a little bit when I pick out his back hooves, but recently I've noticed he seems to have real trouble balancing when I pick up his off hind. He has no trouble lifting the hoof and is willing to do so, but once it's up he seems to have trouble finding his balance and will sometimes snatch it back. A few times recently he has ended up pushing me away as he's tried to lean so much weight on me, and today when I had finished cleaning out his hoof I began to lower it back to the ground and he actually kicked out behind him, with his ears back. This only occurs with his off hind, he has absolutely no trouble picking up the near hind and balancing.

My first thought was pain or discomfort in the off hind, but the fact that he really has no problem with the actual lifting of the hoof has made me wonder if he is simply unbalanced. There is no swelling, heat or apparent pain in the leg (although of course I'm aware this doesn't mean that there is no pain or discomfort), but could it possibly be another leg causing him pain or discomfort, and if so, what leg would be the likeliest candidate? He is an older horse (18) who can get stiff occasionally and is seeing the vet later this week just in case, but is there anything else I can try in the meantime to make it easier on him?

Thanks :)
 
I have an older horse a bit like this. I find if I just lift her hoof a little bit off the ground, just enough to pick it out , she balances better. It's bad for my back though!
 
I agree. Just lift the foot a little off the floor to pick it out.

Does the horse get any joint supplement or other medication to support them?
 
I do try to only lift his hoof a little off the ground, or even just tilt it backwards with the front wall of the hoof resting on the floor but strangely enough he seems to prefer to lift this one right in the air, whereas with his near hind he is happy to either lift it right up or rest it on the floor depending on what you ask. Amymay he is not currently on any joint supplement but will be starting one from October. Do you have any recommendations for good ones?
 
Our TB does this, raises his hinds far too high for comfort, I tell him to relax and he lowers his hoof, our arthritic mare also does it, but she needs her back feet lifted as low as possible, again I tell her to relax and she does
 
My old boy in later years had issues with this when arthritis set in. In the end it was easier to pick out feet from wrong side if that makes any sense. The farrier also used to shoe him where he could lean against something to help him balance.
 
Likewise here. He needs to stretch it out a bit, put it back down if a bit of a wobble coming on. It's hard getting old and trying to stay balanced. Muscles don't stretch like they did in the day. Same for me, too.
 
Try circling the hoof gently when you've picked it up then letting it lower until he seems comfortable. As said some prefer their hoof nearer the ground. Sometimes it's just a case of finding their comfortable position.

Ps. Agree with giving a break if he seems uncomfortable. Also, if you think he's unbalanced re position him ie. move him a bit.
 
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