Is he standing oddly?

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I've noticed H seems to be standing at a weird angle with regards to his back legs the last couple of weeks. Typically as I tried to take photos tonight, it didn't look that apparent and I'll probably look silly with lots of that's completely normal, he was also distracted by another livery moving around.

He's 25, has cushings, and has struggled to keep weight recently, so has been on extra feed, including cush care. I've also started him on Buteless, one or 2 weeks ago

Sorry for the terrible picture quality the light in his stable isn't very bright

He's ridden at weekends, currently just roadwork for about half an hour to 40 minutes, we used to do the fields in the summer but I haven't for the last few months, due to his weight issues and looking his age.

The head down photo is him nosing through dropped feed. Typically, he isn't playing ball and standing eating his hay to get a normal standing up photo. I haven't taken photos on the yard, as I want him in his "natural " stance

*if* it is weird, any suggestions what it may be and what would help? Unfortunately i dont have huge funds

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Just found an older photo, maybe that's just how he stands!

 

[ycbm]

If you often catch him standing like photo 4 then I would think about exploring hocks and suspensories and SI mobility.

 

[Lady Jane]

Photo 4 looks odd

 

[Melody Grey]

Camped under in photo 4 and not square in others- I’d start with the physio in an older horse (with your vets approval if required). Relieving tension if there is any could be enough to help square him up a bit. If it was a younger horse, I’d be more inclined to start with the vet. Obviously if the physio makes no difference, the vet.

ETA: if it’s only the last few weeks, could be something exacerbated by mud if you’ve had lots?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Pictures 4 and 5 look the oddest and it seems the off hind wants to be brought forward most of the time, agree with a physio then possibly a vet if no improvement.

 

[AmyMay]

Pictures 4 and 5 look the oddest and it seems the off hind wants to be brought forward most of the time, agree with a physio then possibly a vet if no improvement.

I agree. I’d also speak (possibly) to your vet about a daily dose bute.

I have to say he looks amazing for his age x

 

[ester]

He looks sore to me, not just because of the stance but the way he looks to be holding tension in it too.

I'd probably bute trial him

(Frank went a bit non specific sore about 3 years ago, nothing really targetable- we did some flexions, wasn't an issue with the previous spavin hock on the basis of that but to be expected at his age (26 at the time) he was on boswellia at the time but it wasn't enough. He was much happier on bute and stayed on it since, bit concerned given he'd had a funky liver previously but preferred he was comfortable).

 

[SEL]

He stands like mine who has a combo of muscle, SI, suspensory and hock issues. Usually a sign I need the physio out

 

[spotty_pony]

My boy stands like this sometimes and he has hock arthritis. I agree with above post - at his age maybe see about giving him some Bute especially when he is in to keep him more comfortable, and maybe consider some physio too.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Thank you, I did wonder. His field does get quite deep mud so that's an interesting suggestion. Unfortunately the mud is drying out too, so is quite thick and gluey which will be harder work for him. I'll keep an eye as I thought he'd been doing pose 4, hence why I took the pictures, but that was the only type I captured him in it while I was up grooming him tonight.

He's on Buteless, how long would you expect that to take effect? Would it compare to normal bute? I'd noticed he hadn't been getting muddy on his right hand side when rolling.

Unfortunately I'm limited what I can do financially, he's already on 1.5 prascend a day for his cushings, plus extra feed etc, which has been causing me stress due to the costs etc. I'd love unlimited funds!

Thank you for all your suggestions and taking the time to reply. I'm glad I wasn't seeing something I wasn't, though will monitor how frequently he does it and see if pose 4 is sporadic - typical I tried to get the photos tonight and he did it once. Interesting how bar pose 4, it tends to be one leg in particular that's odd.

 

[ester]

No I don't think any of the alternatives really compare to normal bute, that's not to say they aren't helpful. For us the boswellia improvement was noticeable after a week or so (no one else knew I'd started it, experienced YO asked what I'd given him so not just me looking!) but there was a point it wasn't sufficient.
Our path went boswellia, steroid hock injection (we didnt work that up, used it as diagnostic), bute as obviously struggling a bit all round (also now on prascend)