Not walking forward properly/Hind legs going from under horse

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silverstar

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My horse has been walking wierdly for a few months now in that he isnt picking his feet up when he walks but this isnt every stride its about every 20 strides but is noticable. He has also been going lame for a stride but again about every 20 strides.

He has had flat feet and my farrier who is great has been working for 1½ years now to correct this. He has heart bars on the front feet and they are a lot shorter than they were.

His back legs are also going under him about every 20 strides too. its really starting to worry me now. Thing is he's not chronically lame but what is it. I do think that the back leg thing may be due to back problems but am not sure.

Any ideas before I call the vet??
 
Call the vet. If you leave things like this it would get worse and in the end cost you more. But the cost should not be the reason for not calling them. If its been going on for more than a few days get it checked out, there could be something going on that needs x-rays or scans. He can't tell you what's wrong. Let us know how you get on
 
sounds like it could be a neurological problem. i would stop riding and call the vet - no good keep guessing and hoping - let them make a professional opinion
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Thanks everyone I will ring the vets first thing tomorrow. Thing is I've had a lot of time off work lately but this must be dealt with. I didn't think he was too bad i.e. hes not lame permanently but then it could get worse. I'm tending to think he could have the start of navicular on his front feet, Im praying that he hasnt.
 
Possibly neurological but my horse has/had spavin and his hind leg gives way every now and again - but not so much when he is warmed up, and only the one leg.

Keep us informed of what you find - think for me it's a vet job.
 
My horse's back legs went from underneath him a few years ago. It was like he'd stepped on a pole which rolled out from underneath him (that's what it felt like), I got the vet out and he was diagnosed with a back problem (over his hindquarters), he had a couple of phsio sessions under seadtion, and then some sessions without and he was back to normal, never been a problem again.

He was never lame, and was perfectlt normal until he went on a circle.
 
My boy has recently been diagnosed with spinal compression -when an inflammation in the neck stops the messages travelling through the spine properly, this is not wobblers but shows similar symptoms. He was weak behind and had irregularities in his paces but not was not lame. A good simple test you can do at home is to get someone to lead him forward in walk, you stand next to his tail and try and pull him sideways (pull as hard as you can, it won't hurt him!). A healthy horse may let you move him a bit but will naturally rebalance himself and resist. If a horse has this type of problem you will be able to pull him right over - the vet did it with mine and let me have go - I was shocked - my dog pulling on the lead was stronger than him. Give it a go - not saying it's a dignosis but worth a try. Incidentally, treatment is steroid injections into the inflammation which 2 months on for my boy is working a treat...
 
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