Not working left hind properly?

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Lill

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When my instructor rides Blue she says he has real trouble bringing his left hind underneath him and using it properly... especially noticeable in canter as one rein is better than the other.

What could this be?
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He is built a bit down hill so i think he has trouble bringing his bum under anyway so i thought it must be something to do with that?

I can't really notice it to be honest, only when i watch her riding him but when i ride him i can't feel it, maybe i have got too used to his way of going!
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I had this has he had any problems with his teeth?? My horse did this and it was caused by teeth pain, a visit from the osteo sorted him out ( after his dental work)
 
have you had him long? my boy has trouble working his left hind and it's because he did a hind suspensory four years ago. the vet scanned him and it's healed but trust my horse to still refuse to use it properly. could it therefore be caused by an old injury?
 
We've had him since he just turned 3yo so i doubt it'll be from an old injury? He's coming up for 8yo now.
 
there are two options really -
1 - physio or chiro out to check back and see whether that gives any indication
2 - vet and possible nerve blocks/flexion tests
from what you've said i'd be thinking possibly a strain somewhere in the hind limb.
 
agree with the above - get his back checked first see if they find anything then go the vet route. Sounds similar to Star and its turned out to be spavin and poss suspensory liagament...
 
Im afraid I agree with the suggestion about a hind limb strain.

I have had my mare all her life and shes never been lame or known to have injured herself but she started to not step through quite properly from behind and on investigation, it was found to be a strain of the suspensory.
 
Ditto Suzie-Davis ...

I'd get a chiro out to check his back, a nerve block can have long lasting affects on any area of the horse, perhaps in this case his hind leg, because the componsate somewhere else, as he got even muscle tone on both of his hind limbs/quarters etc? does he feel like even in his paces on the straight, he may be straight in front down his neck through his back but is he throwing his pelivs out/in very slightly?

Just an idea for you to double check next time you ride him.
 
Hi

In my experience it is quite possible a muscular (possibly joint) issue. However what you need to establish is the root cause for the issue. Often there are underlying predisposing factors. If the horse is generally downhill maybe a general weakness. Could be linked to natural conformation i.e. a horse which is wide in front may find it hard to move through the shoulder which could then cause an inability to bring through the hind leg. Also may sound obvious but it is amazing how many people unwittingly school more on one rein to another, i'm a culprit of this one. I would be inclined to consult the vet with the aim of getting a recomendation to a good physio who will consult with your vet thorougly on their findings. It is very costly sometimes to go down the road of lameness investigation when the horse is not displaying obvious signs of lameness however it is definately advisable that you speak with your vet and consult with them just to make sure that any physio work done is appropriate. Good Luck hope all is ok :-)
 
hi, I found myself reading your post as this is what my new horse had trouble with. I`ve had her for 2 months now and as I am one for keeping them pain free, I had arranged for chiro etc. When I had my first lesson, this is what my trainer said to me also, about her left hind not coming through properly. This was more noticeable when doing small circles esp in canter. I had the chiro check her over and she told me that when she trotted up, she wasnt coming through properly on the left hind. (I Hadnt mentioned it to her), and she worked on her. I then had a Bowen Therapist out a week later, as this is what I always do, chiro then Bowen as the Bowen seems to compliment the chiro. The Bowen lady found the back end had some issues still and released these. The Bowen lady was just last week, and my horse is now a lot better on the left rein, flexing much better and bending round my leg, whereas before she was so heavy in my left hand, as obviously she wasnt coming through which made her lean. I would recommend a chiro then Bowen. If anyone has seen a Bowen therapist at work, it is lovely to see how the horse licks, chews, makes noises and their veins start to stick up and some yawn and go very sleepy. It has worked for my horses. Whatever you decide, good luck.
 
This is exactly what Grace was like... there was no lameness, just that she was not stepping through with the left hind like she was with the right hind. I didn't go down the chiro route, as I often feel that yes there may be some tension in the back but there is usually something which is causing this tension.

I took her straight to the vets and she had a lameness work up, nerve blocks and xrays and we discovered she had a strained suspensory ligament.

If you are at all concerned, please go to your vet! The sooner you catch a suspensory ligament problem the better a chance you have of it healing
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My horse wasn't lame but didnt quite track up as much on the left hind as the right. I had a lameness work up done - he was diagnosed with bone spavin.
If you are concerned talk with your vet.
 
Oooh forgot about this post!

Thanks for the replies.

He is not lame in the slightest, and he tracks up evenly with both legs, it is something my instructor noticed a couple of weeks back, although i've practised the exercises she told me to, to help strengthen him a bit and she schooled him last week and said he was fine, and didn't mention anything weekend just gone.

I shall ask her next lesson, if he is still doing it or not, i know it sounds ridiculous but i couldn't feel or see it when she said before.

He has straight and even muscle tone on both sides as far as i can see...

Peanot - funny you say that, about a month or two ago, Blue was VERY heavy in my left rein felt like my arm was coming off! He has vastly improved since then though not very heavy now.
 
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