Pony snaps up his legs?

flying solo

flying solo

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When brushing his legs he snaps them out the way and he does the same when picking them out. He seems perfectly happy in every other way. Hasn't been lame since we've had him...

What could be the cause and should I have the vet out?
 
mmmm, ive never heard of anything like this before! Does he do it when you run your hands down his legs? Is it all his legs or just one? If it is just one it might be an acute problem so I would give it a week then if it's still a problem get the vet out. If it's all of them it might just be a little quirk he's got. Any lumps, swellings or injuries on the legs? Are his legs clipped - so then they just might be sensitive. Are you using a really firm brush on him?
 
It can be one of the signs of stringhalt or other neurological stuff, but then again it might just be that he needs desensitising to it a little more.

I have one mare who does this, and I thought initially it was because she hadn't been handled much, but consistent handling has made no difference. In her case she had all sorts of stuff going on that was diagnosed by an expert vet, and the conclusion re the leg snatching was that it was neurological. It was the other stuff (unrelated to the leg snatching) that put an end to her ridden career.

Sarah
 
Oh god sarah that sounds awful! Its every leg and 90% of the time when brushing with a body brush or gently with a dandy. I'll get the vet out to check him. He's perfectly happy in every other way. I have no idea of stringhalt so will read up on it and get him seen asap. Thanks for your help x
 
I hope it isn't anything physical.

I wonder if it could be a learned response... human moves away when I snap my leg? Or he may be thinking you want him to lift his hoof. You could try advance and retreat using an arm extension such as a stick or plastic pipe with a soft end fixed securely. Stuffed glove works. Move the gloved end towards his leg and try and move away before he moves/snaps, timing is crucial here, then gradually move the false hand closer removing it and praising when there is no response. If he snaps then try and keep the false hand where it was until he settles/puts his hoof down then remove it and praise. Start away from the leg and begin to touch when you can get very close with no response. Continue in short sessions in this vain and it should help him learn that snapping isn't what you want. When you touch start somewhere on his leg he is least likely to snap ? bum or shoulder and gradually work down when he is happy at that area. When you can rub his leg and hoof with the arm extension repeat with you hand.
If this doesn't make sense :cool: try Sarah Weston's book "No fear no force" or Perfect manners by Kelly Marks.
Have him on a long lead rein so he can move if he needs to and move with him, hence starting with an arm extension. Repeat for all legs and do short sessions not all in one go. Increase the time you are touching him and then introduce the brush and repeat the process.

I'm not good at explaining sorry.

Also, then teach him a cue to lift his hoof. The aim is to teach him that you only want him to lift his leg when you ask him.
 
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One of my TBs does this, he just doesn't like being brushed. Will tolerate you touching legs with your hands but not a brush, there is nothing wrong with him other than being thin skinned and fussy!
 
Sorry, didn't mean to alarm you.

Even if it is stringhalt, it doesn't have to be career-ending. I remember watching a video of a racehorse with stringhalt. It showed up with him at walk, but apparently he could run just fine and did race.

I just thought it might be worth you googling in case you could find any videos so that you could see whether there is any similarity or not.

And I'd definitely go along with Amanda's suggestion of the arm on a pole to desensitise. It's only if that doesn't bring about progress that I'd start to suspect neurological stuff.

Best wishes

Sarah
 
Stringhalt usually only occurs in the hocks so i would be surprised if it came up in his knees. Getting the vet to check him out sounds like the best idea. To test for stringhalt in his hocks = he will snatch them up in an exaggerated fashion when asked to turn or back up. So put him in a bridle on the ground not ridden so you have more control and then make him back up about 10m. Then ask him to turn sharply on a small cirlce and complete 3 or 4 circles on each rein.
 
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Thanks everyone

I backed him up the entire length of the school today, no problem. I did tight turns and he was fine too. I have the vet coming to put my mind at ease. I would hate for something to be wrong and for me to dissmiss it thinking he's just being cheeky!! All his paces are normal and he's never stiff or anything like that.

I'm hoping that it is maybe the fact that he wasn't very well handled by previous owners and didn't really receive much attention apart from ridden! (He wasn't in the best condition or health when I bought him)

Thanks for all your replies, I really appreciate it. xx

I will try the glove over a few weeks and see if that helps. It certainly wont do any harm x
 
Honestly, my guess would be ticklish or possibly confused by what you want (if he's relatively new to having his feet picked out or there's been a problem with it in the past, he could think every time you touch him, that's what you want). It sounds like he just doesn't like it and needs a) desensitization and b) a bit of understanding. It's not that uncommon!

A surprising number of horses hate having hoof oil applied and will snatch their legs away - very annoying at horse shows!
 
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