Problem with hind legs - video attached

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rafty

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This morning I went to give my pony her hay. She was walking very oddly, lifting both hind legs high like she had travel boots on. It had rained heavily last night and was very muddy. Her tail was thick with mud, and her hind legs were muddy. I thought maybe she was being a bit precious so took her and washed her tail and back legs. She was still walking strangely.

For a bit of history, Ihave had her since April, she is 15 and has never been rugged before. She has had a clicky hip since I have had her but has not been lame or showed any signs of being sore. I last rode her on Thursday last week for a hack.

I have tried to get an appointment with my back lady since April but she was expecting a baby and she could not come, but will be able to come from next month. We are in rural France and I have not found another equine back person and have asked around but she is the only name that comes up.

However, think I may need to get the vet, what do you all think? I wonder if maybe she slipped and has hurt herself, but as I said it was only the lower half of her hind legs that were muddy and her tail. In the videos it does not look as exaggerated as it did this morning.

Also should I maybe start rugging her? What could she of done to walk like this?
http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac160/quartz85/walking/
 
rafty said:
This morning I went to give my pony her hay. She was walking very oddly, lifting both hind legs high like she had travel boots on. It had rained heavily last night and was very muddy. Her tail was thick with mud, and her hind legs were muddy. I thought maybe she was being a bit precious so took her and washed her tail and back legs. She was still walking strangely.

For a bit of history, Ihave had her since April, she is 15 and has never been rugged before. She has had a clicky hip since I have had her but has not been lame or showed any signs of being sore. I last rode her on Thursday last week for a hack.

I have tried to get an appointment with my back lady since April but she was expecting a baby and she could not come, but will be able to come from next month. We are in rural France and I have not found another equine back person and have asked around but she is the only name that comes up.

However, think I may need to get the vet, what do you all think? I wonder if maybe she slipped and has hurt herself, but as I said it was only the lower half of her hind legs that were muddy and her tail. In the videos it does not look as exaggerated as it did this morning.

Also should I maybe start rugging her? What could she of done to walk like this?
http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac160/quartz85/walking/
Click to expand...

Looks like stringhalt to me.
 
I'm afraid I know very little about it other than what it looks like. It looks quite mild though. From what I understand it can just develop without previous history.
 
Does look a bit like stringhalt. Our boy has it mildly and it has never caused him any problems at all. My daughter successfully evented him until he injured a front tendon and he now does a bit of prelim/novice dressage (and does pretty well too). In our experience keeping them fit really helps - when he was out eventing we hardly ever saw the 'funny walk' but it became quite prominent when he was doing nothing after his injury. Now we only see it from time to time, mostly when he has been stabled, so we keep him out as much as we can. We were also told to make sure he was warm enough when he was turned out. Don't really know why but we always make sure he is suitably rugged if needed. Also, i read somewhere that a high oil diet was good but, I have never been told this myself. Hope this reassures you a little.
 
Hi ,
Personally IMO (others are available) I don't think there is anything wrong with your pony other than perhaps she doesn't like getting her legs muddy :)
My Sec A does this in boggy going/ground...always has and always will.....I do not think it is stringhalt as the action is not high and is very even.
Best of luck.
Bryndu :)
 
Hummm..... I would say it's inconclusive but she does appear to be presenting with some symptoms of Stringhalt.

She may have upward fixation of the patella which can produce similar symptoms - but in her age, I doubt it.

She may have intermittent Stringhalt.

Or she may have 'false' stringhalt due to temporary irritation, which really isn't anything to worry about as it will disappear when the irritant also disappears.

Either way, if it continues you need to get a vet to have a look and give a diagnosis.

Best of luck.
 
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She looks to me like she has rubbed herself a bit sore or she is being irritated by her wet tail. Have you checked right up inside her thighs?
 
I gave her a good wash down, then dried her off to check for any injuries. None found! I did wonder if she had slipped and fallen on her arse as it was just up her back legs and tail that were thick with mud. Not sure if that is possible though!! She is walking better now, but seems slightly grumpy if I try and pick her legs up now, but she may just of had enough of it for today, especially if they are sore!!!
 
I think when it is so wet & slippy it's easy for them to slip & wrench themselves. If she were mine I would give her a couple of days, see if she looks easier or worse & if no change or worse I would get the vet. I would always get the vet not the back person. They cannot legally diagnose and you will need a diagnosis of what might be wrong.
I would have a good feel right up inside her thighs (without getting your head kicked in!), they can get sore up there & it's easy to miss.
 
I had a TB once that showed signs of stringhalt in his mid 20s, but only if he got cold and wet. He was fine if kept rugged and warm
 
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