Resting a hind leg

[doodle]

Going to be a bit cryptic and not say why I am asking, but is it good for them to rest a leg, or stand square? Rest both equally, or have a favourite leg to rest? What does resting or not resting mean?

 

[be positive]

I think most will rest a hind leg when chilling in the field or stable, usually stood relatively square when eating their hay, some rest equally, or appear to as I don't watch all the time, some seem to have a preferred leg whether that is habit or related to a form of unsoundness is probably up to interpretation, I would be more concerned by never seeing one resting, stood square even when totally relaxed than one resting one more than the other, they probably have a favoured side to lie down on as well.

 

[Roxylola]

I think resting a leg is pretty common, standing square, in my opinion, all the time is like us standing to attention all the time. Ideally you'd want them to rest equally, but usually like us they're a bit one sided and tend to slouch one way or the other. I'd be concerned if I only ever saw them rest 1 leg, if they swapped a lot - sort of fidgety would make me think there is discomfort. Or if they pretty much never stand square eg when halted under saddle immediately resting one

 

[oldie48]

I think it's perfectly normal to rest a hind leg but worry if it's always the same one.

 

[doodle]

Is it normal to stand square most of the time? Horse is also good at square halts if that means anything.

 

[be positive]

I think it depends what you mean by most of the time, if he spending most of his time in eating then it is normal to stand evenly while doing so, if he is resting at the back, if that is where he goes to rest, and still stood square that is probably more unusual, in the field I would rarely expect to see them square but they might if they are on alert rather than eating or snoozing , square halts when being asked to stop, ridden in hand or tied up would be a positive to me as it shows they are using themselves evenly and happy to have weight equally on both limbs.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Mine stands square most of the time. Sometimes he will rest a leg when he's just worked and is relaxed, like when we came back from a hack today. Or he will rest a hind leg while he eats (also relaxing I guess).

If they shift weight back and forth, then it's concerning. If they stand square, but not camped under or stretched out, I don't see that as abnormal.

 

[doodle]

I have rarely seen him standing snoozing. When he is in he is generally eating while I’m about! Out in the field again he is usually grazing and stands normally for grazing, ie not square. He was stood waiting at the gate tonight and I didn’t look or notice how he was standing.

I have noticed he is usually square while in the stable. Im not sure if it is 100% of the time as tbh I don’t pay that much attention all the time. Any time I had thought about it I thought it was a good sign that he was even and balanced. I had one body worker say this. However a new body worker said standing square was a bad thing. And the fact that he was resting a leg after she had worked on him meant what she was doing was working. He should be resting a leg (and swapping) so that he is stretching.

 

[be positive]

I have rarely seen him standing snoozing. When he is in he is generally eating while I’m about! Out in the field again he is usually grazing and stands normally for grazing, ie not square. He was stood waiting at the gate tonight and I didn’t look or notice how he was standing.

I have noticed he is usually square while in the stable. Im not sure if it is 100% of the time as tbh I don’t pay that much attention all the time. Any time I had thought about it I thought it was a good sign that he was even and balanced. I had one body worker say this. However a new body worker said standing square was a bad thing. And the fact that he was resting a leg after she had worked on him meant what she was doing was working. He should be resting a leg (and swapping) so that he is stretching.

I get where she is coming from but think horses are individuals and if he is stood eating from something that allows him to stand square, which it should if correctly positioned, then it is probably just a habit to remain like that, I would be concerned if he was almost locked into position and never relaxed, resting during treatment is a normal and good sign, I know you have had a lot going on with him but I would not be too concerned if she found nothing out of the ordinary to treat.
I will take a bit more notice of mine tomorrow but I think even the old pony that is a bit stiff at times stand square when eating his hay he has adlib, other one doesn't get a lot but was definitely stood square eating when I gave her a net earlier, she gets portions at regular intervals along with straw chop so moves about a lot more finding her next mouthful.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Standing square isn't a bad thing as such but i would be concerned if the horse never snoozed or chilled out and rested a hind leg. I would be concerned that the horse doesn't feel relaxed or safe enough to chill rather than worry about anything physical.
When the barn is quiet and he is eating his hay , does he not rest a hind leg?

 

[Sprig]

Resting as back leg is usually the horse relaxing but it might also be them getting ready to flee (e.g. in a v nervous horse).

 

[laura_nash]

I think it just depends on the horse to a large extent. I have two HW cobs and both stand square most of the time, though they will rest a leg occasionally when dozing. My old TBx always rested a leg unless she was specifically asked to stand square.

 

[doodle]

He does relax. I have a million pictures from various people of him flat out snoring.


He most mornings has straw in his tail and quite often poo on his neck. And many stories of him standing snoozing over his door. Lip dropping and asleep. I am not worried about him not resting. It’s just when I am about he is generally eating his hay or grazing. He will rest once I leave. I don’t really want to ask people to poke over and see if he is resting a leg.

I am basically trying to work out what I feel about the most recent body worker and various things she has said. He has always stood square most of the time. One person says this is good and one says it is bad. And I don’t pay that much notice 100% of the time.

 

[doodle]

Just cos he’s cute!

 

[Sandstone1]

Could you get a camera set up to see what he gets up to? Ive got a reolink go and its really interesting to see what they get up too.

 

[spotty_pony]

Resting a hind leg is fine, a front leg is not
fine.

 

[doodle]

I know he rests I don’t really need a camera. Was just more interested in if resting a leg is a good/bad thing.

 

[doodle]

Resting a hind leg is fine, a front leg is not
fine.

Yes. But is standing square bad? Not worried about front legs.

 

[timefort]

Interesting. J will only halt square after a fair amount of work. She alternates between square and resting when at rest in stable but rarely stands square on the yard - unless she's had her bodywork session. It's always been how I've judged she's benefited / needs doing - now you're making me doubt myself.

I'm full of sympathy, I only stand square after a bodywork session too.

 

[Sandstone1]

I know he rests I don’t really need a camera. Was just more interested in if resting a leg is a good/bad thing.

You might not need one but just saying its interesting seeing what they get up to when no one around.

 

[spotty_pony]

Yes. But is standing square bad? Not worried about front legs.

as in standing square so they look wide behind? I think I know what you mean but not quite sure. Never heard of any problems from them standing square though.

 

[Roxylola]

I think normal for your horse is normal. If that suddenly changed especially if it went on for a period of time.
If he was stretching or maybe relaxed from his body work for him to rest a leg after wouldnt worry me, and it wouldn't worry me if he normally stands square.
As for your body worker I'm a bit wary of anyone who is not a physio doing anything more than a massage really

 

[doodle]

as in standing square so they look wide behind? I think I know what you mean but not quite sure. Never heard of any problems from them standing square though.

No. So they are standing with equal weight on all 4 legs rather than resting one. Like a square halt when being ridden.

I think normal for your horse is normal. If that suddenly changed especially if it went on for a period of time.
If he was stretching or maybe relaxed from his body work for him to rest a leg after wouldnt worry me, and it wouldn't worry me if he normally stands square.
As for your body worker I'm a bit wary of anyone who is not a physio doing anything more than a massage really

I’m trying to be a bit vague so there is no way as saying who the body worker is. And in particular the mention of he is resting a leg now so that means what I have done has “worked”.

 

[Roxylola]

Anyone saying that makes me suspect there is a bit of woowoo going on.

 

[be positive]

I do think that some of these 'bodyworkers' not sure what qualification yours has, can have pet things they focus on, just like the rest of us based on previous experiences, the older physios can often be more pragmatic and accepting of the odd quirk whereas the more recently trained ones are more looking for text book scenarios and there are also some that will pick up on something because they are with a new client trying to prove they are doing a good, or better job than the last one, farriers are frequently critical of whoever the last farrier was even if there is nothing really wrong it is part of their style.

 

[be positive]

No.

I’m trying to be a bit vague so there is no way as saying who the body worker is. And in particular the mention of he is resting a leg now so that means what I have done has “worked”.

My last post just covered this, it is common in so many professionals, trying to prove how much better they are

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’m properly chuffed when the IDx with the wonky pelvis spends more of her leisure time standing square!

She is more likely to stand square when she is in good order, like now. She does have some funky ways of resting her hinds, mind.

Her ‘body worker’ is a chiro vet.

 

[doodle]

My last post just covered this, it is common in so many professionals, trying to prove how much better they are

That’s what I am
Worried about.

 

[Caol Ila]

My horse used to stand square behind when eating, and rest both hinds for fairly even amounts of time when resting. When she went very lame in January, she was only resting the right hind and never standing square. She would have the right hind forward, under her body. Vet thinks it's arthritis in the right pastern. More recently, she still mostly drops the right hip, but occasionally drops the left (I get very excited when she does...because that's the state I've got to). She is a lot better now but has not returned to resting both hind feet evenly. But she's sound in walk, so we are on walk-only hacks a few times per week. I want to see an improvement in her standing around position before I attempt to trot again. If such a thing is even possible.

 

[doodle]

Thanks everyone ?