Resting hind leg out behind. Should I worry?

ycbm

ycbm

Overwhelmed
Joined
30 January 2015
Messages
61,638
Visit site
One of my horses often stands with a leg pushed out behind him. It's not always the same leg. I've never seen another horse do it and it worries me in case it's an indicator of future trouble. He's got no history or sign of locking stifle, he can bring the leg into use as soon as he wants to. He doesn't toe drag, he passes flexions and he's completely sound, but I'd like him to stay that way.

Has anyone seen this before? Did it turn out to mean anything?

Mince pie or glass of sherry for any answers, thanks (I loathe both!).

.
 
To be fair if I see horses standing oddly behind I would give a wide berth. I’m not sure if that’s a good enough reason but my horse that had wobblers always rested his back legs oddly. More out to the side or he could cross them over and leave like that and frequently.
it could of course mean absolutely anything or nothing at all ! hopefully Yours is the latter.
 
My mare with SI problems has a "ballet pose" when it's sore. One leg behind and the other at a bit of an angle.

I'd pointed it out to loads of vets but it was Tom Beech who got stuck in prodding her and targeted SI. After manipulation she stood square but it doesn't stick for long.

But it doesn't sound like you've got any other signs of soreness or unlevelness though??
 
A mare I had for several years injured herself in the field and developed fibrotic myopathy in her hamstring as a result. It came on gradually. Here's a photo of her standing with her leg out behind. Please excuse her appearance she was retired and turned out in a herd and was pretty happy living naturally. PHOTO-2019-05-10-16-31-03.jpg
 
No, SEL, trainer on Wednrsdsy this week was very excited about his movement and said he is absolutely sound.

He just looks like he's resting it, only backwards not forwards. No ballet type pose. I've been trying to get a picture for a few nights but its typical isnt it, when you want him to do it, he doesn't!

.
 
Last edited:
Marigold4 said:
A mare I had for several years injured herself in the field and developed fibrotic myopathy in her hamstring as a result. It came on gradually. Here's a photo of her standing with her leg out behind. Please excuse her appearance she was retired and turned out in a herd and was pretty happy living naturally. View attachment 39009
Click to expand...


That's it! Hamstring? Very useful, thank you. Time I did some regular hamstring stretches I think.

I think he's doing it less the longer he is in work, which would fit with him having weak hamstrings and them strengthening up as he gets older. He's equal on them, so that has to be good news, i think.

.
 
Anything like Skylla used to stand?

Hers corrected after some intensive core work after being adjusted by the fabulous Angela Holland.
 
No I wouldn't worry as horse is sound and moving well. If a young horse I would be more inclined to think developing his strength. If a horse was constantly resting a leg this would worry me more. I would monitor and make sure if a young horse he/she has plenty of time to strengthen and mature.
 
AlexHyde said:
Anything like Skylla used to stand?

Hers corrected after some intensive core work after being adjusted by the fabulous Angela Holland.
Click to expand...


Only one leg at a time, Alex, and very relaxed about it. Skylla didn't remind me of him, but youth and weakness are part of it, I'm sure. He's taking a long time to grow into his big movement but I'm not in a hurry.

.
 
hihosilver said:
No I wouldn't worry as horse is sound and moving well. If a young horse I would be more inclined to think developing his strength. If a horse was constantly resting a leg this would worry me more. I would monitor and make sure if a young horse he/she has plenty of time to strengthen and mature.
Click to expand...


Yes, young, big moving and currently finding it hard work to control his own movement, so we don't push him.

He served mares at two so I'm a bit paranoid about what that might have done to him.

.
 
ycbm said:
That's it! Hamstring? Very useful, thank you. Time I did some regular hamstring stretches I think.

I think he's doing it less the longer he is in work, which would fit with him having weak hamstrings and them strengthening up as he gets older. He's equal on them, so that has to be good news, i think.

.
Click to expand...
You can see from the photo that she's standing like that to avoid putting tension on that hamstring. I always regret the fact that a Tellington Touch person told me her hamstrings were tight and I didn't believe her. Might be worth checking it out or scanning the hamstring fibres. It's not something vets routinely think about.
 
ycbm said:
That's it! Hamstring? Very useful, thank you. Time I did some regular hamstring stretches I think.

I think he's doing it less the longer he is in work, which would fit with him having weak hamstrings and them strengthening up as he gets older. He's equal on them, so that has to be good news, i think.

.
Click to expand...
PS I think standing like that is tight/shortened hamstrings, not necessarily weak ones
 
ycbm said:
Sorry LG, missed this one. yes hes 4 and a bit backward for a 4year old.
Click to expand...

Here’s mine standing like a twit. She might sometimes rest a leg like that too. She’s four in March. It happens intermittently, it’s not the same leg consistently and she’s sound and happy.

I’m pretty sure it’s just weakness, growth spurts (hamstrings makes sense, I remember that pain from growing too fast as a child, actually) and not holding herself together properly yet.

7C6CC3EF-EB47-4254-9693-43B4956BFF08.jpeg
 
Just like that LG 🙂 I fell a lot better now I've seen your lovely girl do it too.

He's grown a lot this year, and I did wonder about growing pains.

I managed to snap him last night:

1646449_2019-11-30 01_21_23.jpg
 
If that is all your horse is doing YCBM, then I would not worry at all. In that photo he just looks to be getting his face closer to the food by putting one pair stretched and the opposing diagonal pair close. I would see that as entirely sensible and normal, unless he also does something different that the photo shows?
 
I always think about children and animals that if they consistently do something out of the ordinary, there is a reason for it. Certainly the photo of him in the barn just looks like normal reaching for his food but if he does the leg back thing consistently more than you would expect, I would be suspicious of it. That doesn't mean that he has a career ending abnormality, just that it would be worth investigating. When my cob was 4, she had a rather odd stance in one hind leg. We left her to grow, she grew out of it and now has no problems at all.
 
He does it when he's us resting with his head up as well. Often it looks so natural that it's as if he's simply forgotten to bring it up and left it behind him like leaving his umbrella on the train 😁

LG's mare is exactly what he does, on either leg.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top