Resting hind leg

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Frans

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My daughter's pony is resting her off-hind in a rather exagerrated way - ie right under her body with only the tip of the toe touching the ground - a disporpotionate amount of time. Particularly in the morning. Mind you each time I think this she promptly moves off and stands with her weight on it again (I think she finds me standing staring intently at her slightly unsettling!) She also has the habit of slightly twisting the same leg inwards under her body when the weight is on it or fractionally twisting her whole hind quarters.

Does this way of resting/standing mean anything to you?

There is no heat or swelling anywhere. Over the past year two vets, two different osteopaths (one of who was also a vet) and the farrier have all assured me that she is not lame and does not need further investigating. . She didn't do too well in her flexion tests when we bought her but was deemed fit for the work ie light hacking with a slightly nervous child. My instincts still shout that something is wrong but not sure where to go from here.
 
My horse stands like this almost all the time, he recently past a 5-stage vetting with flying colours. He is fit and in work and it has done no harm to him. Just how he likes to stand i suppose!
 
Thanks ,those comments are at least reassuring!

However, I should probably also add that she looks uncomfortable walking downhill, trips fairly frequently (may be due to issue in her shoulder?) is less comfortable turning to the left, and the osteopaths have found issues in shoulder and back that come back relatively quickly after treating which implies to me that there is an underlying cause that has not yet been addressed. To me she looks short behind but the only other person that has noticed this was another "non-expert" neighbour who spontaneously commented that she looked lame when I led her past them.

Just not sure whether to try the experts again or stop fussing.
 
Frans said:
Thanks ,those comments are at least reassuring!

However, I should probably also add that she looks uncomfortable walking downhill, trips fairly frequently (may be due to issue in her shoulder?) is less comfortable turning to the left, and the osteopaths have found issues in shoulder and back that come back relatively quickly after treating which implies to me that there is an underlying cause that has not yet been addressed. To me she looks short behind but the only other person that has noticed this was another "non-expert" neighbour who spontaneously commented that she looked lame when I led her past them.

Just not sure whether to try the experts again or stop fussing.
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I think it could be significant.

A horse I bought passed a 5 stage vetting - I said to the vet at the vetting (I'd had the horse on trial at the owners yard) "he often stands funny when he is resting- does that mean anything" answer "no it's probably just how he likes to rest". Cue 6 months on and after dragging hind toes going downhill, muscle wastage on one side, mild front lameness was diagnosed with wobblers - which I am 100% sure he had at the vetting but couldn't prove the time.

My gut feeling was right :(

Hopefully nothing as drastic as that but personally I trust my gut more now - if you think there is an issue there probably is.
 
If the pony responded badly to flexion tests when purchased, even if considered to be insignificant at the time and fit for purchase, the chances are it has deteriorated to some extent and will need investigating to find the cause and hopefully treat.
If the pony does not respond to physio, the physio should refer back to vet, not continue to treat without knowing the underlying problem.
 
My first guess would be arthritis too. My 23yr old rests her legs in some pretty wierd ways, but, she always has from being 2, & its even on both. And her wierd resting is normally stuff that indicates suppleness, eg crossed to the point the off side hoof obscures the nearside hoof when you're stood facing the near side.
 
My mare does this too, I'm treating it as spavins as we investigated fetlock issues which didn't show up as anything, but there is still some mobility issue. She has rested a hindleg for years, but now it is more taking the weight off the limb, rather than pointing the toe like she used to. I can't explain is any differently!

She's 23, she's on danilon for this as we (vet and I) are treating it as arthritis. I've got a physio coming out next week which I'm looking forward to.
 
Hi,
Many thanks for the replies, didn't get a chance to come back on til now as we have been making the most of gorgeously sunny weather after weeks of rain! :)

I hadn't given much consideration to stifle issues, perhaps I should look into it more. I had been more concerned with back and hocks. The fact that she seems to be resting it oddly more in the morning and that she also seems stiffer then made me think arthritis. I was surprised when the vet seemed to immediately discount this idea, though, based on there being no swelling at the hocks :confused: I know my joints can hurt like hell without having any swelling!

This worry has been niggling away for a long time but always due to lots of little signs that she isn't quite right rather than any really obvious symptoms. I want to get a vet back but not sure whether to go for the same one (yes, it was an equine vet) as follow up or to try a different one. Also trying to get my thoughts clear as to how hard I should push for further investigations and which ones.
 
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