Standing funny

[Saf]

Hi all

A new horse at my yard is shuffling his bedding up under his heels of his front feet then sleeps / stands with his hooves pointed downwards, like he is on high heels.
He is only 6, I was always led to believe this was a sign of being footy?

Any ideas

Ta

 

[brighteyes]

Is it overweight?

 

[seabiscuit]

Laminitis!

 

[alicedove]

Surely if it was laminitis, it would be more incined to shoving the bedding under to get the inner part of his feet pushed upwards, not down at the front as that would hurt more.

 

[Saf]

No not overweight?

 

[Saf]

Has no other signs of lami, just scapes the bedding infront so floor is bare and makes the pile under his heels

 

[LeneHorse]

From "the Veterinary Care of the Horse" (Devereux and Morrison 1998) - Symptoms of navicular observed at rest include digging a hole in the bed and standing with the toes in the hole and the heels raised on the edge. Sounds very much like the horse in this post.

 

[britishwarmblood]

Some laminitics are more comfortable with the heel raised / toe lowered stance as it reduces the tension on the DDFT.
Also applicable to navicular syndrome or other causes of damage to the DDFT

 

[alicedove]

Prob got sore soles then, more at the front, doesn't sound like sore heels or it wouldn't do that. Time and good food should help it.

Does it walk hobbly on stones?

 

[alicedove]

Wow! I take that back! I do apologise,

my bit "time and good food" is obviously complete rubbish

Lenehorse, well researched... that sounds exactly like that horse.

Does the horse not pull out slightly lame from the box?

 

[seabiscuit]

Not full blown laminitis as such, but 'concussive laminitis'

 

[eventersrus]

Well b****r me you learn something new everyday!

 

[Tia]

I'd agree with Lenehorse too. With laminitis, horses don't tend to dig holes whereas with horses with navicular of some form or another, they do.

Whatever it is, yes I'd say the horse is possibly displaying early signs of something being wrong in the foot. X-rays are what I would be doing next.

 

[Saf]

Thank you all, Just not sure if what I have seen is enough to bother the owner or worry the owner, have seen it stand like this twice now, have seen him ridden and he seems fine, but he had already been warmed up at that stage. Will have a feel of his feet to see if there is any heat and look at him standing again tomorrow night?

 

[Tia]

Ah you've only seen it a couple of times - might just be a coincidence then. I wouldn't get too worried just yet. Maybe mention it to the owner so that she can also keep a check on horsey.

 

[Marnie]

My mare does this too - the black and white in my sig. She also points when standing in the door of her stable. She isn't lame in front, but it has been nagging at me for a while. I think I will speak to my vet next week and see what they advise.