Trouble picking up a hind foot?

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Rochelle

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My horse is really reluctant to pick up one of his hinds for me to pick out his feet or for shoeing! He shows no signs of lameness or reluctance when ridden or exercised so I'm baffled? I'm hoping its nothing more serious! Blacksmith was here recently and he had a struggle with him too, this time was worse than last time and he did seem a little uncomfortable picking it up? Any ideas?
 
He may have pulled something in his back or leg. Our pony did this to us too and we had the physio out and apparently he had a very sore shoulder, which meant he was reluctant to pick his front foot up. We think it is most likely that he slipped in the field whilst cavorting in the field with his mates.

He was not lame or looking particularly sorry for himself, and was very odd for him as his stable manners are impeccable.
 
Thanks Stencilface, to be honest it is something that has been happening for a while now. Some times he will pick it up first time without a problem but most of the time he wont budge it from the ground or he picks it up and slams it back down.
 
If it's something thate's just started then I would be inclined to think it has injured itself somehow so would get its back/pelvis checked (assuming first there isn't a problem with the opposite foot so it doesn't want to stand on it - ie abscess etc)
 
my horse has a shiver and he is reluctant to pick his hinds up.

he does what sounds very similar to what yours is doing. One hind is more affected than the other, he does the slamming down thing too.

I'm probably way off target here but thought i should mention it just in case!
does he back up ok? horses with shivers tend to struggle a bit when asked to back up and that can be a sign of it too.

if i give him lots of time to figure out how to pick his leg up he's fine, the more i rush him the worse he is.

it doesn't stop him doing anything though, i just really want to stress that having a horse with shivers doesn't have to be bad news, he went out and won his novice dressage with my SIL on saturday despite his shiver
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in fact we love him more because of it, it makes him extra special!!!
 
Hind leg lameness can be difficult to detect so would strongly advise you get your vet to take a look just in case.
 
Mine is a shiverer and he does that with one leg too!! In fact its not the one he actually tends to shiver on! As to the backing up - mine backs up for England so its not always a sign!

Having said that mine has got much easier to pick up foot with patience and peristance..
 
Thanks teabiscuit, I have looked into this as a possability. He's ok at backing up doesn't object to it really. Normally hes a poppet to do but when the blacksmith tried to pick it up he did look uncomfortable and I started to worry that it might be something more sinister. Think I will call the vet to have a look, its been on my mind and I think I've been putting it off incase they tell me something awfull. At the end of the day I want him right! Thankyou to everyone who has posted!
 
I had this with my mare last year and it baffled the vet, however the back specialist had a fiddle and suggested it was tension from her teeth of all things so I got them sorted too and it made a difference. I also had to start lifting her leg forward first then take the weight before she would move it back. Prior to this 100% no chance of getting her to lift it, she would spin away and warn me off! It has been a long haul, glucosamine, cider vinegar and magnetic wraps all helped, now she picks up no trouble at all but it is almost 12 months later! Farrier suggested start of spavins but who knows? Pesky horses, good luck!
 
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