Wonky leg!

Jura_1

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21 June 2010
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Hi there. My loaned (23year old) mare has developed a strange hitch in her hind leg. She kind of lifts it up and outward, a sort of sideways kick every so often.

There's no heat in her leg. She did have an overreach scab on that leg which was slightly infected. It's being treated with Dermisol and kept covered at the moment.

She had a bad injury to both her hind legs before I took her on, deep cuts to the coronet and pastern from a failed escape attempt from a field which led to her being tangled in wire, that took a long time to heal, so she has scars. I'm not sure if it would have affected her tendons. She was fine the first 4 months I was riding her- surely if it was a tendon problem it would have been immediately evident?

Also, her hind leg gait seems generally to be a little stiff and stilted and she turns her hooves in slightly after putting them down. She's on cider vinegar for her joints.

She's sound at trot and canter and only does the leg hitch at walk. It's really odd! Also, I've noticed she does tend to avoid putting weight on both her hind legs, usually resting either one or the other at all times.

I do tend to worry too much so I thought I'd check with you all in case it was something normal before getting the vet :)
 
Hi- thanks.

I've looked at upward fixation of the patella before and she doesn't have that 'locked' (leg stretched behind) look. It's more of a kink or random sideways stretch.

She's actually managed to b*gger her leg up by getting it caught in her rug yesterday and it's all swollen. I now suspect she's done that before and pulled the muscle. Getting vet out to have a look at her so will just ask his opinion.

I also think she has a patch of mud fever on her other hind leg (heel). Noticed today- it's all scabby and matted and black. Sigh.

Why are horses so accident/illness prone!?
 
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