This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse »
  Discussion on Hind leg slipping
Author Message
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005 - 6:31 am:

I was trying out a horse for possible purchase and noticed that occasionallly his right hind leg would seem to slip, as though he had stumbled but with the hind leg only. He moved well otherwise and did not appear at all lame. It happened with two separate riders so I don't think it was an issue of rider balance. I was told that he was "due for shoes"; he did have a nail out on that shoe but it wasn't loose and he later lost the other shoe. I might not have paid much attention except that my current horse does this fairly frequently, and he definitely has hock arthritis although again, it doesn't seem to be associated with when he has been lame. Both horses only showed this at the trot.

Is this something I should be concerned about? What sort of problems might cause this?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005 - 7:21 am:

Linn, I am uncertain what you mean by "slipping", could you define it a bit better.
DrO
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 2, 2005 - 10:29 pm:

I'll try. I have tried to pin it down while looking at the video I took of the possible purchase, and it's hard for me to see exactly what is happening. From on board the horse, it feels as though the back leg very briefly gives way and the hip DrOps down, almost as though the horse stepped on something slippery and the leg slid back when he pushed off. I hope that gives a better idea. In reading some more on the site, I wondered if this might be a mild version of a stifle problem, but didn't feel any sort of catch or vibration.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 9:56 am:

Linn do you have a digital video format compatable with browsers (MPEG is a good choice)that you could email me. I would be glad to post it for you and comment.
DrO
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 8, 2005 - 9:40 pm:

DrO,

I am working on digitizing the video I have; I may have something by the end of the week if the equipment I use will accept the type of cassette it's on. If so, I can definitely make an MPEG file.

Linn
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 6:22 am:

DrO,

I have a video and will try to attach it. I am still interested in this horse so I want to be sure I don't overlook something that might spell trouble down the road.

Linn
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 6:30 am:

I successfully loaded the video clip but it was too large to post (per the error message). You had mentioned that I could email it to you; if you let me know how to do that, I will send it.

Thanks for your help!

Linn
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2005 - 8:28 am:

Send it to horseadvice@horseadvice.com and I will install it into this discussion. Linn put the words Lameness Video in the subject we receive almost 1000 pieces of spam a day and sometimes the good gets lost in the bad.
DrO
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Friday, Feb 18, 2005 - 6:43 am:

Hi DrO.

I sent the video. Let me know if it came through or if I should send it again.

Linn
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2005 - 7:47 am:

I got it Linn, and it plays I just need to find time to study it.
DrO
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Saturday, Feb 19, 2005 - 5:14 pm:

Thanks; just thought I should check. I'll look forward to your thoughts after you have a chance to watch it.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005 - 11:27 am:

Because of shaking, shadow, and range of some of the shots, it is not easy to see exactly what is happening, particularly establishing the leg in some of the incidients. However it appears to me he trips badly catching his toe during the anterior phase of the trot. Unless this is acceptable I would not buy the horse. You could try having him reshod, shortening the toe and see if this fixes the problem, but it may return as the hoof grows out.
DrO
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005 - 3:24 pm:

DrO,

Thanks very much for looking the video over. The horse is scheduled to come on trial and all the arrangements have been made. I will go ahead with that and see if the problem is consistent. He only did it one out of the two times I rode him. I do take your comments to heart and will have him looked at very carefully. I have a tendency to look on the bright side which has not always been an advantage in evaluating horse issues!

Linn
Member:
Mbh851

Posted on Monday, Mar 7, 2005 - 9:54 pm:

DrO,

I wanted to let you know how things have gone with this horse. He came on trial, and didn't show the tripping but there was a more subtle irregularity in his gait which seemed to localize to his hind end. It was less noticeable when he moved forward and rounded up, when he seemed to move beautifully. Prior to getting the full vetting, I had the vet do a lameness exam. He thought the horse was lame in the left hind, and sure enough, he came off of flexion in the leg with 4/5 lameness. At that point, I did not go further as I knew I would not purchase him, but most likely would be the hock I gather, although I think the stifle is still possible.

Thanks for your time and input; I have certainly learned not to over look any clues and to look hard at anything that isn't 100%.

Linn
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC