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  Discussion on What is this horse's stance telling me?
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New Member:
nevasca

Posted on Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 8:37 pm:

I have been working with horses most of my life, and recently rescued this 22 yr old Andalusian mare. She walks well, is slightly off in the left hind leg, but seems strong and comfortable, even with a rider (very short rides).

My question is what is she trying to tell me by the way she stands (very consistently). As you see in the photo, she brings her back legs way under her, but has the front legs also underneath. I was told she may have had an injury from foaling. She was a brood mare, very little riding.

She came to me quite thin, with little muscle. The photo, however was taken some time ago when she looks like she was in better condition. I have been doing light ground work with her in the 2 months she has been with me. The muscle is coming back, but she still stands funny. She sometimes brings the hind legs so far under her that they tremble.

Any ideas?
Member:
corinne

Posted on Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 9:26 pm:

Carol did you attach the photo or is it somewhere in another post?

Thanks,
Corinne
New Member:
nevasca

Posted on Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 10:14 pm:

I am somehow missing something on doing the upload. https://dreamspinnercreations.com/images/nevascasm.jpg
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 8:41 am:

Welcome Carol,
Horses take this stance when there is pain in both rear limbs but it should not be considered pathognomonic for this. If the horse trots freely and has no neurological symptoms it may be just the way this horse stands. Besides the lameness and neuro exam one further test I would consider is to check muscle enzyme levels. On the off chance there is mild bilateral myopathy that the horse is willing to work through but has found standing this way more comfortable.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 11:05 am:

Heel pain, front and rear, might cause her to stand under herself also, but the trembling is a weird. If her hoofs are trimmed correctly, you might want to try doing some massage on her too.

She's pretty.
New Member:
nevasca

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 12:23 pm:

Here is a photo of the mare at the time I took her, she was very underweight. The trotting photo is from a few days ago. She seems cheerful and happy, and comfortable when I ride her.


The odd stance is worse when she eats - food really excites her. She will bring the back legs up and you can see the muscle tremble. It also looks like the muscles in her abdomen spasm. However she loves her food, and eats heartily.

From what I am reading, I am seriously considering the possibility of Dr. O's suggestion of bilateral myopathy. We have a vet appointment next month and will see about the muscle enzyme test. In the meantime I am going to try a high fat diet - it won't hurt anything.



https://dreamspinnercreations.com/images/nevasca0sm.jpg
https://dreamspinnercreations.com/images/nvtrot.jpg
Member:
erika

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 1:02 pm:

Welcome Carol,
I had a horse who "stood close" like that. He was very athletic and always sound even in hard work. I just thought it was his way of standing.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 9:50 pm:

Though I have seen many horses with chronic heel pain over the years, I have not seen any that stood like this Angie. Most horses with chronic heel pain involve problems with the digital flexor and or navicular structures, this stance would increase the forces on these structures not reduce them.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 - 10:33 am:

DrO,

It is a different way of standing indeed, and after looking again, it don't seem to apply to what I originally thought. I had just read that a horse with heel pain in the hinds, will stand not only with hind feet under himself, but will bring the front feet more under the stomach also to help alleviate the pain on the hinds. I have personally seen that in one of my horses.

I always start with the feet and work my way up when there is lameness or stance issues.

Carol,

Let us know how things progress with her.
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