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Discussion on Horse does not rest hind legs
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2011 - 5:18 pm:
Hi Dr O,
Not sure I’ve put this in the right place, but my 3 yr old AQHA filly does not rest her hind legs and I’m starting to wonder if there could be something wrong. I have had her since the end of December and I noticed it pretty much right away. At first I didn’t think much of it as she was unhealthy at the time and I thought along with that she was perhaps weak, or it was due to lack of muscle tone (for some history see: https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/3/363421.html). She is healthy now and has tons of energy. I guess I’ve continued to ignore it as I see no signs of lameness. She trots/gallops up and down her hilly pasture daily and does not appear sore or stiff at all, nor is she ever hesitant to move, and does she does not move oddly. In fact her movement is astounding and she is extremely sure footed – my other two are klutzes compared to her. There is no protesting when her hind legs are stretched forward or back. When she stands and dozes, she stands square, or with one or the other hind slightly in front of the other. I have seen her occasionally shift and slightly cock a foot as though she is going to rest it, but it’s like she changes her mind and puts is back down. She does lie down more frequently than my other two, but all the young horses I’ve had seem to lay down more than older horses. Any thoughts?
Thank you, Lee C
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 - 5:46 pm:
Has she had her stifles cut Lee?
DrO
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 20, 2011 - 8:28 pm:
Hi Dr O,
I really don't have much history on her, so not to my knowledge. I see no sign of scarring in her stifle area, however the area has, how can I say, a more pronounced 'dip' when I compare to my other horses. I have attached a picture and put a red circle around the dip - I will try to take more tomorrow. Maybe I'm missing what you are asking here... Is there an actual surgical procedure where stifles are 'cut' for some reason?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Mar 21, 2011 - 2:03 pm:
Yes there is and the cutting of this ligament can prevent the horse from resting the leg normally. For more on this procedure see, HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Stifle Lameness » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella.
DrO
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Monday, Mar 21, 2011 - 11:07 pm:
I think it would be highly unlikely that she has had this procedure done. I have done some research and found the breeder. She was sold at an auction as a weanling with a group of other babies off the range. Purchased and left out to pasture until last summer when she went to auction again. She was not halter broke when I got her and had not been handled much - did not know about picking up her feet, scared of brushes etc. I don't know if someone would go through the trouble/cost to have such a procedure done on a horse that they cared to do nothing else with... I don't think the 'dip' I mentioned in my last post is anything. I've since looked at a bunch of pictures of horses, as well as my friends horses today, and many of them have this 'dip' - some are even more obvious than my girls'. Any other thoughts DrO, or should I leave well enough alone??? She is booked with a trainer to be started under saddle in 4 weeks...
Lee C
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 - 12:33 pm:
The procedure is common and inexpensive Lee. Otherwise I do not have a notion as to why your horse does this. You would think problems would involve lameness and the excessive resting of the sore leg or if bilaterally lame a shifting back and forth.
DrO
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Member:
leec
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 - 1:45 pm:
Okay, thank you DrO. Say it was done - is there anything I should be concerned about in the future, or with her going into training?
Lee C
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