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  Discussion on DrOpping of a hip
Author Message
Member:
Byerazz

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 4:52 pm:

Dr. O,
I have a 8 yr old 16 hand QTR gelding that was raced 5 times. HE came to Michigan to join up back in the Spring from the University of Findley Horse College where his owner was attending. He has know known lameness issue that we know of but one hip does DrOp. I know during a flexen exam this is one thing the vets look for. Depending of the degree of the problem does a DrOpping of a hip limit the horse to trails or pasture or could it possibly still be used for other things?
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 8:00 pm:

My horse's hip is lower on the left than on the right because he has bad confirmation on the right off hind...as a result he has built up the right croup area to compensate.

I have to laugh because I to have a bad right foot that needs surgery and my right hip (the SI joint) has compensated by slightly rotating causing my one leg to be functionally shorter than the other from stiffness.....a certified animal and licensed human chiropractor at our last clinic saw this in my riding and said he could tell I was out as well....I find that amazing that he could see that!

Anyway, I was shown some stretching exercises to do for him, we call it our pony yoga, which he seems to love and I do these after every training session....then I go home and do my Yoga. Let's just say we understand each other!

He has never been lame other than once for some musculoskeletal overuse when we were training for a show.

We are currently training for level one in dressage and jumping 2'3 courses and 2'6 single fences at home.

I was told he would never win confirmation or halter classes but it hasn't seemed to affect us or our training in what we are trying to achieve. He is perfect to me!

Good Luck with him. Perhaps your vet can give you more guidance.

v/r
Corinne
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 12:06 am:

You know through out history there have been some phenomenal race horses that were toed in, knocked kneed...off kilter somehow. I'm not saying that conformation isn't important; it is. But, some lack in conformation doesn't always mean "the end" either.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 7:21 am:

Hello Sarah,
Lameness is defined as a deviation from the normal gait or posture due to pain or mechanical dysfunction. Since you state that the horse is not lame, I am uncertain what you mean by he DrOps a hip. Can you explain this further?
DrO
Member:
Byerazz

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 9:33 am:

Dr. O,
I know without seeing the horse you cannot say anything for sure but what your first thoughts are can be helpful so thank you in advance.
When the horse walks away from you in a straight line or any line you can see that his right hip DrOps lower then the left. If also is noticable at the trot the a circle. One think I can say is he is not put together all that good.
Could the DrOpping of these right hip be causing him a hard time to pick up his left lead? He use to be able to pick it up when being ridden all the time but now that he is out of shape it is hard. Thank you
Member:
Albionsh

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 11:03 am:

Can't see him, of course, but might it be that one hip is free and moving properly (DrOpping) and it is the other hip joint that needs released? I had a similar thing in my young stallion and the therapist was able to work on his upper hip joints and get both hips to rock evenly in the trot. It required a number of visits, since the joints and muscles had settled into an improper position. He is now moving freely and I can see the tops of both hips "DrOp" when he is in motion. Just a thought...

Nancy K
Member:
Byerazz

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 1:26 pm:

By the way I have had a vet look at him and he was the one that pointed out the DrOpping of the hip.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 30, 2005 - 6:29 am:

If you only see this at the walk, which can be uneven in sound horses, it may not be significant but if it is uneven at the trot this is a lameness by our definition and yes it could cause lead problems. First thing is that often it is the hip with the greatest excursion at the trot that is the lame side. The hip DrOp on the left may be the normal side while it is the hip hike that is the lame side, for more see Equine Diseases » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse.
DrO
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