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  Discussion on Kicking rear leg repetitively
Author Message
Member:
Lorozco

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2004 - 9:09 pm:

I have a 12 year old T'bred gelding that is exhibiting some odd behavior under saddle. He seems to move comfortably, but has a little arthritis in the hocks. When standing still under saddle, he often flexes his hind leg up high like a stork, then kicks out (not violently) in a repeating motion. He will do it with either leg, but once he starts on one side he stays with that side until you move him. He obviously has a great deal of training and is normally well-behaved, but sometimes will suddenly stop, refuse to go forward, and get extremely agitated. Nothing short of dismounting will calm him. I originally though he was having some pain, but he has been vetted, checked by an equine chiropractor, and his saddle fit has been checked. The kicking happens often, but the stop-then-freak-out thing only happens about once in 20 rides.
At this point we believe the problem to be a mental/emotional problem, but does his specific behavior ring a bell with anyone? I read the article on tying up which mentioned the hind leg flexing, and it occurred to me I should post this horse's problem in case it is symptomatic of a muscular or nervous system disease.
Member:
Redmare

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2004 - 9:20 pm:

Laura,

Sounds like a medical problem, but it could also be some tack related discomfort. Are you using a neoprene girth? I've seen sensitive horses react to it in this way. Switching to felt or fleece solved the problem.
Member:
Beasley

Posted on Monday, Dec 13, 2004 - 10:28 pm:

Hi Laura. You said you had him vetted, but it sure sounds like a medically related behavior to me. I have a horse with a mild stiffle problem who will all of a sudden stick one back leg straight up and out and kick it repeatedly. He does, however, stop it on his own and never did it under saddle. But, your problem sounds close and the sore hocks, I believe,would go along with the stiffle catching. Just my thoughts.
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004 - 11:50 am:

Hi Laura,

It sure sounds like a medical problem to me, both Price, 15 yo Arab x welch and William 18 Paso x do this stork kicking.

You mention that dismounting calms him down, is he in pain?.

I wonder if tendon/support boots (wolf have some really good ones) and adding cod liver oil in his feed will help yours as it has helped mine. It also has the bonus of getting their coat very shiny.

This problem I find gets worse in winter when any arthritic / bone problems comes to the surface.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004 - 4:49 pm:

Laura, is his sheath clean?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004 - 10:11 am:

Hello Laura,
Horses exhibit this behavior under either "behavoral" or "painful" conditions. I have seen horses frustrated that they could not go where they want to or waiting to be fed do this, though I don't remember the stork motion in these cases. I have seen both local pain and colic cause kicking out with the stork motion. Colic when being ridden, cause unknown, is a common problem in horses and the fact he does it with both legs suggest it is not a local phenomena. The next time you he does this, you might try 10 cc flunixin, get it from your vet and pack it to stay safe while ridden, to see if this relieves the problem.
DrO
Member:
Skye

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004 - 7:07 pm:

Hi, Laura, the horse of a friend didn't kick like yours does, but he did stop and refuse to go forward. Somehow they determined the problem was in his intestines.

Sorry, but that's all I know.

Ellie
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