I have a 4 year old Friesian Sporthorse mare, who -trys- to walk around with one leg in the air, all the time. We have had the farrier and the vet out, and they say there's nothing wrong... Anybody know why she's doing this?
2007-07-24 05:47:23 · 15 answers · asked by awfulxjustxtoxsee 2 in Pets ➔ Horses
She is handled very easily, you can lift/brush/touch/pick out her leg and hoof and she is absolutely fine. She doesn't do it when ridden, only in crossties and when she is outside in her paddock. The only thing that is wrong with her hooves is the fact that she is pigeon-toed. When she was one, her owners tried to cut the hooves themselves instead of having a farrier do it. They cut them wrong so her bones grew the wrong way, and now she is pigeon-toed. But other then that, she's fine to ride, etc.
2007-07-24 06:27:01 · update #1
That is never something that is normal.
Front or back leg??
back leg, suspect stifle
I would either have this horse evaluated for a locking stifle or have a chiropracter out. May even have an accupuncturist look at her.
2007-07-24 06:52:27 · answer #1 · answered by Mulereiner 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Get a second opinion, from a different vet and a different farrier. Have X-rays taken. This is not normal, and I highly doubt it's a behavior problem if she is moving around like this all the time. Horses won't go to so much trouble for attention-she might lift a leg for attention or as her way of complaining while being handled or in cross-ties, but not consistently like you say your mare is doing.
It could be anything: an abcess starting to form in her hoof, a stone stuck under her shoe, a pulled tendon in her upper leg or shoulder, a pinched nerve. Her back could be sore-is her saddle pinching? Or it could be something a lot more serious, like a hairline fracture in her leg. Really-get a second opinion from a different vet. This is not a behavior problem.
2007-07-24 12:59:06 · answer #2 · answered by Saiph 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It could be a behavior problem. I have a gelding that when he wants attention he will go get his front foot stuck in a fence, and you have to go get him out.
I would however get a second opinion vet wise. I would also get x-rays taken. Its better safe than sorry when it comes to your horses legs. If its a minor problem, then its best to catch it when its early on to better the outcome.
2007-07-24 14:40:03 · answer #3 · answered by g_kira1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like a little bit of OCD to me. i had an appaloosa gelding who did the very same thing at feeding time because he was starved out and very thin when i got him. the vet said that it was just a nervous behavior that would take time to overcome. he did. once he gained weight he stopped doing it. try changing enviornments with this horse and also have her shoulders and back x-rayed to make sure that nothing is pinching a nerve. you could also try an equine massage. i've had it done on my horses and it works wonders. especially the ones i compete on.
2007-07-24 15:05:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds a little like stringhalt. sp? its a genetic thing...not anything that you should put your horse down for but somewhat serious...can be passed on through generations.
talk to your vet, or get a new one because even if its not stringhalt, its still reasonably serious. horses dont do that normally so something is wrong.
2007-07-26 15:03:59 · answer #5 · answered by phneehowieollie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rock bruise
Abscess
broken off object in the hoof - like a wire or stick or something like that
sore coffin bone - from when she was so badly trimmed
2007-07-24 13:47:15 · answer #6 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
if its a back leg i would say a stifle problem. i just went thru that with my horse. no swelling or heat but 2 times his leg got "stuck". call another vet and have them check it out. or ask your vet to specifically check the stifle. its a quick an easy fix.
2007-07-24 16:35:45 · answer #7 · answered by peterrabbit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She may have a sore on her leg that she is trying to keep from touching the ground
2007-07-24 13:21:51 · answer #8 · answered by jerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is just having her leg lifted a lil just not lifting it all the way off of the ground then she could just be relaxing her leg.
2007-07-24 23:25:21 · answer #9 · answered by marissa t 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
umm...there's alot of things that could be wrong with her leg. does the horse let people handle it easily? is it swollen? feverish?
I'm not sure what to guess at unless you can provide some more information.
2007-07-24 12:57:18 · answer #10 · answered by CruelChick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋