Weak back leg?

Question

Has anyone ever heard of a horse with a weak back leg? I went out on Sunday to look at a horse, and noticed than when he walked (only when he walked) it seemed like the leg "popped". And when he set his back foot down, it twisted a bit to the inside or outside and then straightened up. The lady's trainer said it was because he had a weak back leg (the right one), and it'll get better with excersize. Is that something that might cause the horse problems when he get's older? I'm nervous on even going out and looking at the horse more.

What do you think? I don't really want to pay the pre-buyers checkup if lots of people think a weak back leg is bad. Also I don't want to buy him and end up having problems with his back leg later on.

Don't know if it matters, but he's a 12 year old Morgan gelding

the horse does seem to be a fairly low price...I've seen lower, but for a pure bred Morgan (from what they said) I thought $2,500 for him was a little cheap..maybe it's just me. The other horse that I'm looking at is $3,600 and she's a registered paint.

I do like the horse, but he didn't really meet the description that the lady told me. She said he was really outgoing and loves attention from anyone. But when I went up to look at him, he pulled back his head. I wasn't going up fast on him, I walked slowly over. Also she mentioned something about him going to a chiropractor (I'm sure I spelt that wrong)

I would, of course, get a vet check if he's a horse I really do want, but with the back leg problem I don't know if it's something I should get a vet for, or just walk away from the horse.

I'm not nervous actually being around the horse. His attitude is great! He's like a puppy almost. It's the weak leg I'm "afraid" of. I'm just worried that if I do buy him, that it might lead to something when he get's older; arthritis or something else.
Since I'm only working part time and still in school, I have a limited ammount of money coming in. So I have to worry about vet bills that might come up due to the leg.

the lady who owns him says he's ridden about 2 times a week, and is lundged about 3 times a week for him to get excersize. She's owned him for two years, and just now noticed the weak leg (I was the one that day the tight back leg, as it jerked when he walked and the foot twisting). She did suggest me getting a vet to look at it. But in my area the vet pre-purchase exams are pretty expensive, and I'd hate to give the money to do that, and end up not liking the horse, or having that horse not be the right horse for me.

@Carol
I'm nervous about going out and looking at the horse more, because I don't want to fall in love with the horse and then find that the leg will be a problem, a problem that I won't be able to take care of (money wise)

Answer 1

First, I'd say the lady's trainer is full of more crap than a porta potty. Even if that's their "honest" opinion, they should be encouraging you to have YOUR vet check it out, if they are truly HONEST. Otherwise, don't have anything to do with these horse traders.

Would you say the horse is "short strided?" (The "weak" leg doesn't reach as far forward as the other side in motion.)

If it's just a mild stifle issue, it may or may not cause problems when he gets older. It may resolve on its own, or it may require surgery. (My mare's resolved on its own...my friend's gelding had surgery. Both are sound and fine now, my mare is 13 now and still packing my friend's grandkids out on the trail. My friend's gelding is sound as well.)


Never, ever buy a horse with an obvious physical issue without a pre-purchase. That they are giving you a line about "excercize" will fix it...it just sets off all kinds of alarms in my head that they are being less than forthcoming.

Answer 2

I would get a vet check done, but 1 weak leg isn't always a problem. If he hasn't been ridden much (even if they say he has, look at his condition) it could be weak. If they do not work it correctly, it could be weak as well. The trainer is right that simple exercise can fix the problem, if it is just a weakness. An example is not having to ever pick up the canter lead with that hind leg on the inside- it is very hard for a horse with a weak back leg.


My mare has a weaker right hind leg. I do conditioning regularly and make sure to work that leg. She has gotten a lot better, but I ride regularly, and have been for 5 yrs on her (8 yr old now)- you don't notice a difference. The only problem is that if she pulls a muscle,it will usually be in that back leg. I let her sit for a couple days and she is as good as new. I have her on glucosamine injections, but that is more for a precaution since she is a draft and does dressage- two things hard on the joints. You may want to consider that option, and it is cheap- $100 for a year.
By the way, we do 1st level dressage with that hind leg...you will have to work to get him into condition, which could be why he is so cheap, but as long as the vet okays it as a simple weakness and not a physical problem, I wouldn't worry about it. The horse market is also flooded, and a lot of prices are down....the cheapest I have seen a greenbroke reg. morgan was $1000 around here.

If you are nervous- is it because of the horse's personality/attitude? Then move on and find another horse.

Make sure that you have a vet come in that probably doesn't know the horse, so you can get a second option. I would also do x-rays on that one leg just to make sure that the trainer isn't lying to you.

Answer 3

I would tell the owner you are interested in the horse, but you want her to have it checked by a vet. The horse needs to see a vet anyway and it should be her responsibility to do that. If you pay for the vet and then don't take the animal you are out the cash for something she should have already done. The bad leg could be a fracture just waiting to break.

Lots of luck. Don't go back out to see the horse until you get her agreement on the phone about the vet. Don't let yourself get emotional about a horse that may cost you a fortune and possibly have to be put down if it is a possible bad break or cancer.

Answer 4

Please don't buy him if you have any doubts..You will know when you find the right one. You will get (what I call) a heart-tug. I have come by all my horses this way and have never had a bad one. The last two were really not well at all, and not what we were looking for, but we just could not leave them. Sadly lost the first, but he lead us to another.That was 2 years ago and now he is just the most amazing pony anyone ever had. You have to have an affinity with the person inside. A soul mate kind of thing, to be truly happy (for you both)

Answer 5

I totally agree with cnsdubie. It could be anything and with such a wide scope of possible problems, it would be best to have him vet checked. Personally I'd walk away and look for something else - there are hundreds of horses out there. I don't deal with people that aren't honest. For example, I looked at one TB, rode well, very nice looking and they said he was 11. They seemed very nice people and I did like the seller. Anyway I checked his tattoo while they weren't looking and ran the number - came back that he was 17!!! It's so easy to get caught out when buying a horse. His back leg might be caused by his back, pelvis, hips, tendons, joints - there's a whole world of things that could be wrong even neurological. Walk away....

Answer 6

it may be a muscle problem which may improve with work as the muscles improve however i haven't seen the horse myself. I would suggest if you liked the horse to get a vet out to check so you no for sure as its not worth just taking the owner's word for it. if the horse is cheaply priced this may mean it is a serious problem. the best bet is to get an opinion from a vet or if she can afford this at least a trainer etc who has a lot of experience with horses.

Answer 7

Not sure if this is really a "weak" leg. You don't mention the price, but you really need a pre-purchase exam - just to have the vet examine the horse it won't cost too much. This could be a stifle injury which takes months of rehab work...so know what you are getting into.

Answer 8

I had the same problem as well. It can be kind of tough to build up leg strength sometimes, but if you're willing to put effort in then you can build up strength quickly. Here's some things I'd reccomend doing... Swimming laps with no hands Bike riding Jogging Working out at the gym Riding even more!!! ;) Good luck!

Answer 9

just a comment about the chiropractor, my horse has to be chiropracted about once a year. she was trained for the track, but she busted her suspensories and tore a ligament [or something like that] so she had to stop before she even raced. the torn ligament might be like the weak leg you described. my horse always rested the back right leg or stood with it facing outward. turns out it was the one with the torn ligament.
i say have a chiro come out if there hasnt been one come in a while, and ask him/her about the back leg [my chiro charges $65 a visit]. or talk to the last chiro if it was recent.
good luck

Answer 10

Walk away, don't look back...besides, there are great horses our there for sale for half as much...remember, the market is down? You are just asking for a HUGE vet bill if you do anyhthing more with this horse...like I said, turn around, say goodbye as you are doing so and get in your car and leave, do NOT look back...