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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447
 
Location: New York | My 8 year old gelding drags his hind feet a little bit. It isn't noticeable on hard ground, only in deeper dirt, like an arena. He's had an on and off issue with turning the 1st, and I'm thinking the two might be connected? So far this year he's drug a barrel over to win a race and placed in the 3d with almost 700 horses. Then other times he'll act like he wants to go up the wall. He went to a lameness vet last fall, and he didn't find anything wrong. I'm going to take him back there or maybe to a different vet, but I'm just looking for opinions on what it might be.
Here's him running last weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pYeJ-FM6dc
His 2nd and 3rd are always good and even w/ the 1st barrel on that run, he was .9 off the winner. |
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 Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | I am interested to hear any responses. My Arab drags his hind toes terribly. |
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | Stifle issues. |
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 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Yep stilfes. Lots of long trotting, going over ground poles, and backing will help. Try to avoid loping and circles for at least a week while you condition the stifles. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I third the stifle problems |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | the hopping makes me think hocks, but it could be either hocks or stifles. I would get a second opinion because he definitely looks in pain in that video. |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Bunny hopping in the hind end is also a big indicator to stifles. A horse with stifle issues usually would rather not lope because that is when they usually catch especialy when in a tight circle. |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | mine does drag and it has been an indication of hocks. when taken care of he doesn't drag . |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 3:56 PM
Yep stilfes. Lots of long trotting, going over ground poles, and backing will help. Try to avoid loping and circles for at least a week while you condition the stifles.Â
aside from exercise, do you do anything else (ie: poultice, cold hosing, liniment?) to help get said horse "better?" |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I've heard it can be both and by the looks of your horse in the video I'd say both of them.
Look at his tail set when he comes into the arena; when they hold their tail like up and out its usually a sign of pain. He's also bunny hopping the turn, which can be hocks and the toe dragging can be hocks and stifles.
If he were mine I'd be taking him to the vet for some rads and injections. Keep in mind the rads can show clean, but that doesn't mean there won't be inflammation in the joint.
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | Crowned Image - 2014-04-29 4:54 PM Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 3:56 PM Yep stilfes. Lots of long trotting, going over ground poles, and backing will help. Try to avoid loping and circles for at least a week while you condition the stifles. aside from exercise, do you do anything else (ie: poultice, cold hosing, liniment? ) to help get said horse "better?"
I love Sore No More poultice. I find it soothes sore stifles and helps keep them tight. The number one thing for stifles is exercise. There is no getting around that as long as there is no injury involved such as a tear, bone spur, etc. Keeping the horse turned out and not stalled is also important. |
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Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2014-04-29 4:55 PM I've heard it can be both and by the looks of your horse in the video I'd say both of them.
Look at his tail set when he comes into the arena; when they hold their tail like up and out its usually a sign of pain. He's also bunny hopping the turn, which can be hocks and the toe dragging can be hocks and stifles.
If he were mine I'd be taking him to the vet for some rads and injections. Keep in mind the rads can show clean, but that doesn't mean there won't be inflammation in the joint.
Yep they do coincide quite often. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447
Location: New York | Thanks everyone! I figured he had something going on, I'm gonna make him a vet appointment tomorrow. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| Stifles but have the opposite hock checked also. In other words if the left stifle is sore quite often the right hock will be sore from compensation. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2014-04-29 5:55 PM I've heard it can be both and by the looks of your horse in the video I'd say both of them.
Look at his tail set when he comes into the arena; when they hold their tail like up and out its usually a sign of pain. He's also bunny hopping the turn, which can be hocks and the toe dragging can be hocks and stifles.
If he were mine I'd be taking him to the vet for some rads and injections. Keep in mind the rads can show clean, but that doesn't mean there won't be inflammation in the joint.
Ditto to that.. My one gelding showed clean..no synovial fluid in his joints.. one hock and milky the other..Id go by symptoms this time and inject. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Just Bring It - 2014-04-29 5:13 PM
WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2014-04-29 4:55 PM I've heard it can be both and by the looks of your horse in the video I'd say both of them.Â
Look at his tail set when he comes into the arena; when they hold their tail like up and out its usually a sign of pain. He's also bunny hopping the turn, which can be hocks and the toe dragging can be hocks and stifles.
If he were mine I'd be taking him to the vet for some rads and injections. Keep in mind the rads can show clean, but that doesn't mean there won't be inflammation in the joint.
Â
Yep they do coincide quite often. Â
my thinking of this is because their actions are linked. the stifle can't flex without flexing the hock, and vice versa. It's called the reciprocal apparatus!
*sigh*. I am taking a study break…large animal anatomy final exam is tomorrow. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| It could be stifle and or,hocks or both. tale him to a good lamness vet. Let,then tell you. |
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