KJF asked: I have noticed that my mare’s right hind leg seems to buckle and give out on her. She hasn’t fallen (although it leads to a very noticeable “jerk” back), and it hasn’t been a problem, but I’m still worried. I’ve only witnessed it happening while I was riding her, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen in the pasture (and no, I’m not too heavy for her, I weigh a whopping 115). It seems to happen more often after a hard workout, and more often on rocky or difficult terrain, although it has happened in the arena too. She’s been off of regular work for probably a year, so I’m wondering if I’m working her too hard and she just weak? She’s approximately 8, she doesn’t wear any sort of boots or wraps, she’s barefoot. She’s had every vaccine available (with weeks in between, obviously) because I’m paranoid. She gets turned out all day, stalled at night. That’s all the relevant info I can think of. I’m going to call the vet, but I just wanted to know if anyone’s experienced something like this
It happens maybe once a day, or every other day, or sometime twice in one ride. It also happens much more frequently going downhill.
You’re right, it would be hard to get her to do it in front of the vet. I would probably have her do a neuro exam as that is the worrisome area - lameness and tripping can get better. A neurological condition often just gets worse : (
Although I think it’s a good sign that it only happens to one leg in terms of the possibility of a neurological condition.
Oh, also, she did have an injury a couple months ago to her left hind cannon bone. Tried to kick a mare through a pipe gate and got stuck in it (she was totally provoked by this mean mare next to her!). Destroyed the gate. Her cannon bone and around/above her fetlock was very swollen but she wasn’t lame in the slightest. Even the vet said I should keep exercising her. On the other hand, my mare is amazingly sweet and does NOT show pain in any situation. I don’t know why. I’ve never seen her pin her ears (although she probably did when she kicked that horse, but I didn’t see it)- girth tightening, shots, poking and prodding bumps, of course consequently I’m very aware of when she could be in pain, so I’m very careful… Do horses get that chronic insensitivity to pain like humans do? If so she has it. Either that or she truly is the sweetest mare God ever made.
She’s a tennessee walker, but she doesn’t do the running walk (yet!). She does have a tendency to flat walk, and I think that’s when it happens most - flat walk or trot. She also just barrels on like a tank and as a result is clumsy. But again, same leg makes me think it isn’t a coincidence.
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