My horse has started to rest one front leg, is that normal?
Question:
My horse has started to rest one front leg at a time and had normally stood with front legs in line and even. I know this is normal for the hind legs, but didn't think this was a good sign for the front legs. My vet said " oh it's just like people resting one leg or another", but I am concerned.
My farrier doesn't see anything when he is trimming her and says her hoofs look healthy.
Please help me or suggust where I might do research.
Answer:
The front legs of the horse are so-called fixed and function mainly in the supportive fashion of the horses, while the hind legs in addition to the supportive function serve to propel the animal and are not –so-called fixed, hence horses need to rest them, unlike the front legs.
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When the horse rests or sleeps standing up the fronts are locked in the supportive fashion and one of the hid legs is also locked, while the horse rests the other. This is a normal position when a horse is resting-sleeping.
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If the horse is favoring, pointing his front leg(s) forward, or if he just leans slightly to one side there is a problem and it is not normal, in as much as it is not normal for the horse to build up the bedding under its front heels when resting. You horse is about to show lameness in that front leg if the pain is related to the use of the horse. Just because the vet or the farrier cannot see some obvious problems, it does not mean that the horse is not in pain or lame.
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The pointing of the front leg, as well as the bedding building up under the heels, is a definite sign of unsoundness in the horse, horses do not rest their front legs by pointing them, as your vet suggested, which is in reality preposterous.
I am including links to related articles that may help you help your horse.
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If your horse is working on hard surfaces, especially in a riding ring (see lateral stress) or gallops on hard surface this may be the sign of upcoming more serious problems. If the surface you are riding on is not at least as deep as any thoroughbred racetrack, then it is too hard. The louder the front feet are when landing during gallop the more abusive the surface is.
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I do not know your horse, the breed, the width of the hoof, the weight of the horse, the use etc., hence I cannot be of much help. Only a guess; the problems in your case may point at the beginning of navicular related lameness or some arthritic changes in the fetlock or in the lower joints. Also it could be something minor and temporary and not related to the use of the horse, in which case it will more likely go away. Observe your horse, and if the pointing is more obvious after training, then it is more likely use related, in which case you need to do a proper adjustments (horse care, training, riding etc.) in order not to injure the horse further. The most common mistakes of veterinarians in diagnoses of lameness are that they focus too much on the cause of the lameness and completely ignore the environment and the source. The environment and the use of the horse will direct you to the relevant sources of injuries, which will help in the diagnoses.
See below articles and you may find the source and the diagnoses should be much easier.
Navicular - Foreword & Terminology (Disease, Syndrome or Injury?)
Navicular Stress & Consequences (Lameness)
Lateral Stress on Equine Limbs - Insure longevity of your horse.
Break-over - Understand this and keep your horse sound.
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