Hi folks. Any thoughts on this one...
My horse, a 16.2 TB, 7yo, has just started refusing to allow anyone to pick up his hind feet (to pick them out, etc).
He has been fine up until now, but last week he started shaking his foot free after it had been held for a second and hastily putting it down with a foot shuffle. That progressed to refusing to allow you to hold them and now he puts his bum in the corner of the stable if he thinks that you might ask for them! He actually looks worried and runs to the other side of the stable if you try to pick them up.
You can still pick up the front ones without problems and he's still just as gentle as always when grooming, etc.
His movement looks slightly odd behind, but then it always has. When turned out he gallops and spins around like a two year old, so he doesn't seem in pain and I hacked him out Sunday without complaint.
We gave him some bute and a mild tranquiliser yesterday and he allowed his feet to be picked up, but later in the day he was the same again. I can't believe that the bute suppressed that much pain, but the tranquiliser might have had some effect.
Over the last month his feed has been increased gradually and feed supplements added. His previous owners definitely did not take care of him and his condition and spirit is getting much better as a result of recent care, but it's possible this might have had an effect.
I'm due to get a sinus problem (that we have discovered the previous owners left untreated for 3 years!) scoped in the next week or two so I'd prefer to leave any medical investigations until then if possible.
However, I'd be very interested in whether folks think this sounds to be behavioural or genuine discomfort. Also, if you've had a similar experience or have any ideas that I could try I'd be most grateful!
My horse, a 16.2 TB, 7yo, has just started refusing to allow anyone to pick up his hind feet (to pick them out, etc).
He has been fine up until now, but last week he started shaking his foot free after it had been held for a second and hastily putting it down with a foot shuffle. That progressed to refusing to allow you to hold them and now he puts his bum in the corner of the stable if he thinks that you might ask for them! He actually looks worried and runs to the other side of the stable if you try to pick them up.
You can still pick up the front ones without problems and he's still just as gentle as always when grooming, etc.
His movement looks slightly odd behind, but then it always has. When turned out he gallops and spins around like a two year old, so he doesn't seem in pain and I hacked him out Sunday without complaint.
We gave him some bute and a mild tranquiliser yesterday and he allowed his feet to be picked up, but later in the day he was the same again. I can't believe that the bute suppressed that much pain, but the tranquiliser might have had some effect.
Over the last month his feed has been increased gradually and feed supplements added. His previous owners definitely did not take care of him and his condition and spirit is getting much better as a result of recent care, but it's possible this might have had an effect.
I'm due to get a sinus problem (that we have discovered the previous owners left untreated for 3 years!) scoped in the next week or two so I'd prefer to leave any medical investigations until then if possible.
However, I'd be very interested in whether folks think this sounds to be behavioural or genuine discomfort. Also, if you've had a similar experience or have any ideas that I could try I'd be most grateful!