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My horse walks around with one leg held up2007-11-24 21:18:36

I have a 4 year old Friesian Sporthorse mare, who -trys- to walk around with one leg in the air, all the time. We have had the farrier and the vet out, and they say there's nothing wrong... Anybody know why she's doing this?

Answers:

That is never something that is normal.

Front or back leg??

back leg, suspect stifle

I would either have this horse evaluated for a locking stifle or have a chiropracter out. May even have an accupuncturist look at her.

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She may have a sore on her leg that she is trying to keep from touching the ground. If there is nothing wrong, and all else fails; you could tie a weight onto her hoof so that she needs to keep it down.

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Sometimes horses that when they just get tired every time she tries to do that kindof put that leg down I hope it works for you.

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umm...there's alot of things that could be wrong with her leg. does the horse let people handle it easily? is it swollen? feverish?

I'm not sure what to guess at unless you can provide some more information.

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Get a second opinion, from a different vet and a different farrier. Have X-rays taken. This is not normal, and I highly doubt it's a behavior problem if she is moving around like this all the time. Horses won't go to so much trouble for attention-she might lift a leg for attention or as her way of complaining while being handled or in cross-ties, but not consistently like you say your mare is doing.