Traveling very narrow behind

[ptownevt]

My daughter's 18 year old TB mare is being brought back into work after several years of broody and neglect. She still has a long ways to go with building muscle, especially her topline. With that in mind, she travels very, very narrow behind. Think almost a single line of tracks for her hind feet. She sort of steps out and around the other hind foot landing in front of it. She travels narrow in the front too, but not nearly as bad as the hind. She does not stand narrow.

Could it be weakness? A hip problem? Her back and hips do not seem sore.
I am having a lameness eval done the second week of March specifically for some ongoing lameness in her left front, likely arthritis. I will also have this problem looked at, but I would like to hear your comments on this.
Thanks,
Pam

[mvp]

Weakness behind is a pretty good hypothesis. Remember that horses need to support the whole back half of their body on only one of the hind legs during the weight-bearing phase of a stride (of course this differs at different gaits). So the weak but self-preserving horse brings her hind leg beneath the center of her body to do that.

You might also look for hock pain during your lameness exam. Many horses begin to travel (but also stand) base-narrow when their hocks hurt. Pinpointing lameness in the hind end is complicated business.

If your are having your vet out anyway, you might as well ask him or her to evaluate the hind end while you are looking at the front. Otherwise, this might be a "wait and see" thing. You could put ankle or splint boots on her behind, continue work and see if the problem gets better as she gets stronger.

Best of luck with reconditioning your mare!

[Las Olas]

Unfortunately, without seeing the horse move and it's conformation, no one here would really be able to help you. I can tell you (from years of breeding TBs), that a lot of conformational faults/issues are excerbated by multiple pregnancies and age. This may be something you can help by building up the muscle, but only your vet (and time) is going to be able to determine that.

Good luck!

[BornToRide]

Could simply be that she's just lacking conditioning. The aductor and pectoral muscles typically overpower the lateral muscles that tend to be weaker. Once they become stronger you might see this to be less of an issue with her.

[pines4equines]

My horse is very narrow behind. So close behind that boots are actually too bulky for him. I use polos because he can hit himself so bad, he'll stock up. Just wanted to mention because if your horse is tripping over boots, use the polos. I bought the extra long polos and then do an extra wrap around the ankles where he hits himself the worst.

Yes, I know he's a conformational dream?!?!:lol:

[merrygoround]

I would suspect that her conformation behind is base narrow, very! Time off as a brood mare, why?, has not improved her muscles. Perhaps putting her back in work will build enough muscle between her hind legs, so that she will not be so severely compromised.

[ptownevt]

I am not the one who used her as a broodmare. I love her dearly, but truthfully she isn't a TB that simply must be used to better the breed. I'm right there with you on that one. We purchased her two years ago as a profoundly depressed, emaciated, sick girl. At that time, the vet thought she had something neurological going on because she couldn't control her hindquarters, you could swing her back and forth with her tail. She could not brace against it; nor could she step across to turn sharply. Now she just moves narrow behind. She's recovered from all the rest. It was weakness from starvation and illness.
Pam

[Appassionato]

Like mvp, I thought "hocks" immediately. Considering she already has some arthritis, I'd look into Adequan IM. It's not expensive if you do the shots yourself. Actually, it's about the same as the feedthrus on a maintenance dosage!

Of course the lameness eval is a great idea too, I'd check that out as well. Maybe some Surpass on the hocks or stifles to help?

When building a topline on a TB, I'm of the thought that TBs tend to have higher protein needs so that may be something to look into as well.

Good luck and it sounds like y'all are heading in the right direction to help the ole gal out! :winkgrin:

[chicamuxen1]

Base narrow conformation. I have had two horses with this conformation. You're not going to change it. Use splint boots to protect them from brushing (interfering). Polos are just a lot of work and aggravation. the splint boots are far better protection and rinse easily in a bucket of water.

chicamuxen

[mhtokay]

I'd certainly have the vet check her out, just for an opinion and to rule out a neuro. problem. Many years ago I had a horse who was pretty chunky. An Arabian, and I think he was about 4 until I got around to riding him much. He'd interfere behind at the canter only. I don't remember any conformational issue that would contribute, but my farrier put outside weighted shoes on him (wider on the outside) and it went away. He's had a couple owners since and I can't say if I ever asked them about it, he's about 25 by now and had a long show career. So he may have outgrown the problem, or got better once he was further along in his training and fit.

[LouLove]

Stifles. My TB went through this. She actually interfered. She had a stifle OCD. Unless shoeing was absolutely balanced and she was fitted up, she would go right back to interfering.

LL

[Ghazzu]

Moving narrow behind, or standing narrow behind?
Not necessarily that same thing.

First thing I think about with a rope walker is hock pain.