Scuffing hind toes

[Kit]

I'm just bringing my horse back into work (2days in) and I notice scuffing of the hind toes at the trot. None at walk and nothing at canter. Just did a couple of 20m circles at canter both ways to check. She's always scuffed them a bit - probably a bit lazy, but should I be looking for anything else? She doesn't seem to be sore anywhere in her body, but I'm not an expert. I've run my hands all over her, especially her hind area. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Might get a chiro to check her later in the week.

[JB]

Unless you have reason to suspect an injury, I would chalk it up to not working correctly enough :)

[JLR1]

My mare was a toe-dragger to an extent but it really became bad when her hocks needed to be injected.

[Thomas_1]

Hock or stifle problem

[EqTrainer]

Is she actually built to not drag her toes?

I see soooooo many horses who aren't built to get their hind feet off the ground and never will, that it begs the question.

[Kit]

Thanks for your replies. Really good points thanks. I will keep an eye on things as she gets her fitness back. I'm thinking maybe a bit of stiffness over the sacro area as she did hurt that a few years back. I should have mentioned that but she has had no trouble for a long time as in 2 years. Also hocks... maybe. She is level, not up in front as such. She has good conformation, straight moving, so no, I don't think it is her build. Can send you a pic privately if you like.

[Chall]

Is she actually built to not drag her toes?
What build predisposes a horse not to drag toes?

[potteryshop]

I find my guy wears down his hind toes when he a) needs hock injections, b) out of shape, or c) is being lazy (or is it I'm being lazy?). I work on B or C before resorting to A.

[Beasmom]

My gelding toe dragged due to a back injury. He could not track up at all. He has a calcification in the mid-part of his thoracic spine and had an almost hunch-backed look to the lumbar with a dip just before the sacrum. His rear end was terribly atrophied. I purchased him approximately 18 months after this mysterious injury. No one knows if it was due to a fall over a fence or perhaps a transport mishap when he was imported from Germany.

The vet who examined him at pre-purchase recommended lots of walking, especially up and down hills, leg-yields to increase range of motion in the hind end, which was terribly atrophied at time of purchase, also chiropractic, accupuncture and massage techniques helped him. Due to the nature of my gelding's injury, the vet warned me not to canter him for a couple of months until he gained some strength through hill work at walk and trot.

Later on, ground rail grids further strengthened him. He's fine under saddle now, but he still slouches around the pasture, toe dragging.

For your horse, it could well be stifle/hock, or, like my gelding, something to do with her back injury. That would be my guess. A thorough physical exam should shed some light. Are you in touch with the vet who treated/diagnosed the original injury?

[Kit]

Well after today when she hardly did it all, I think (HOPE) it is just a matter of getting her fit again. She's had bruised toes from shoeing and they're just starting to come right now but it's been 8 weeks :(

[Beasmom]

Yeah, could simply be a fitness issue!

[Hilltopfarmva]

I have a 7 year old mare that I have owned since she was a yearling. She has toe dragged her entire life. No hock or stifle issues, it is just her. She tracks up really well and it is not laziness. She toes drags bad enough that you know when she was been ridden in the ring. She raced one time and now she is doing 3'6" jumpers with no issues. The only thing she does is swap out behind at the canter on the turns when she is not fit.

[Kit]

Oh good, well I'll just keep building her up and see how we go. She tracks up well. Once I'm ready for lessons again, I'll see what my trainer thinks. Thanks guys!