Horse stands with back hooves on a slope

[bird4416]

I have a 12-13 year old morgan cross that likes to dig a spot to stand so that his heels in the back are raised. He has been doing it for a long time and exhibits no signs of lameness or even being uncomfortable. He is schooling Prix St George and can do everything well but needs more polish on the canter half -pirouettes and he thinks he can count better than me on the tempi changes so we sometimes have one less stride between the changes.

I have heard that when horses stand like this, it can indicate hock problems. Can anyone give any more info on this? I don't want to push him if its going to hurt him. I can be happy doing lower level stuff.

[DMK]

hock discomfort is what I have always heard, but there are a lot of steps between where he's at and doing lower levels.

Periodically over the years I put a wedge behind on my older horse. Usually it was only for a few months, coinciding when I was bringing him back from winter and getting ready for the show season. Once he was fitter, off they came. And of course there's still adequan, legend, joint injections and so on...

[JB]

Yep, can really be a sign of sore hocks.

If they are sore, the question then is - is that the primary issue. Long toes can make sore hocks.

Could be stifles too, since one "fix" for sore stifles is to increase the angle of the foot. That can be done 2 ways - raise the heels or lower the toes. Sometimes the toe plane gets vertically too high and needs to be lowered, which effectively "raises" the heels.

[dwblover]

Also look into DSLD/ESPA.

[bird4416]

I forgot to write that he is getting Adequan monthly as he has a rough spot in one of his fetlocks in the front. It has caused minor discomfort in the past but nothing in the last few years.

[bird4416]

Also look into DSLD/ESPA.

Of all the symptoms mentioned, he really only does the standing with his hind toes in a hole. However, we do suspect metabolic syndrome and treat he as such. I looking into getting him tested for this.

[Katy Watts]

negative plane P3. Get a lateral radiograph of hind feet to diagnose. This makes them sore from lumbar region all the way down the back leg. Also may tend to have bullnose hind hooves.

[c5rose]

Also look into DSLD/ESPA.

This would be my first thought.

[shawneeAcres]

Of all the symptoms mentioned, he really only does the standing with his hind toes in a hole. However, we do suspect metabolic syndrome and treat he as such. I looking into getting him tested for this.

DSLD is not metabolic, but a genetic condition where the suspensory aparatus of the hind limbs fails and the horses pasterns "drop". If I am not mistaken it is found in some lines of Morgans. Do his pastern appear to be dropped any? more "horizontal" than "vertical"? Does he have very straight stifles? If so then he could have DSLD which is progressive, but some peole manage with either trailers on hind shoes or wedges.

[LMH]

I agree with the thoughts given here:

1. negative coffin bone angle/long toes
2. DLSD
3. hocks

[Tutt]

No answers for OP. But once again so grateful for COTH
My horse has been doing this, too.
Maybe I've found a reason, and, hopefully, a fix.

[egontoast]

My teenaged horse has done this sort of thing for years. he definitely does not have DSLD. He does have some arthritis in his hocks but he is sound (as in sometimes comes out stiff but works out of it). he has been on legend and Adequan in the past but does not seem to need it now.

.

He has been doing it for a long time and exhibits no signs of lameness or even being uncomfortable

That's great news. I would not get too worried then. If you feel like spending money, you could put him on a course of IV legend and see what happens.

[BumbleBee]

and or strained flexor tendon(s) which could be caused by muscle tightnes at the muscle head of the tendon.