I’ve got an question about horses with equilibrium problems, it’s not my horse she is perfectly healthy it’s one of my sister in laws horses.
For some reason my sister in law has it stuck in her head that her horse has equilibrium problems, even though the horse has never been checked by a vet or farrier to prove that it has this issue, she just assumed it.
I’ve tried to tell her that I didn’t think her horse has the issue but like normal it just went in one ear and out the other.
I interact with the horse on a regular basis, and nothing that the horse did showed a red flag.
the only reason my sister in law thinks that her horse has this issue is because the horse refuses to hold up her front feet for very long, the horse will pretty much (from my experience) put all her weight in the leg your holding until you let go then drop and jump right back up, but if you pick up a hind leg she will stand perfectly fine.
Anyway can anyone with any information or personal experience with horse equilibrium problems please let me know what kind of signs other then picking up hooves horses show with this issue.
thanks for the long read and any information, I’ll try to answer any questions if I can.
That sound more like the horse is sore somewhere and it is uncomfortable to hold up the front feet but not the hind feet. Or the horse needs a manner’s refresher. How is the horse for the farrier and has the farrier mentioned anything? My farrier can always tell if my horse is a little stiffer than normal somewhere.
If it’s a balance issue, the use of Valium (injectable for horses) calms the inner ear. It works. Your vet can supply it and dosage. If there is no difference, it isn’t an inner ear problem. That would be a test.
The other test you can do is a bute test, give bute and see if the horse is any better. If not, perhaps it’s a training problem.
Their farrier is a joke to be honest he doesn’t take his job seriously. I’ve never noticed stiffness shes always running with the other horses in the pasture just fine, first one up the hill to be fed.
I can try to get my sister in law to get a vet out to look at her but I don’t think she will do it.
An injury can make them not want to pick up or hold up front leg(s). I have one now with a suspected shoulder injury
and she suddenly started not wanting me to clean, trim or hold up one front leg.
Is one leg worse than the other? Has the horse always had this issue or is it new?
From what I understand she’s always done this since they’ve owned her.
In My Experience some horses DO have balance problems holding up a front leg for very long. It could be a training
issue or just inexperience learning to balance. Just like some horses are very athletic and some are not- some horses
naturally have good balance and some don’t. Young horses and foals have to learn to balance on 3 legs if you want to work on one. Maybe you’re sister-in-laws horse needs more practice doing it. Some more stubborn horses may take
longer to train to balance and assist in cleaning or trimming. Horses are all different just like we are.
I agree, the farrier they use would give up on trying to trim her fronts so they have been just letting them grow out and break off, without any concern on how it could effect her conformation, her hinds stay pretty short compared to her fronts from what I’ve noticed not sure if that could be the cause of the balance problem.
Training wise they like to “train” their horses when they are extremely drunk it’s sad to watch.
Based on this post and that you doubt you can get you SIL to get the vet out I would walk away. Do not discuss horses with these people. They are yahoos. Do not care about their horses and don’t really want to improve their knowledge. Not your circus not your monkeys. Talking about their horses and being involved with them with horses will only frustrate you. You will not be able to change them.
They have decided to be negligent in how they treat their horses. There are many solutions to the farrier not being able to trim the front feet. “Self trimming” is not a good choice. Walk away, these are shitty uncaring owners who really should own an ATV not a living creature.
