Hi all, I have a 4 year old AQHA gelding I purchased very recently who drags his toes behind at the walk only. I had an extensive PPE done, and he is completely sound, including rads and flexions. He is wearing his hinds flat across. He is getting his first set of shoes done with me this week, and I am wondering if there is anything farrier wise that can help with this? He is lazy, but does not drag above the walk. Trot and canter are fine. Again he had an excellent PPE, rads and flexions are great.
Personally I would not try any fancy farrier work; he’s sound, all you’re likely to do is mess him up.
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My horse drags his toes as well. It is simply how he moves. The shoe is set slightly forward (1/16 of an inch at most) to protect the toe, but that is it. He is sound and moves very lovely in dressage.
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If toes are long, then they can cause the dragging, and toes need to be properly trimmed back.
If he’s being lazy, he needs to learn to use himself properly. Lots of lazy horses drag at the walk but not trot.
If he’s living/working on abrasive footing, sometimes you have to shoe to protect the foot.
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You might try walking through cavaletti….
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Agree that cavaletti work has helped my lazy/quiet horse strengthen and engage his hind end. Increasing turnout also seems to help - he drags his toes the worst when coming out of his stall after being in for an extended period.
Also will note that my horse wore his (barefoot) toes down when my barn replaced the arena footing. Could be your horse is also adjusting to new footing? After a couple months, his hooves returned to normal shape/appearance. Don’t know if he/his feet somehow adapted…
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Without knowing where you are located … if you can spare some funds for an EPM antibody test, I’d do it – if it were me who lives in EPM-land.
Had a horse who was a toe-dragger. It took years to sort out what was the reason – but there were reasons. EPM, also some back issues (fascia, lumbar, things that don’t show up on x-rays). Now, he no longer toe-drags. Sometimes a diagnosis is not the easiest thing to find.
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We are in AZ. I will test for it
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His fronts where horribly long when I got him.
Does he do it all the time or only when under saddle?
How did the previous owner ride him?
How much growing has this horse still to do, as it is only 4?
Strengthening work might be the obvious solution, such as pole work or cavalletti.
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what happens when you really make him do an engaged, forward walk?
If my horse isn’t incentivized in some manner to really walk forward, you’d think he was about to keel over. Never wants to expend more energy or effort than necessary.
Agree that cavaletti work at the walk can be very beneficial–so much you can do that works their brains and butts!
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He does it both under saddle, and just in general. He has been lightly started. W/T, he has cantered a few times
Did he always live in AZ? If he’s dragging his toes just wandering around on his own, then that’s probably enough to cause some toe wear in conditions like you’ve typically got in AZ. I wouldn’t worry about it too much; just put on shoes.
Last fall, my horse began dragging her toes behind only at the walk. I’m on the east coast and tick borne diseases are common here. Vet tested and found she had anaplasmosis. She did about three weeks (?) on minocycline and it cleared up.
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