Horse standing close behind

[blob99]

I have a 9 year old mare who i’ve owned since she was 3. Lately, I’ve noticed that she’s been standing with her hind hooves very close together, practically touching.

She has not always stood this way, so I’m curious about what this might indicate.

She does not travel close behind when she’s being ridden. And when I halt under saddle, she’s nearly always square and not close behind. But when she’s standing in pasture, cross-ties, or in her stall she often chooses to to stand very close behind.

There’s nothing else going on with her or our work. Meaning, she is more or less the same in every other way. But she is a very stoic horse when it comes to pain/discomfort.

Curious to hear other’s experience with this or thoughts on what might be the cause.

[Postandrails]

First thing to check would be that her hind feet aren’t higher on the inside heels and quarters than the outside. If so, that’s a really easy fix.

[beowulf]

May be a sign of unbalanced trim, as Postandrails mentioned - it also can be a sign of back soreness (which can be caused by unbalanced trims).

Not unusual for horses with overall body malaise to stand that way either, standing under themselves to ‘posturally’ protect their backs.

Got pictures of her feet?

[Helicon]

It can mean the SI is sore

[blob99]

Thanks all. I can take pictures of her feet this coming week and post them (I’m out of town atm).

I have recently switched farrier, she’s just gotten her second trim with the new farrier because the previous farrier was leaving her toe very long, and very possible he was also leaving things unbalanced in other ways.