Horse stomping feet, why?

[SusanO]

I had a borrowed horse that was a stomper. He was a real fly magnet and he stomped constantly whether he had a fly on him or not. He also came with cracked front feet from the stomping which did not resolve very well. Fly wraps helped some with the stomping.

I also have a horse that I own that stomps, but not as bad as the other one. She was doing some really strange things with her hind legs and I thought “Oh no - does she have shivers?” Nope - this was summer time behavior and she was scratching the inside of one hind leg with the other leg. She tends to have itchy legs when the grass in the pasture gets tall, especially if it stays wet. I am in central Alabama so this is kind of hard to avoid and my pasture mower is not always available. So it may be due to insects or even wet grass/weeds in the pasture.

[Lunabear1988]

It’s only when the weather is cooler though so that’s what’s weird. Like we usually are having 90 degree days this time of year but yesterday was a high of 50 degrees!

Sure, he stomps at flies too but this stomping is more angry and not when any bugs are around… So weird.

[RhythmNCruise]

@SusanO

I also have a horse that I own that stomps, but not as bad as the other one. She was doing some really strange things with her hind legs and I thought “Oh no - does she have shivers?” Nope - this was summer time behavior and she was scratching the inside of one hind leg with the other leg. She tends to have itchy legs when the grass in the pasture gets tall, especially if it stays wet. I am in central Alabama so this is kind of hard to avoid and my pasture mower is not always available. So it may be due to insects or even wet grass/weeds in the pasture.

My gelding does the thing where he scratches one hind with the other. I call it his “cricket legs” move, LOL.

I keep Shoo-Fly leggings on him pretty much 24/7 (unless it’s an all-day rain or something) once the grass starts coming up and the first insect hits the scene. Luckily his small pasture never gets very tall, but bugs bother him and he’ll gnaw his legs bloody in summer. The leggings help so much. He’ll still do the back leg thing, even with his leggings on, but it’s rare.

[SusanO]

I have used multiple brands of leggings on her. She typically removes the hind ones in the pasture. I buy hot pink ones so they are not so hard to find. And I had some of the Warrier brand on her front legs and they rubbed a sore on her coronet band that took all summer to heal. I think the wet grass macerated her skin and the bottom of the wrap rubbed the wet skin - sort of like a blister on your foot. She is a speshul snoflake for sure. I can’t lock her in the stall if I want both of us to be sane.

[Libby2563]

FWIW (in a totally different part of the country), I had two not-normally-itchy horses get hives immediately after rain last summer. It seemed more likely after a few weeks of no rain beforehand. I assume the rain activates some spores or something? After it happened twice I started using Zyrtec and that did help. For the itchiest boy, I started giving him morning Aloedine baths as well, then backing down to just morning rinses when he came inside. Looking back at my notes, it was really just the month of June, so I guess I should be on alert again! It was a very wet May here though and I had no issues.

[Lunabear1988]

Interesting! That might be part of it. He definitely gets more itchy every spring/summer.

Of course it’s raining right now, after my weather app told me no rain today . I think it’s hailing too.

[Lunabear1988]

Ugh!! Well yesterday after a crazy storm (hard rain and hail) and another gloomy, but chilly morning (in the 50’s but dry now) he was hysterical acting this morning . Even with Zyrtec last night.

I had the saddle fitter out this morning and they thought it was so weird. He was stomping and kicking out so badly, it was borderline dangerous. But they agreed it was directed at us, he was fine being saddle. But it is like his skin is absolutely crawling. And for his legs, it’s crazy stomping and kicking out. No skin irritation that I can see. No hives, no rain rot, no scratches. Shiny and beautiful coat. Saddle fitter said his back and muscling looked absolutely wonderful.

He settled a little when I hand walked him but still obviously itching. He would bite occasionally anywhere he could - belly, butt, legs. Hosed his legs off with no relief.

Saddle fitter was like maybe he’s allergic to rain? Omg can you imagine. Whatever is seems connected to the rain but we need dry stretch of weather to be sure.

My vet was already coming in Monday. We are upping the zyrtec dosage and going to give him a really thorough bath with a gentle shampoo.

This is weird. The on and off nature of this is driving me nuts. He was totally 100% fine on Monday.

[Lunabear1988]

Sweet Itch: Itching for a Cure

Sounds like there is two types of no-see-um allergies. The first type seems much easier to treat…

Worst part is I don’t want him stalled because of his kissing spine and loose stifles.

[RhythmNCruise]

Is it only happening when it’s chilly after the rain?

A colleague of mine’s daughter is actually allergic to the cold. I’d never heard of such a thing, but it IS a real thing. I wouldn’t think this is likely your horse’s issue, but when you said the thing about him possibly being allergic to rain it made me think of it.

I can’t remember if he wears fly leggings or not? If not, would that be something to try? I don’t know if it would help, but it’s such a mystery I’d be willing to try all sorts of things. For my chronically itchy critter, I have found that keeping him in his Shoo-Fly leggings pretty much 24/7, rinsing him off every time he’s ridden, scrubbing his legs and belly with Equiderma Neem Shampoo once or twice a week plus a full bath with it every couple of weeks, using a natural fly spray on the daily and the “real stuff” only for riding (ETA: which gets rinsed off and replaced with the natural stuff after the ride), using EQyss Micro-Tek spray on belly and tail dock, slathering Equiderma Wound Ointment on any scabby places, AND including Spirulina in his diet has managed his itchies.

However, your case sounds much less typical, so I’m not sure what would work and what wouldn’t. Like you said, there’s no consistency. So weird.

[Lunabear1988]

He’s been fine in the winter but it feels like there is a component to the wet plus cold. But if course it’s humid the night it rains (which is why I haven’t been able to sheet him… Before the rain it’s hot then cools off over night and cool in the morning)

He has worn fly boots but not currently. Definitely picking some up soon!

I’m trying not to throw too much at him at once so I can figure this out. I feel like it could be anything and with how up and down it is, is making it so tricky.

I

[Lunabear1988]

Went back out this evening and he was totally normal acting. Just munching hay. No stomping or itching…

[RhythmNCruise]

So weird.

Does it only happen when it has rained? Does it ever NOT happen when it has rained? Ever happen when it hasn’t rained?

And nothing is done to “fix” the issue for him, right? He just…gets over it?

That’s not summer itch or any of the “normal” horse itchy/stomping things. Those don’t magically go away on their own.

Sooo weird.

[Lunabear1988]

So far yes it seems the extreme stomping and kicking is only after it rained…the night before.

Now he is always been a little itchy of a horse. Not to an extreme. Like he wouldn’t rub him self raw or anything. But he’s definitely sensitive to bugs and stuff. Like I would never try and ride him at dusk because the mosquitoes and stuff would make it impossible.

But the stomping thing is different! I mean it’s to the level that the saddle fitter and me were giving him lots of space around his end because the kicking and stomping was SO angry.

As far as if I did anything, I did give him Zyrtec. The night before and after the saddle fitter came. And I did give him a little bit more of a dose after the saddle fitter came because he was so miserable acting.

[Sdel]

Have you considered his back or nerves? He does have some kissing spine right?

I know from experience that sometimes pain can present in forms such as itching or claustrophobia.

[Lunabear1988]

Yep that’s a possibility but a few times we’ve lunged him and even done a light ride after and he rode totally normal… So I don’t know. Idk if it is just cold backed/nerve pain and he warms up out of it or what. It’s so incredibly inconsistent.

I’d like to sheet him to see but that’s been basically impossible with the current weather pattern.

[Lunabear1988]

So far the list of possibilities to explore is
*sweet itch/allergies
*Cold backed/nerve pain
*PSSM2?
*Ulcers?
*Dirty sheath (Even though that was just checked and cleaned not that long ago)
*Mites

Saddle fitter was like maybe he’s allergic to rain lol. That would be my luck so hopefully not.

Anyways the vet is coming in Monday anyways.

[Lunabear1988]

Another thought is he just doesn’t like the mud on his legs or something lol.

Or maybe the mud makes him very mildly sore everywhere? He doesn’t appear to palpate sore really anywhere though. And he is sound despite this behavior.

[IPEsq]

So there is a horse at my barn that gets a totally swollen face after being out in the rain. To the point her eyes will nearly swell shut. She can have a bath. It’s just the rain. So I dunno, rain allergy may be possible?

[RedHorses]

@Lunabear1988

maybe the mud makes him very mildly sore everywhere? He doesn’t appear to palpate sore really anywhere though. And he is sound despite this behavior.

This might be worth considering. My senior has a fragile stifle after healing from a meniscus injury that occurred in 2022. He is fine for walk trot rides, but if the ground is at all slippy he’s off. Not OMG! He’s dead lame, sort of thing, but my Equestic clip clearly shows he lands lighter on the injured diagonal on those days.

[Lunabear1988]

Maybe! Weird that he seems happy when ridden though ( Almost like once you get a moving he’s kind of distracted from it?) but yes maybe something subtle.

We don’t usually get so much rain so this unusually wet a few weeks is uncharted territory for us…