That (resting leg) was a big clue my mare had something going on. Typically, when I work with her it is 4 on the floor. The only time she rested a hind was if she was really tired or standing tied for a long time.
Last summer I noticed that initially, she did not want to hold up her left hind. She was also being weird and a bit pissy about both back legs with hoof trimming. Then within a month or so, she started resting her left hind when I was grooming her. I wasn’t riding a whole lot due to hip arthritis but when I did ride she seemed stiffer but able to do what I asked and wasn’t terribly crooked. Loaded her up and hauled her to the vet and she was positive with hock flexions. X-rays showed narrowing joint spaces…nothing really gnarly. When he did the injections the joint fluid was a bit ‘runny’. We injected her hocks with steroids and I followed that with a course of Adequan. Over the summer, the arena at that barn had gotten very firm.
I have since changed barns with a much ‘softer’ arena. She is doing really well and when I take her in for her spring stuff, I will ask when to repeat the Adequan. At this point, her hocks are great and don’t need injections (6 months since the initial injections). Just the other day she was standing very square and grounded…just like I like
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