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Why Does a Horse Rest a Hind Leg?
—Mariah, via e-mail
A: Resting a hind leg—that is, with one hind leg slightly flexed and the hoof not fully on the ground—is a common resting posture in normal, sound horses. Most of the time when we see this, we don’t think twice. But if you have concerns that it might be a sign of lameness, here are some things you can consider.
It’s tempting to say look at his demeanor about his face: Does he look drowsy and relaxed, alert, or anxious? But I don’t think that’s going to distinguish anything for you, because horses can look relaxed while a little lame, and alert while resting a leg
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Written by:
Nancy Diehl, VMD, MS
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