Hip Out?

Any advice on if my boys hip is out would be great!

Short version: I have only had him a month and when I got him I had a chiropractor check him to find that he had his hip out (among other things). She came and saw him twice and cleared him to start riding. I have not actually managed to ride him yet ><

Anyway I was up tonight feeding my boys and noticed that he was holding his leg up and out to the side. I will organise for the chiropractor to come back out. But if anyone thinks something might cause this please let me know!!

Please ignore the other horse in the picture, he was doing this before I put him back in the paddock. I could actually take hold of his foot and hold it without him trying to pull it away. Which is unusual as he does not like having his feet picked up.

Also I graze here, so not all the horses are mine :P

If you have only had him for a month and his hip has been out twice it could be that your chiro didn't get it all the way back in the first time. It happens and it's probably not your chiropractors fault. Sometimes the horse is just very sore from being that way for so long that they can't hold the adjustment.

I would say that if this continues to be a problem you might want to have a message therapist out as well. They can loosen the muscles and help the chiropractors adjustment stay in place.

Also, working him should help. Be it lunging or riding, it will strengthen his muscles and help the adjustment to stay in. When the muscles are weak they seem to have a more difficult time staying correct.

I hope this helps! Good luck with your new horse!

Thank you for the reply.

This guy has been my problem child. I have not managed to ride him yet as once he was cleared to ride, I could not find a saddle to fit. He is downhill with a high wither. Also he hollows in then flares out to a wide over the shoulder.

Finally managed to sort a saddle out for him and he cut himself in the paddock along his hind leg on the outside and inside. Was planning yet again this Saturday to ride him and now this!! I'm starting to wonder if this isn't some elaborate ploy on his part to avoid being ridden :P

Ah yes. I know that type of horse well. He sounds just like my guy! Hard to fit and always getting himself hurt to avoid work. Lol Lucky us!

Get a certified Structural Integration (aka Myofascial Release) practitioner out WITH your Chiro. The SI will move the fascial tissue back to where it is supposed to be and hold the joint in place. Just like joints get misaligned, the tissue (NOT the muscles) move and get misaligned. It needs to be realigned and the joint needs to be reset, and then you should have a healthy, aligned horse!
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I've never heard of an SI. Do you have more information on them? Like where to find one? Not saying I don't agree, it sounds very reasonable. I would just like to know more.

The best way to find one is just to search or ask around for someone that does "Structural Integration," "Myofascial Release," or "Rolfing." I suggest somone certified in the Masterson Method of pressure point release also, if SI is not available/can't find any/etc.

Information all over Google! I have a friend attending a SI school in Washington State right now looking for clients, but we are not near Indiana :( Someone at your vet's office may
Even be certified - check their website or call! You never know :)
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Update. His hip was not out, I suspected this a few days later when I saw him galloping through the paddocks like a crazy horse and trying to convince all the other horses to play with him.

I still had the Chiropractor check him to be sure though. She said he was fine, with only a bit of soreness around the area. Most likely from running and playing. Advice she gave was to get on him and start riding him to strengthen him up :)

We did have our first ride, he was pretty good, mostly nice and relaxed. He had one spook at "nothing" but pulled up when asked and relaxed after a few strides of a walk.