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legs up when eating, switches legs

31K views 29 replies 22 participants last post by  Prairie 
#1 ·
Before I purchased Cooper, I asked his owner if he had any weird quirks. She said the only thing he does is "raises his leg when he eats".

So I've had him for over a year and EVERY time he eats, he always has one front leg raised. He then switches them. I'm going to post the only picture ive gotten of it. He doesnt do this when eating grass.. so weird.

I do know at my old barn, someone told me it could be beginning stages of a neurological issue but he seems absolutely perfect otherwise.

Just think its an odd habit or something more?
 
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#2 ·
Someone once told me that was a "morgan thing" but I had never heard of it until I bought a pony that did that. I ended up trading her for a walking horse because she was not child safe. She was healthy and as far as I know had no issues...
 

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#4 ·
Try feeding his grain on the ground. Would be interesting to see if it makes a difference.

There was a thread a long time ago about a horse that moved around a lot when he was eating, whether on the ground or at chest height. In that case it was because he was in a lot of pain and needed to move to try to alleviate it. While grazing, he would move so it wasn't noticed. With the grain in one place he had to shimmy around to reduce his pain as much as possible. It wasn't a nice story unfortunately.

I'm not saying that's what this is, but it is kind of odd. I would try different feeding methods and see if you can find any kind of pattern.
 
#10 ·
my QH gelding does it. I've had him for about six years and he hasn't ever had any issues with it. I think he just gets excited about feed. He only does it when it's feeding time and I'm walking to his bucket then he switches legs almost the whole time he is eating. I think for the most part it's just a wacky personality deal. Hopefully that is what's going on with your horse. I would just watch it and if turns into anything worse I would have it checked out.
 
#11 ·
LOL, wow these are all great responses. I love the "Happy Grain dance"! So funny! Ive had him for since last February and he has always done this. He shows no other "odd" signs. I am going to feed his grain on the ground today just because I think it'll be funny to watch him balance and eat- I'll have to try to remember my camera.
 
#15 ·
It's a perfectly normal, natural response to food. Not a sign of any neurological problems.

Many, many horses and ponies do it, some with so much enthusiasm they end up tipping their feed bucket over or planting their feet in the bin, my Clydesdale is one of those!

When there is snow horses will do this to move the snow so they can get at the grass beneath.

Love 'The Happy Grain Dance'
 
#17 ·
I have several that do that. both paw & hold leg up when eating their grain. I think they think they can shovel it in faster that way!!:icon_rolleyes::) Feeding on the ground doesn't work so well it get spread about. :eek:

It is basically their happydance:happydance: for food. Also noticed a trait that tends to be past down from one generation to next,lol
 
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#27 ·
I have seen many horses do this. It seems to show enjoyment of their food, almost bliss sometimes. It is only a problem if your horse keeps knocking his feed bin over (when its on the ground) or if he can put a foot through the fence (if feed bin is hanging). It's not a 'fault' with your horse. More of a personality-trait.
 
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#28 ·
And actually, some of our foals did this when drinking from their mothers! :)

...could it be like the cat-paw-kneading thing in origin? Cats initially do that when drinking from their mothers too, and then later on so many do it when you massage their ears, they'll just knead whatever is under their paws, eyes closed and purring! :) The ancestral mammal was shrew-like, perhaps they did it too? :)
 
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