Snickers and the mysterious hind end saga

Thanks Army wife! No, actually the 47 sec thing I think was her being a goof over the bucket and she hopped. You can see where she throws her rt hip/leg out at 1:13 of that first video. She does that whenever she comes from a trot to a walk.

Oh how I wish I could go up to Oregon! I think that is where Dr. Beth Valentine is too! I could have them look at Snicker's legs AND diet all at the same time!...lol.

Someone else told me today about sending the video to vets....that may be a good idea. Can't hurt. I would like to get the videos this weekend with her going up and down a hill too before I do though. Kind of well-rounds everything, I think.

Yes, I bought them temporarily until I get the other one through the mail.

Yes! Send em to any vet who will watch it!!! When I couldn't find out what was wrong with my mare, I called almost every vet in Oregon and northern Cali!!! Don't give up. McKenzie sent my mares vids to uc davis just to confirm her diagnosis. OSU is amazing. I can't say enough about the vets there :) even their head surgeon came out to do her lameness exam. And the price!!!!! Cheapest vet trip (as far as total package) I've ever had.

I thought this was really interesting.....especially the 'Fibrotic myopathy' and 'locking stifle' part. Now I am really looking forward to submitting her mane hair to check for the EPSM gene.....

Rural Heritage Vet Clinic - Signs of EPSM in Draft Horses

I, after seeing a thread about an awkward gait, recognized fibrotic myopathy in my Snipper. She has that "slapping" down way of moving her right hind, shorter stride to. She does have a fist size lump on her hamstring and I can feel the scar below the lump. Her way of setting that foot down is pretty similar to Snickers' moving. The locking stifle signs I know from a standardbred I had in Italy, he would come out of a canter like that sometimes. He also seriously locked his stifle, so I'm sure about this causing his problem cantering.
Sooooooo.......maybe you're close to a solution ......finally.
Btw, got a kick out of your Belle when she was taking off after Snickers

I really am starting to think that Snickers has more than one thing going on. In watching her canter around the arena today, while playing with Belle, her leg all the sudden looked like it wouldn't bend. She slowed down with her legs all over the place and then got herself together. Stifle, hock?....idk...just no bend to it in one of the strides. None of this is consistent. Sometimes, she looks great and then other times different things happen. I didn't get the peg leg on video though.

So, I will continue on the way I have. I started both girls on a EPSM high fat diet today. Didn't have to alter too much so far with the gradual adding of oil. I ordered the small hole hay nets yesterday. I will send in the manes of both girls to be tested for the EPSM/PSSM gene soon.

I must say though....I rode Snickers today, walking around the ranch and in the arena. I had her sidepassing, yielding hindquarters and forequarters, and backing. She has absolutely no problems and just does everything I ask without hesitation. I decided to jog her lightly for the exercise. I ride her as a passenger, no steering really, just having her hold the gait. She has really come a long way in the past several weeks. I used to carry a crop and have to constantly get after her to hold the jog. Now she holds it really well! I hear her hind feet slapping the ground and she probably looks like a goof, but she is doing it!

I did these couple of videos today of her going uphill and downhill and in the arena running with Belle. She seems ok going uphill, but downhill you can see how she knuckles over...I'm not thinking it's normal. She doesn knuckle over in the arena once too. These will most likely be it for the video. I think with these recent videos, I've captured most of what she does. I'll update with the EPSM results and if the diet affects her at all.

Yes, Belle is quite a character. She acts prudish most of the time, but gets her playfulness on once in a while too. She is doing really well, in my opinion, for almost being 20 years old and in such rough shape a couple years ago.

Sorry for my daughter holding the camera the wrong way and making the first two videos narrow....

She has, from what you describe and from what can be seen in the videos, she shows classic signs of EPSM. The slapping down, the pseudo- locking stifle, appearing weak in the hind, being a draft cross on top. All there. Can't remember if the article mentioned when you can expect to see changes. It will take some time, I guess.
I'll be crossing everything cross-able

Does she have a hard time holding that left lead in the hind?

Desert, isn't muscle wastage a symptom? Especially over the topline?

Army wife....it's all in the link OHL posted further up, #64. I think it said especially hind end.
I just learned all that after reading about EPSM/PSSM....I never had drafts. I've just seen these particular symptoms in my horses, one each

Would you say she has muscle wasting? I thought if she did, that you would really be able to tell by looking at her....I also have no eye for that kind of stuff. She has definitely gained muscle over the past year and filled out.

The only thing she doesn't have, at least yet, are the symptoms:

Muscle wasting?
Trembling after work
Difficulty rising and backing
Lying down suddenly
Tying up

But, if it is EPSM, maybe it is a milder version or just hasn't happend yet.

Thanks for the support.