Sudden lameness, no soreness in his legs.

First of all I'm going to say that this is my moms horse, I have no control over when / if a vet gets called, however I am having the vet out later this week to have my horses teeth done and will gladly pay the little bit extra to get his opinion, so until then- give me your opinions! Tell me if you think it's something more serious that requires immediate vet attention rather than end of the week vet attention and I'll see what I can do.


We went away for the weekend and my grandpa was supposed to be looking after the horses, everything was alright-(ish) but my mums mini cross was standing 'funny', dramatically cow-hocked.

He was super stiff in both back legs, but more so in one to the point where he would take a step and drag it for a few steps- after walking a little bit he seemed to 'loosen up' a bit, but before this I'd lifted his foot to make sure there was nothing jammed in there and check for heat- he'd stretch it straight out behind him but wouldn't lift forward or up, and when I tried to get him to bend a little he pulled his leg up suddenly and I heard a 'pop'- he put it back down and was no worse, but no better.
Felt for soreness all the way up both back legs and there was nothing until I got to his hip where he seemed a little tender.


I looked up founder but everything I read was in reference to the front legs- I doubt that's the case? Was likely just a generalization?
He's on a dry lot though and only gets local hay- unless he was severely over fed while we were away or was moved while we were away he couldn't have foundered (grandpa was cutting the grass, but we've warned him against feeding grass clippings), and he swears he wasn't over fed (not that it's hard to overfeed suchh a little guy).

ANYWAY, now I'm rambling... but here are some pictures. I feel like he's probably done something to his hip, considering that was the only place he was sore, but tell me if it sounds like something else.





His feet are bad- we got him recently at 4 1/2 and when we had them done it looked like it was the first or maybe the second time he'd ever had them done.
I don't know if pictures will help, but there they are.

Sounds like he could have a locked or "sticky" stifle, perhaps a stifle injury.

I don't know too much about it, but this article seems to be a good place to start.

Yep yep. I'd agree with acute injury to the stifle, now causing temporary (or chronic) luxation of the patella. So long as he can get around and doesn't seem to be in horrific pain, it's not a dire emergency, but he should be seen and treated by a vet as soon as possible all the same.

The description in the article is identicle to what I'm seeing with him, so thank you that! I'm calling the vet tomorrow or Tuesday, he's usually pretty good about being able to get out to the farm within a couple of days, so hopefully the holiday doesn't mess that up!

You're welcome, and good luck!

Well he was 'sound' enough to try and beat the poop out of one of the big horses today, so I'm not too worried. =P Will still get him checked out, but he's much less 'dramatic' and walking around today.