Posted by Barb Peck on June 22, 2001 at 09:51:59:
In Reply to: clicking in the back legs posted by Heather on June 20, 2001 at 22:16:03:
: Hi there. I've been looking this up on the internet all day but haven't found anything useful. My horse clicks when he walks, trots, canters anything. It is is only in his back legs and it is coming from either his hock or fetlock joint. I was just wondering what the cause of this could be? I was thinking it could be arthritis, but is it severe enough to go to the vet and get it seriously checked out? It doesn't bother him, he's never come up lame, all it does is click!
: thanks
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This is an interesting question, that I have never heard a
definitive answer for.
I've asked several vets, and numerous horse people.
All the answers were different.
Over the years, I've isolated the "clicking" once to the shoulder and all others "somewhere in the back end".
No difference bewteen mares/gldings.
You usually have to have non-squeaky tack, and ride quietly to hear it,
so maybe it's alot more prevalent than we think.
I can tell you, I've heard it one time or another on the
majority of horses I've ridden. And it may go away
(or not be noticable) for a few years.. then.. there it is again.
The most often answer I've gotten from Vets:
a)it's a tendon moving or "snapping" over other tissue..
most often happening if the horse is out of shape.
b) it's a tendon moving or "snapping" over other tisue..
most often happening if the horse is in really good shape.
So. It's probably a tendon moving across other tissue.
And in my mind, a fit body should operate noiselessly.
So, it's always nagged at the back of my mind when I hear
it, but have never been able to connect it to any soreness
or other problems.
Would like to hear other ideas on this.
Barb