back feet hitting each other

Question
My Draft Horse just came back from the trainer and I noticed blood on the inner leg approx 2 inches up from the hooves.  My trainer states that my horse was lazy and hitting his back feet together.   He was sick while in his care and developed "strangles" which the trainer did not inform me and after studying this wondered if it was because My horse was sick? Or was it a poor shoe job?  Maybe did He cut too much off and the Horse was used to more padding...I dont know.
I was very upset about my horse being sick and not being told.  I believe He just lanced the abcess himself, gave him penicillin and kept driving him every day.  What do you think?  Just know, I wanted to remove the horse right away, however, the horse was 3 hours away.  I finally got him back.  But, not soon enough.
Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hello Sharon,

If your horse is brushing his hoofs against his legs there are two primary reasons this happens. The first is conformation. Horses that are close behind and are toed out can brush a hoof against the opposite leg. This may cause the blood you saw. The second thing that may be causing the blood on the legs comes from a hoof being trimmed out of balance, (too much heel was removed from one side of the hoof), and the hoof impacts the opposite leg.  In either case you should have an equine vet or qualified farrier evaluate the way your horse moves. They will be able to tell you what is really going on. If the horse was sick and unsteady on his feet I guess he could brush himself, but I think that is not very likely. If you are concerned about the strangles have a vet look at your horse when they are out to look at the horse's way of going. Kind of a two birds with one stone sort of thing. Get your vet involved.


Paul