Lax tendons

Question
QUESTION: I just got a horse and when riding her down hill her back heels hit the ground, one foot worse than the other. This does not happen when no one is riding her, up hill, or on flat surfaces, just walking down hill. Her previous owner says "that didn't happen before????", is there something that could have caused this? Is there any way to treat it? I bought medicine boots and they do support the foot that is not so bad, but does nothing to the one that is worse. I have been trying to look up similar cases and can only find info on foals born this way and they build up muscle and grow out of it... If she was regularily exercised and built up muscle could this go away? Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Bryna -
I have been at the barn all day so I'm sorry for the delay in answering.  My first thought when I read this is that I'm wondering if by "heels", maybe you mean her fetlocks ... is that possible?  If that is the case, when you're on a downhill and the fetlock is on the ground, is the hoof still making full contact as well?  I have to say that I have never heard of a case like this but I would have to strongly recommend that you have a veterinarian look at her ... I imagine they would take x-rays and possible ultrasound the tendons in that leg.  

Also, did you have a pre-purchase exam done when you purchased your mare?  Do you happen to have any pictures of her?

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QUESTION: It would be her pastern joint that hits the ground. The info I can find that has pictures that look similar are of foals with lax tendons or injuries from overextending fetlocks. I talked to a vet and he said they don't really do anything for it, they could take x-rays but it is probably something genetic- he did not look at it though. Like I said- if no one is riding her, up hill or down hill, it does not happen. If I ride her on flat surface we can walk, trot, canter, gallop and it does not happen, but when I ride her down hill her pastern joint hits the ground and she tries to walk sideways and bounces around trying to avoid walking on her back legs. Her hoof does make contact with the ground the whole time. What I am hoping is that with strength building (exercise) she can become strong enough to support that joint...???? I don't want to exercise her though if it will continue to stretch that tendon and permanently (if it is not already) ruin her for riding. It does not seem to hurt her at all, even going down hill, it justs looks like her pastern rubbing on the ground is what bothers her.

Answer
Wow Bryna - that's a good question.  How old is your mare?  What was her previous owner doing with her and what were your plans for her?  When she's standing still, are her pastern angles normal?  I'm also wondering if her previous owner ever had her nerved so that she would not feel any pain in that leg ... people do that for various lameness issues when they want to continue riding the horse or for breeding purposes.  I'm not a fan because it masks any continuing injuries that occur.  I'm sorry that you're having this type of problem with your new horse!

You know, depending on how much you paid for her, you might have some legal ground to sue the seller for failure to disclose a known medical issue like this but I'm not a legal expert at all so I'm not sure how all that works.

Judi