Backend slipping on roads & sometimes on grass...

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Sarah1

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Hi guys

Could anyone shed any light on this for me please...?

Horse is 16.2hh ID x WB, 8 yr old, economical with his energy but not lazy! He has 2 road studs in each back shoe.

Had back checked month or so ago and it was out as it had been last few times it was checked so physio put things right and agreed it was time for 2nd opinion on saddle. Long & short of it is that I've had a new saddle so I know it fits & as I say it was only a month ago that his back was checked.

Farrier confirmed that if the saddle was uncomfy and his back was tight then it would explain the slipping but since having new saddle & 2 road studs in each shoe he has still slipped a couple of times.

He doesn't do it very often at all now and the roads round us are like glass but I was just wondering if it's just that I need to get after him a bit while we're out? He is very chilled out hacking & I was just wondering if he's just not watching what he's doing...

Thanks
 
Could be!
I meant to also say that if we're out in company the others don't slip...he is a lot bigger than the others tho...if that makes any difference...
 
One of mine has this problem too. I think certain roads are very slippy but she is far more slippy than other horses so think it is also partly to do with her action as she struggles on grass sometimes too.
 
My horse does this too so ill be interested to see the replys. I notice it more when he's tired, after a long trot or canter, so i put it down to him slowing down the pace and being lazy behind.
 
My temporary horse (mine lame, his owner broken ankle) is very unsteady on his feet, he's big, but only an inch or two bigger than mine who is brilliant. Some horses are just prone to it. My friend, his owner was told to take him hunting to teach him to stay on his feet better - went twice and fell over on the road twice, she didn't take him again!
 
The road surface may be SMT which is a slippery road surface to horses shoes and one the BHS have been discussing with the local highway authorities. Unless SMT is laid absolutely correctly it is a real problem for horse riders.

My advice would be to have the road nails put on the inside of the shoes rather than the outside and also ride him in Jefferey's knee pads so that if he does come down his front knees are protected
 
Your advice is once again extremely helpful, thanks! I think this may be the surface - we're on a private estate so I'm not sure the highways epople will be able to address it.
I have road studs in the outside of the shoes but will speak to my farrier about having them on the inside - he puts them on outside as that's how my horses action is but he may be able to help further.
Would hock boots also be suitable? Is there such a thing on the market? It's his back legs that are going & I'm worried that if he sits down he'll shred his hocks...?
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Does he have uneven wear on his back shoes?

Some horses when lifting the hind foot and placeing it have a sort of twisting movement (can't really explain it but if you saw it you'd see what I mean) therefore these horses will tend to slip more (than usual) on slippery road surface, even with road studs.

Perhaps riding another horse behind your horse when hacking out just to see exactly what he's doing or any change in movement might give some insight as to why he sometimes does this.
 
Yes he does ever so slightly - he wears them both more on the outside I believe. The farrier says he's putting the outside of his foot down ever so slightly before the inside and tried a heel on the outside to slow down the foot (or something like that, I'm no farrier!!!!!).
Perhaps it is just how he moves...
I've noticed that if I try to pop him into a bit of shoulder fore he does seem to pick up a bit more and his footfalls sound crisperr if that makes sense...?
 
I've just read up about Bowen Therapy for uneven wear on shoes - they've got a website! There's a few people on here who are practioners - might be worth going down that road?

Not sure what else to suggest apart from an inbalance either through the back or legs, or like others have said - slippery road!
 
Dizz slips, but because she's an idiot
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Just wanted to say, having gone through a number of saddlers
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, it might be worth getting the saddle checked again - depends on your view of your saddler
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. I trust the one I have now (thankfully!).

I've found that to keep Dizz's feet steady, I have to really ride her and make her listen - if I don't, I think she switches off and forgets where her feet are!
 
Thanks guys.
MrsM - thankfully I feel very confident in my new saddler - he comes very highly recommended in this area! I think Bailey is probably the same as Dizzy - he needs reminding to think about his feet!!!!!
 
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