Can a method of training make a horse look lame even if it isn’t?

[maya2008]

Hot topic here last night! Looking at an advert video, of a pony, that a friend was interested in. Previously been shown, shows the wonky muscles of a pony whose head has been winched in without the back end doing the matching thing. When moving, front end does not match the back at all, like two different ponies moving. Very on the forehand. Husband thinks there’s something going on with its back as hocks flex nicely. Could it be a result of the training (now ridden in a looser outline etc so still learning to carry itself)?

 

[Tracking_up]

it could be a case of 'Bridle Lameness', where the way of going can result in the horse taking uneven steps?

 

[SEL]

You can end up with all sorts of neck problems and obviously if you cause problems with the cervical vertebrae there is a strong change you'll cause problems with the vertebrae down the back too - they usually end up hollowing if the neck position is forced.

If the horse is now learning to balance itself then the correct muscles will hopefully start to develop. Biggest problem will be if there is permanent damage in the neck or back. I saw a lovely mare once who was only 5 but they'd had to stop riding because of a kissing spine diagnosis. Wasn't current owners fault but she'd been bought from a "professional" who had trained her to perform with her head tucked in without the long hours of developing her properly.

 

[sbloom]

100%

Some riding can make a horse very unhappy immediately. Some riding can make a lame horse look sound immediately. Neither are desirable.

And some training methods (many!) can cause medium to long term compensatory movement patterns which will lead to lameness but the signs will be evident way before that point. Also not good. Very few training methods, or riders, truly rider horses to regain, or build from scratch, truly healthy movement patterns.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s my view that when you see a weak looking back and a very active hock there is often back trouble .

 

[maya2008]

Thanks all, interesting topic! So basically the consensus is that the training causes the lameness but the damage is permanent. Vertebrae damage makes sense given the movement - back was literally locked and each set of legs slightly out of step with the other, so odd to look at!

 

[Vetbills]

Thanks all, interesting topic! So basically the consensus is that the training causes the lameness but the damage is permanent. Vertebrae damage makes sense given the movement - back was literally locked and each set of legs slightly out of step with the other, so odd to look at!

You’d hope it’s a bit like a problem for e.g a poor functioning liver casing lameness in front, sort the liver out and suddenly the horse is sound. However how could you possibly know how much damage has been done already? It also reminds me that horses are bloody Saints putting up with that!

 

[sbloom]

Thanks all, interesting topic! So basically the consensus is that the training causes the lameness but the damage is permanent. Vertebrae damage makes sense given the movement - back was literally locked and each set of legs slightly out of step with the other, so odd to look at!

There's no way to know, it would depend on how long someone had been riding the horse like that, but if the horse is in a compensatory movement pattern which is pretty much guaranteed by the sound of it then some damage will have been done, but some damage can be reversed.