Clumsy natives

[fallenangel123]

Has anyone else got a native pony that is as clumsy as anything!?
My fell pony is ridiculous, she trips on the little step in and out of her stable most days, has fallen over three times bucking and farting in the field, (that I've seen, could have been more) and she stumbles out hacking. This morning she used a broom over with her nose, scared herself and spooked into a wheelbarrow, scared herself more and nearly fell over!
If you look at breed characteristics the fell pony is noted for being remarkably sure footed over any terrain. Really!!
She was born on the fells, recently passed a full vetting and has no conformation or health issues, so just clumsy I guess!
Is it just her or does anyone else have one?

 

[fallenangel123]

Having re read that, she pushed the broom over, she wasn't using it lol!!!

 

[AngieandBen]

Nope! I have a NF a Welshie and a native cross ( we think dartmoor and something ) they are all very sure footed, very very rarely trip, stumble or anything. Not even had any lameness in 10 years

Perhaps if she stumbles a lot her feet need looking at? maybe her heels are too high and toes too long? although not an expert, my three are all barefoot so I know nothing about shoeing if she's shod

 

[starryeyed]

I have a connemara who is the least sure footed animal i've ever met in my life. He spends most of his time falling over things, slipping, knocking things over, its terrifying to ride him on uneven ground or downhill! We've had several vets round to see if theres something wrong but apparently not.
The other 2 natives (Welshies!) are ridiculously sure footed though, never known them to trip, slip, or fall over any kind of terrain.

 

[VioletStripe]

Haha not mine! My Connemara (albeit overgrown!) is remarkably sure footed.. Can turn on a six pence and I've never once seen a clumsy moment out in the field.. maybe it's from his days living wild in Ireland until he was brought in and backed xx

 

[fallenangel123]

Nope she is barefoot too, took her shoes off when I first got her and thought it would help, my others are all barefoot anyway.

 

[MissChaos]

My Connie could definitely be worse (never see any evidence of tumbles and has only stumbled on the odd occasion) and this is more to do with him still being a young 'un - but any time I need a giggle, I just think of the vetting report with the line 'Excellent proprioception of hind limbs'...

Then wonder what animal the vet was actually looking at

 

[fidleyspromise]

oh yes. my highland used to fall flat on her nose out hacking - I only came off her once!
I've seen her fall over in the field, pick herslef up and carry on. Another livery told me how scary my pony is when she's full on!

As she's gotten older, she has stopped this clumsiness less and less though.

 

[fallenangel123]

Ok, starting to feel a little better that she isn't completely alone in being a klutz. She is only six so maybe she'll grow out of it? Hopefully we'll do some showing next year, I'm sure she'll be marked down for falling over tho as it goes against breed characteristics!

 

[LouS]

Yes my Welshie has been down in the school a few times when he's been having a mad 5 minutes, flat on his face. He's a lot better now he's in work properly but he is a clumsy thing, he's always been prone to investigate things with his legs since a foal, he hasn't grown out of it. Legs in wheelbarrows, over barrels, on top of shavings bales, anything to annoy me really.

 

[canteron]

My horse used to trip a lot - to an extent he has grown outgrown it, but he is naturally on his forehand which doesn't help so have had to really concentrate on my riding to get him lighter and have to ride every step - no bumbling around for us.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Bless my old girl she was pretty clumsy at times, her best mate Bonnie who I help look after now is also very clumsy, think heavy fronted cobs are prone to it as they are on the forehand
It was only in walk my girl was clumsy thankfully! She really picked up her feet in trot,canter and gallop.

 

[Wildforestpony18]

no! my NF is very surefooted, she sometimes trips but thats only natural

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmm this is just me being ultra-cautious me; BUT if I had a native that was a bit trippy I think I'd inclined to want to know why and be asking some serious questions. But that's probably me just being a bit of an old hen!!!

I'd probably start with getting a sight test in the first instance coz you never know what might be going on; then go back to feet, trimming/shoes etc, then if it was happening under saddle would look at saddle fitting/back etc.

Yes natives can be trippy as anything else but if its a recurrent or worsening problem I'd want to know why, coz natives are renowned for their sure-footedness and agility as a rule.

 

[fallenangel123]

Hi, all her health tests are fine, she was checked for cataracts in her vetting and as she was new four months ago she was back checked, saddle fitted etc then. Farrier questioned if she really needed shoes so she is now barefoot which has stopped her slipping about in the field a lot. Generally ridden she isn't too bad it's mostly when she's walking on a hack. (probably me slacking off)
I know one thing I am so glad I live on the fens as I wouldn't actually want to ride her on the fells!!