Conflicting advise from equine professionals.

S

showqa

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
827
Visit site
I've been training with a guy who is from overseas, and last week he came here for to work with me and my horse. Immediately, he said that my horse was short in his right hind, although over the days he was here there was improvement. Hence, he's thinking probably more about lack of muscle/training, but still I'm investigating it. I too have queried this when I've lunged him although if I'm totally honest, I don't feel it from the saddle (not saying it's not there though).

Yesterday, saddler comes to see me in a new saddle. Straight away he says "He's a bit short in his right hind isn't he?"

The people who have NEVER even commented on it? The physio, the chiro and the regular RI who sees the horse pretty much every week.

What on earth would you make of this?
 
I have had the same problem with a youngster of my. Only differance is I could feel it but no one else could see it!
The vet never picked up on it, my instructor could never see it even when i told her he didin't feel right!
I eventually had he's wolf teeth taked out, even though the vet/dentist didn't think they wre causing a problem, since then he's been fine.
I am not 100% certain that that was the cause, part of me thinks it was just a schooling issue, but sometimes these things can be quiet difficult to pinpiont.
I think that you may just have a schooling/strength issue and that with correct work it may resolve. How long have you had your horse, you might not be feeling it because you have become used to the way he goes?
Have you had he's teeth do recently?
It might be worth having a lameness workout to put your mind at rest?
Good luck sorting your problem out and post if you ever get to the bottom of it.
 
sometimes when people are too involved with a horse - seeing it every day and looking too hard at minute details that they cant see it as a whole. You need to have a fresh set of eyes and stand back to see the 'big picture' and therefore pick up on things like this.
 
You know some equine professionals (no matter how long they've been in the industry) just aren't that good ;) I have a horse who was running a tiny bit short a few years ago. I could see it but no other equine professional friends of mine could. The only other person who could see it was a friend who is totally non-horsey. Even my vet thought I was a crackpot when I insisted on futher investigation. I don't think he thought that anymore when the problem was found and treated ;)
 
Some interesting experiences here. He is up to date with teeth, but he does still have his wolf teeth - could this really relate to shortness in his right hind??

I've had him for three years - he's 7 now. Certainly we found (with the overseas trainer) that it got better the more he was worked "correctly" and in fact the last session that the trainer himself rode him, it had all but disappeared. There is no associated pain, reluctance to work, heat, bucking, etc - just this short stride in the right hind. Tested all his bend etc from the ground (carrot stretches to each side and between his legs) and he's very supple in all of those exercises. Both the saddler and the trainer (don't know each other) seem to think it's nothing very serious and is probably training related, but obviously to explore it further.

Soooooo confusing being a horse owner - really is.
 
I find this completely frustrating (especially living on an island where you are very limited to your "professionals"). I told my instructor, vet and anyone else that would listen that my mum's horse wasn't right, I stopped working him as I knew he wasn't right, had lameness work up done, etc and they all told me it was in my head but I knew he wasn't right. My mum even got someone else competing him because I wouldn't (we fell out about that) then eventually an overseas professional came and diagnosed ringbone..... I bloomin well knew he wasn't right!!
 
I think there is also a degree of believing that anything which differs from the 'norm' must be wrong, versus appreciating that there is no such thing as the 'perfect horse' as they are such peculiarly individual beasties..

I'm sure if one of the top vets/trainers/physios etc looked at any one of our horses without *knowing* them they could find lots *wrong*. These factors may or may not have a noticeable effect on the horse's soundness or way of going.

A fairly high percentage of top competition horses are not even 'clinically sound' but are managed well and compete happily. Some horses do have an odd movement but apart from looking strange it can actually be normal for that horse. Professionals who have built a relationship with you and your horse will have an appreciation of how best to proceed within the physical/mental capabilities of your horse.

Of course, other professionals are muppets ;) who don't see things in front of their faces, I feel it is down to owners to trust their own feelings on how their horses are doing..
 
rhino said:
I think there is also a degree of believing that anything which differs from the 'norm' must be wrong, versus appreciating that there is no such thing as the 'perfect horse' as they are such peculiarly individual beasties..

I'm sure if one of the top vets/trainers/physios etc looked at any one of our horses without *knowing* them they could find lots *wrong*. These factors may or may not have a noticeable effect on the horse's soundness or way of going.

A fairly high percentage of top competition horses are not even 'clinically sound' but are managed well and compete happily. Some horses do have an odd movement but apart from looking strange it can actually be normal for that horse. Professionals who have built a relationship with you and your horse will have an appreciation of how best to proceed within the
physical/mental capabilities of your horse.

Of course, other professionals are muppets ;) who don't see things in front of their faces, I feel it is down to owners to trust their own feelings on how their horses are doing..
Click to expand...

Agree with this
 
Rhino - do think that there is something in what you are saying, and that doesn't mean that I will blindly go on without further investigation. But the horse is not lame - of that I (and the saddler, and the very experienced international trainer) are sure. I think that there are horses who do have a weirdness, a different way of using themselves etc and sometimes it is about living with it - as long as the obvious is eliminated.

Meowys - I do get your point. Thanks for that.
 
showqa said:
Rhino - do think that there is something in what you are saying, and that doesn't mean that I will blindly go on without further investigation. But the horse is not lame - of that I (and the saddler, and the very experienced international trainer) are sure. I think that there are horses who do have a weirdness, a different way of using themselves etc and sometimes it is about living with it - as long as the obvious is eliminated.
Click to expand...

:eek: :eek: Goodness, I wouldn't expect you to! FWIW my clinically sound horse had very severe tendon damage; I knew that he wasn't right but there were no symptoms, it was only when he blew a check ligament that the scan showed it up!

Trust your instincts :)
 
The majority of horses move slightly short in one hind leg - its just a question of getting total suppleness equal on both reins.

Knowing which leg it is is great as you know which rein to work harder on. Often a horse will have a stiff side and will be worked more on that rein to improve th esuppleness and then change sides as the what was supple side doesn't get enough work!

Are you confused? I am now!!! lol
 
Thanks Evelyn. Makes sense what you say, and yeah, we do forget that one side of a horse (and a human for that matter) is always naturally more supple. Good point.
 
Evelyn said:
The majority of horses move slightly short in one hind leg - its just a question of getting total suppleness equal on both reins.

Knowing which leg it is is great as you know which rein to work harder on. Often a horse will have a stiff side and will be worked more on that rein to improve th esuppleness and then change sides as the what was supple side doesn't get enough work!

Are you confused? I am now!!! lol
Click to expand...

Spot on ! it can be a nightmare sorting out these work issues from medical issues that need veterinary intervention sometimes i think it was all more fun when I was clueless !!!
 
With my horse, i know he wasn't coming though straight behind, nothing huge, i just knew it was there.
His wolf teeth were small and uptight to his molars, but he did have fleshy lips.
I had read that its possible for the lips to catch on small wolfteeth, making the horse tense though the back and therefore reluctant to work through.
I have no way of knowing if that was, what was happening in my horses case.
But i do know that i have a horse that now feels soooo much better under saddle, and that sight shortness has gone. So Im happy and its was worth the cost in my case.
Hope this might help you, you never know.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top