Constantly tripping!

[scattynuttymare]

I have been helping a friend with her youngster, that has turned out to be considerably younger than she was told when purchased!

Anyway he is constatly tripping up, can be on the flatest surface ever and he'll have a stumble. Mainly with the right leg but but occasionaly the left or both, yesterday he went right down on his knees!

I thought it was becasue he had long feet so we had them trimmed up to see if would help and there's no change. He is perfectly sound and to me is no real reason for him to be tripping all the time. I know young horses aren't always that sure footed all the time but could there be any other reasons?

 

[Bossanova]

Do his knees catch? Is he over at the knee?
I'm guessing he's weak and immature so probably needs a lot of slow work to build muscle gradually and this should improve it. If he's over at the knee and a bit built downhill then he is likely to be more prone to tripping. If the knee is locking then you need to have it investigated really.

In the meantime, make sure he always wears knee boots and keep him on the contact at all times, dont let him fall on his nose

 

[the watcher]

Heavy on the forehand?

Not sufficiently well schooled to be balanced with a rider yet?

Then consider physical problems, still growing, back out, etc

 

[happy_talk]

is it only when ridden or in hand as well?

 

[jumpthemoon]

I'd have his back checked as a precaution

 

[scattynuttymare]

mainly when ridden but occasionaly with out rider. I have put t down to lack of balance and muscle, we've just been working him in walk mainly with the odd trot in a straight line, trying to get him to walk out without rushing and get his back end working

 

[scattynuttymare]

[ QUOTE ]
Do his knees catch? Is he over at the knee?
I'm guessing he's weak and immature so probably needs a lot of slow work to build muscle gradually and this should improve it. If he's over at the knee and a bit built downhill then he is likely to be more prone to tripping. If the knee is locking then you need to have it investigated really.

In the meantime, make sure he always wears knee boots and keep him on the contact at all times, dont let him fall on his nose

[/ QUOTE ]

His knees don't catch. I don't think he is over at the knee, to look at him his legs look pretty straight. I put him in knee boots any way, I like to have all young horses in knee boots just in case especially when on the road!

 

[kookymoose]

My mare used to do that fall down on her knees thought she had wobblers! She was 6-8yrs when she did it! I got her fit as her balance improved she stopped tripping shes 10 this year! I'm sure with time he will get past it if he seems drunk I would get a wobbler check tho

 

[vicm2509]

What is he like if you try to push him backwards or sideways? Is his balance ok then? If not I would get him checked for wobblers.

However if he were mine I would get him checked anyway. It is most likely he is just young and unbalanced but a check will hopefully put her mind at rest.

 

[AmyMay]

How old is the horse?

 

[scattynuttymare]

[ QUOTE ]
How old is the horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

3 but was sold as a 4 yr old. From a 'private' owner, who now seems to have dissapeared! Had been shipped in from overseas, not sure where though.

I've suggested turning away for a while but she's not keen on it, so i've insisted the work stays at a walk, with a very very very occasional trot.

 

[muddy_grey]

He sounds like me

I trip all the time on flat surfaces, the flatter the surface the more likely I'll stumble.
Sorry not very helpful, but maybe I should get checked for wobblers

 

[Orangehorse]

My horse did this. It got so bad I nearly stopped riding him as it was dangerous.

In the end it was a McTimoney Chiropractor who sorted him out. His back was stiff and it was preventing the correct flight of his front leg. It took about 3-4 sessions to get it right and completely altered the way the horse stood. It could have stemmed from too much early work. He had done a lot of lunging and long-reining at 18 months, including putting in head checks, etc.

I got everything else checked first, as soon as the problem started, starting with a vet, changed farrier, changed saddle, did other "alternative" treatments, all of which helped a bit, but it was the Chiro man who stopped it completely. The horse is a bit heavy on the forehand too, with big shoulders.

With your friends horse it is quite likely to be immaturity, but it would be worth having it looked at if it is more than young clumseyness. It would also be worth doing some ground work exercises over poles, so he learns to think about where his feet are (Like the Tellington-Touch ground work ideas - I did that too!). Definitely don't even think of doing more work than you are.

 

[AandK]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How old is the horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

3 but was sold as a 4 yr old. From a 'private' owner, who now seems to have dissapeared! Had been shipped in from overseas, not sure where though.

I've suggested turning away for a while but she's not keen on it, so i've insisted the work stays at a walk, with a very very very occasional trot.

[/ QUOTE ]

if he is only 3 he shouldn't be doing regular ridden work.. i would keep trying to pursuade your friend to turn him away, let him have a break.. if he hardly does it without a rider on board then it would seem as if he is finding it hard to balance himself, a lot of horses are croup high at that age and usually level out as they mature.

 

[Angelbones]

My horse kept tripping / slipping behind and I thought she had a real back problem or even worse that I was too heavy for her (LOL) but then i had a saddle fitter come out just cos I fancied a new one and when he tried her old saddle on her the first thing he asked me was if she was slipping / tripping behind? Well I was gobsmacked but it was all to do with the Stuben saddle and where it was putting pressure on her back etc. New saddle, no problems now. The other thing I can say is that for all my horses / ponies I do a lot of free schooling (we are lucky to have the menage) but they really have to find their own feet and they have all improved in their balance and generally seem intrinsically stronger chaps. I would turn him away for a year if he's quite immature, but if he needs to be busy to be happy, try the free schooling and I agree with the post about trot pole etcs. Good luck.

 

[juevans]

my 4yr old gelding does it when ridden i av to agree with the post about youngsters being on the forehand and bum high this is his problem i only gently work him hack a couple of times a week and thats it have had a few youngsters and this is a common problem

 

[AmyMay]

I would suggest that this little horse may only just be three - so a real, real baby.

Tell the stupid girl to stop riding it.