Constructive Feedback for Dressage Tests Wanted

[TheOldTrout]

Thanks Farma and Milliepops. As a massage therapist (for humans!) I've come across similar things, but the nomenclature's different.

 

[Auslander]

I agree with you wholeheartedly that lame is lame. I just assumed that her prior experience and knowledge would be relevant to my situation. She said his lameness came from him not using himself correctly and, once he was working properly, the lameness would go and it would act as a form of physio to encourage him to use his muscles in a biomechanically correct way. She said it wasn't unusual for horses that had previously been ridden incorrectly to present lameness like my guy does.

I'm afraid that just isn't the case. Horses who aren't worked correctly are stiff and unbalanced all over, and can appear wobbly/pottery, but not working correctly doesn't cause the horse to present as lame on one particular leg. If there is tension in a specific area, that CAN cause the horse to present as unlevel, often in a different bit of the body - but the root cause is still discomfort.

 

[JFTDWS]

I feel for you, OP - I think you've had some terrible advice from your instructor, and whoever has led you to believe that ET is a substitute for proper veterinary attention. I hope the diagnostics give you a simple answer and you can resolve the lameness issue easily - I'm sure your scores will then improve dramatically, with a little work and good training

 

[Taliesan]

I feel for you, OP - I think you've had some terrible advice from your instructor, and whoever has led you to believe that ET is a substitute for proper veterinary attention. I hope the diagnostics give you a simple answer and you can resolve the lameness issue easily - I'm sure your scores will then improve dramatically, with a little work and good training

I know that ET isn't a substitute for vet attention and nobody has ever led me to believe this. However, it has helped my horse a great deal in the past to the point where he looked perfectly sound - previously when the vet has been out to see him they never mentioned any issues.

Up until now nobody has suggested I get the vet out for him and any unsoundness I put down to the uneven field.

However, now it has been brought to my attention I will get him investigated further by my vet.

 

[Northern]

I would define the difference as lameness being a pain response and mechanical lameness being not due to pain, but a way of going due to something like joint fusion or an old injury that's healed but affected the way of going once healed.
Not sure on the term biomechanical lameness I only know it as mechanical? maybe someone else can shed light there?

This is how I would define mechanical lameness as well (I only know it as mechanical too, but biomechanical also describes the phenomenon). There is a mechanically lame horse I know who originally severed a ligament in a fence, on her hind leg. It was touch and go for a while, but she's recovered to be paddock sound. I don't believe she has any pain issues, but she lacks control over this hind leg (ie. it snaps up when moving). It doesn't appear to bother her, but it definitely makes her way of moving interesting!

OP I also agree your horse doesn't look quite right. Good on you for taking action to resolve whatever issues there may be, and for not flouncing off! He looks a lovely sort and I'm sure you'll be able to improve your scores once he is sorted

 

[ester]

Fair play OP you may have acquired a lame horse but you've also got a fair bit of kudos I think. Easy to go with what more experienced people around us say but I have to say the longer I have them the quicker I tend to get stuff looked at so I know what I am dealing with. Good luck with the vet and hope it's something easily resolved

 

[HighFive]

Just re-affirming with everyone else, your boy does look lame. Kudos to you OP for taking it so well, your horse will thank you! I thought he looked better on the straight lines in your videos on the surface arena. He had more purpose and impulsion, but as soon as you turned onto the circles he became unlevel and the impulsion was lost almost immediately. I guess at least you have a fairly definitive answer to why your scores aren't fabulous. Seeing as you are now in the process of waiting for a vet, I'll move onto the critique of the rest of the test.
I like how sweet and relaxed your horse is, and your position is nice too, you both look like a confident pair who have an understanding of each other. Your accuracy is where you will drop marks. Centrelines need to be straight, no wibble-wobbing around. This will be easier when he has more impulsion and desire to move forward. Your circles need to be circles try riding them as quarter turns. You can properly measure these out using a diagram of an arena, and mark them with cones. This will give you an idea of just how big a twenty meter circle is. Transitions need to happen on the markers too. You've identified downward transitions to be late, so start preparing for them earlier. Half halt, let him know they are coming.
Good luck and keep us updated on how your horse goes

 

[scats]

On the subject of mechanical lameness. I had a welsh part bred who was mechanically lame in trot after a ligament injury and subsequent bone growth at the site. He developed a choppy and slightly noddy trot. The appearance of lameness remained even if he was given a lot of bute and I took him back into the hospital to check that he wasn't in pain - he was only a field ornament at this point but I still wanted to know he was pain free- they assured me after numerous tests and x-rays that he was feeling no pain at all, but his altered gait was due to the structures in his leg changing and being stabilised in a changed position.

Good luck OP, I saw the lameness straight away, but I really wish you all the best with your horse. Do let us know how you get on.

 

[Fun Times]

Hi OP. Well done on taking all of this so well, I admire the way you have responded as it must be tough to hear. Please do let us know what the vet says as it's always useful from an educational perspective to hear the outcome. Also, and I am not saying this is the case with your instructor, please be aware that there are many instructors out there for whom it is more profitable to convince you that your horse just needs to "work through" the issues as opposed to needing to stop lessons for lameness reasons. When the vet gives you the go ahead to start working the horse again I would consider finding a new instructor.