End of tether with stumbling horse

Yes but her predicament is that she DOESNT have insurance and so is stuck because she doesnt have access to the sort of money she would need for the x rays.

Its all very well everyone just going "I'd go for the xrays without a second thought" but she doesnt have the funds.

And thats beside the point, my insurance company (and im with NFU!) wouldnt cover me if my vet said we shouldnt do xrays "because he didnt know where to begin" and they didnt find anything. So, on the possibility they dont, she'd STILL be stuck with a whopping bill - AND the cost of the insurance in the first place. And I KNOW this because when our mare turned out to have kissing spines and stomach ulcers, the vet wrote in his report that he didnt recommend further checks because he wouldnt know where to start, and my OH insisted (the exact words the vet wrote in the report) that they xray her back, and thank goodness they found something because, in the call centre operators own words, they would have told us "where to stick it"!!!
 
I can't help thinking this might be a saddle/shoulder problem: was the horse lunged in his saddle? Does it restrict his shoulders, or are you fitting it too far forward (lots of people do)? If that is the case then your weight will hurt him as well as affecting his balance. Get a good back specialist to check his back AND the saddle - it could save you money in the long run!
 
I would also investigate the chance it could be narcolepsy. Does he ever nod off and drop when on the yard, being groomed etc.? Some horses with this condition will only do so from a slow walk. X-rays shouldn't cost the earth. Ring around, I know a vet who will do them for £100 set up and £10 a plate, if you take horse to his surgery.
 
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