He wont trot!

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sullibug

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Hi all. Please help, Im at the end of my tether and feel bloody useless that I cant sort this one on my own.

Ive had my hunter for nearly 5 years. He is amazing and I have had some great times with him and 4 full seasons, but occasionally he would not go forward and would plant himself. I thought he was young and nervous to start with and it mainly happened at competitions, and on more than one occasion we couldnt even get into the warm up ring! I put it down to over excitement.

Things have got worse and worse. The stopping has become more frequent, so being a good mum we had the chiropractor, the osteo, the vet, his teeth done, the saddle checked (all thing we have regularly anyway but did them all again!). I am satisfied he is comfortable and not in pain. He will walk with me on him no problem and lunges too with all his tack. But when I ask for trot he just freezes.

When he stops I have tried gently asking, both legs and alternate legs, moving his head from side to side, giving the rein, taking the rein, squeezing, kicking, a tap with the whip, a smack with the whip and a wallop! From the simple to the ridiculous he will NOT move. In fact he wont even really let you move his head. Ive had another horse try to give him a lead, Ive had someone try to lead him from the floor, Ive tried riding on the lunge. Its as though he just cant sort it out in his head. The only thing that works is to sit there and wait...........and wait..........until he feels he can walk forward. If I then ask him to trot he arches his back and tries to bounce me off and then we are back to square one.

I have spent hours and hours and Im now so upset. I cant believe my wonderful hunter can have just lost it like this.

Please help with some suggestions. I want to try to do all I can for him, the only thing I havent tried is a behaviourist. Ive been riding 32 years and this is the first horse I have ever thought may be losing his marbles!

Thankyou!
 
I know you say you are satisfied he is not in pain but have you done all the usual vet, teeth, tack, back/physio person? He sounds to me as if he is trying to say something. I would seriously get a vet out (or another vet if you have had one). My daughters TB behaved like this when his suspensories were playing up. He was never ever lame and just would not go forward without stopping, napping and bouncing. Scans and xrays were needed.
 
It might be a good idea to get another physio and another vet out to get second opinions. If it is a tendon and ligament issue in one/all of his legs there will be swelling. The same with bone issues so if he has clean, cool, tight legs I doubt the problem would be there. You say it's hard to move his head. Does he flex and bend nicely in the walk? If he doesn't but normally does maybe he has really hurt a vertibrae or ligament in his neck or back - or pinched a nerve? A physio should be able to pick this up. Is there any change if you ride him bareback? Or just in a halter? What does he do in the paddock? Will he run around with his mates in there? If he does he's just trying it on with you.

The next step if you have tried second opinions, checked his legs etc and can't find the answer you could talk to your vet about getting him thermo-imaged (which could pick up ligament, muscle and tendon issues/inflammation) in his body or get bone scans of this neck, pelvis and back done.

If you find nothing I'd say he's been naughty

I hope you find out whats wrong - The only similar thing I've heard about is a standardbred not wanting to trot (but cantered and galloped), but it was possible, just difficult to get it to trot.
 
Thanks so much guys, the vet is the next port of call, of course.

I think part of it may be remembered pain (amazing how he will work happily without a rider though!). He has had the op for his suspensory in June and has been given the all clear by Rossdales in Newmarket. I have of course taken things very slowly and been patient building him up in walk and after many weeks he still has this behaviour.

I will get the vet back and see what they think - ho hum :(
 
sullibug said:
Thanks so much guys, the vet is the next port of call, of course.

I think part of it may be remembered pain (amazing how he will work happily without a rider though!). He has had the op for his suspensory in June and has been given the all clear by Rossdales in Newmarket. I have of course taken things very slowly and been patient building him up in walk and after many weeks he still has this behaviour.

I will get the vet back and see what they think - ho hum :(
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I think you have answered your own question. What does he do when turned out? Does he move forward freely then?
 
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