Heavy with a wide gait

[FreeSher50]

I have the most amazing heavy cob and he's very heavy. Stands 15'3
I bought him just over a year ago and he had hardly been ridden, was still in a field with his mum, was unfit and sold from the field.
We have worked really hard on his fitness. Lots of walking up hill. We hack, we don't have a school and I've no wish to compete with him.
When his back was checked she noticed his wide gait and after checking she said it was just him. His trot and canter are beautiful, I love him to bits. I watched my son walk him up the hill the other day and noticed he puts too much weight on his back legs which makes his gait look weird. Does anyone have any tips or advice or had similar. He's just turned 10, but is so far behind I've been told to look at him like he was a youngster in terms of fitness and learning.
Love him to bits, I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[sbloom]

A situation that could have a multitude of answers. All parts of the body are connected so some parts being "loose" (in this case the abductor muscles that bring the legs inwards, by the sound of it) usually indicate other parts being tight, looking at it simplistically. Of course it also indicates weakness, and excessively wide gaits might simply show he's not ready to be ridden. I would find someone who can look at him holistically and would give you a postural programme of in hand work (possibly ridden but in hand is often critical) if needed. All horses, really, benefit from some in hand work so if you find the right people to help you you have nothing to lose.

 

[FreeSher50]

That makes sense, the in hand work he has had has been quite limited, he was basically left in a field for 8 years until I got him and I've only just started increasing it. Thank you for your advice, I will definitely be getting someone back in to look at him x

 

[ycbm]

I struggling to understand what you mean when you say he puts to much weight on his hind legs going up hill?

Is he just a wide framed horse? Do his legs come straight downwards or is his whole leg sloping outwards to the foot? If his legs are sloping out then I would want a vet to look at him.
.

 

[FreeSher50]

No his legs definitely don't slope outward, I'd definitely be worried were that the case. I suppose I'm still worried about his weight distribution, yes his legs come straight down and he was walking uphill when I was watching him the other day, I think he needs more muscle work, its hard to know where to start though.

 

[ycbm]

Well it sounds like he's just a wide horse Being a heavy he's likely to take a long time to get truly fit, you sound like you're doing fine.
.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Being wide behind can also indicate an SI and /or stifle issue.
I wouldn't commence any work until a reputable vet had seen him.

 

[sbloom]

I struggling to understand what you mean when you say he puts to much weight on his hind legs going up hill?

Is he just a wide framed horse? Do his legs come straight downwards or is his whole leg sloping outwards to the foot? If his legs are sloping out then I would want a vet to look at him.
.

It's not about legs sloping outward when standing, it's about how they move. I had assumed the poster meant he moves base wide which can indicate postural and other weaknesses. I'd be very interested to see a video of especially the uphill, as I, like you, am not sure about what taking too much weight behind looks like

 

[SEL]

I've got heavies and they generally tend to be more on the forehand (ancestors built to pull). Have you got a video? Very, very elderly big cob here walks base wide behind but that's due to arthritis elsewhere