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harrihjc

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My 5yo gelding just doesn't feel right at the moment. He's not trotting up lame, but in canter feels almost like he's on the wrong leg or disunited, but he's not
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He's always had a very balanced rocking horse canter that was so easy to sit to, then over night it went to this
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I had his saddle checked and it was a bit narrow, and that problem is now sorted and I rode him again yesterday, and it was worse than before, I only did a very short session because of this, and didn't want to do any damage! He was bucking and rearing when I asked him to go forwards, refusing to go on a circle and napping
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We were having a few problems before with the circles and changed canter, but not the bucking and rearing. I'm waiting to hear back from the back man as obviously this is the next thing to check, I want to rule out any physical problems and pain as a cause of the behaviour. However, at some points he was working in a lovely relaxed outline and really going beautifully, and always had his ears right forward which makes me think he's just taking the p1$$
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I'm debating calling the vet out to have a full check over, but am I just being paranoid? Could it be a few growing aches and pains? Twisted funny when playing in the field? I'm really worried!

Sorry it's so long!
 
Could be his back but back man would rule this out if not. He might just be trying it on, my horse is just 5 and a few months ago started spinning and napping as soon as she saw something she wanst sure of but then other times would walk past without batting an eyelid! They do try it on when they're younger!
 
Get his back checked, and then once you know that is ok, do loads and loads of hacking and cantering in straight lines. My boy goes through these stages on a regular basis, he is 5, and still growing so goes through stages of being umbeleivable balanced, and just...not!! But rul out any pain, and then just do lots of work to build his strength up. You will get there, but it is common for babies!!
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm definitely getting the physio out asap! Kat, unfortunately all our work is done on rather a tight circle in very deep sand (about 7 x 15m and 8 inches deep) as we can't hack out because it's on a very busy main road on a blind bend, and our sand school is so small there are no straight sides! I think this is really not helping the problem, which also makes me wonder if he's playing up due to boredom, there's only so much you can vary the work in such a small space
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I have been trying to ride in the field for more space, but when he's bucking and rearing and I'm on my own it's very daunting! I really hope there's no serious problem!
 
My horse did exactly the same thing. Was never lame but would not go forward in canter and bucked particularly on one rein. Got the back lady out and he had a frozen muscle behind the saddle. Had two lots of treatment and had to lunge or hack only for two weeks. He initially still was cautious when cantering but worked him long and low for a week or so and now he is fine. Good luck
 
so, last night I free schooled the fat one before riding to look for any signs of lameness, and couldn't spot a thing, he was really floating over the ground on the occasions when he was not being a lazy sod, so I got on and did a few trotting poles and just some walk and trot work. He had one temper tantrum of bucking and rearing, but otherwise was a star, and seemed to really enjoy the trotting poles! I'm going to see how he is tonight, but fingers crossed!
 
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