Horse always lands with right hind leading when jumping - ideas?

[bigboyrocky]

Hello, not posted in a very long time but thought this might be a good place for ideas.

I've got a 6yo gelding who I've had since a 3yo, backed and started myself. He's now jumping Newcomers & 1.15m.

Throughout his babyhood he's always had all checks, teeth, back, saddle fitted, farrier and numerous vet visits for various things (ulcers, sarcoids, blackthorn in joint...!)

I've noticed recently (only by watching videos) that when jumping he always lands the 1st stride with his right hind first (as if he's landing on the right canter). Even if we're landing on the left lead the 1st stride behind is right, then he changes. Front end is 'normal'.

He used to land disunited quite a bit when he was weaker but now is a lot stronger and doesn't struggle. I don't notice it when onboard and have only noticed it from watching videos.

The only idea I have is that he has a sarcoid which is healing at the top of his right stifle and so he may not want to be 'stretching' that, but I don't know if that's a realistic explanation! Does anyone have any ideas, or is it likely to be weakness?

He's going the best he's ever gone and I might be worrying over nothing but would be interested to hear people's thoughts!

I'll try and find a video to demo it...

 

[TheMule]

It can be a first indicator of something not being quite right and if it's new I'd want it looked at, at the very least by a decent osteo/ chiro. I worry more when they start changing leg or swapping behind the stride before take off

 

[ycbm]

Michen had something very similar earlier this year and there are videos of her horse on her thread if you search for it. Boggle had a sesamoid ligament strain but he looked perfectly sound apart from the disunited landing after a fence.
.

 

[bigboyrocky]

Trying to go back through videos and its happened for a good while so not particularly new. No trainers have ever noticed either but now I've noticed it, its a good 75% of the time when landing left he lands right behind for 1 stride. Its very subtle and smooth though!

Will try and get my YO to have a look this week and see what she thinks. I've only ever had physio see him so will ask her re chiro/osteo too.

Trying to upload a video but keeps saying the file is too big, any ideas?

 

[ycbm]

You can put it into YouTube and then copy in the YouTube URL.

 

[ycbm]

Michen's thread and videos here.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/help.785313/

 

[bigboyrocky]

Ok so this is a short video demonstrating it perfectly - approached from both directions and turning left at the end of the little grid.

Then this was him jumping last week so you can see him in a course.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10164483937415082&id=596450081

 

[bigboyrocky]

Michen's thread and videos here.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/help.785313/

Thank you, was trying to search for it ill have a read!

 

[ycbm]

It looks pretty similar to me. It was very surprising to find out that a horse who looked so sound except for disuniting on landing had an injury that's kept him out of action for most of this year.

That doesn't mean yours has any issues, of course, and he's jumping a big course beautifully, but you are clearly concerned and it might give you some ideas where to start looking.
.

 

[Michen]

Yep as ycbm said this happened to my horse. I had multiple people tell me it was a training issue and even got a semi pro on to have a lesson with a trainer and pop him over some meaty 1.10 overs to see if he was simply “faffing”.

We only managed to diagnose it through nerve blocks, vet and I spent hours blocking and riding and he stopped doing it as soon as we blocked the right area. By that point he was doing it consistently even over an x pole.

It was a rare injury, vet suspects the result of a trauma.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I think I would ask another rider to jump him and video before veterinary investigations, could be caused by a rider issue

 

[bigboyrocky]

I think I would ask another rider to jump him and video before veterinary investigations, could be caused by a rider issue

No one ever will as he's such a nutter ? I'm literally the only person to have ever sat on him bar 10 mins at the end of 1 lesson. I loose jumped him today and lunged him on hard etc and going to ask YO to have a look tomorrow. He did it loose jumping too so it makes me think its not me and more of a weakness/habit/pain thing. He looked perfectly sound to me on the hard & soft. Will see what YO says and then speak with vet if she agrees its worth a call.

 

[bigboyrocky]

I think I would ask another rider to jump him and video before veterinary investigations, could be caused by a rider issue

Oops, duplicated!

 

[bigboyrocky]

Yep as ycbm said this happened to my horse. I had multiple people tell me it was a training issue and even got a semi pro on to have a lesson with a trainer and pop him over some meaty 1.10 overs to see if he was simply “faffing”.

We only managed to diagnose it through nerve blocks, vet and I spent hours blocking and riding and he stopped doing it as soon as we blocked the right area. By that point he was doing it consistently even over an x pole.

It was a rare injury, vet suspects the result of a trauma.

Thanks for your insight Michen. How's yours doing now?

He's insured so if the vet thinks it needs investigating then I'll certainly get him looked at. ?

 

[Michen]

Thanks for your insight Michen. How's yours doing now?

He's insured so if the vet thinks it needs investigating then I'll certainly get him looked at. ?

Yes he’s all good thanks and was signed off months and months ago.

It is however an injury with a high risk of reoccurrence I believe (as anything below the fetlock apparently is).

 

[SmallSteps]

The only idea I have is that he has a sarcoid which is healing at the top of his right stifle and so he may not want to be 'stretching' that, but I don't know if that's a realistic explanation!

this is a realistic explanation