Horse can’t canter on right rein…

Troggy

Troggy

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Hi All,

I’m after some opinions on what could be the matter with my horse.

In a nut shell, about 3-4 weeks ago him and the other horses at the yard where having a mad 5 minutes in the field, general running/bucking etc. and I thought nothing of it. However the next day I was schooling him, he felt fine in walk and trot and canter on the left rein, however he would not strike off on the right leg, if I really made him he would but then flying change back, so I left him. I asked a friend to come up and then we noticed his offside shoulder was swollen. Decided on bute and rest followed by gentle walk hacking. This worked, swelling went down, and as an experiment, discovered whilst on bute, he would canter on the right rein.

After a week or so, the swelling came back and he still wouldn’t canter, so I got the vet out. After trot ups/lunging/flexion tests he commented he was slightly lame on his near fore (1/10th if that) but he had thrown a shoe that week and has very sensitive soles (TB) so we weren’t overly worried. He also ultra sounded his shoulders and found no major damage, so assume he was kicked (turned out alone but only tape between other horses) and advised bute, some gel I can put on his shoulders, few days rest and bring back into work.

His shoulder has now almost gone down (off bute) and I don’t believe there’s a major issue with his near fore although hard to tell as threw his shoe again…:rolleyes: anyway, we still have the issue with the canter on the right rein. I asked vet for advice and he said to bring him in for full lameness work up/nerve blocks/x rays etc.

Before we go down this route, do you think it’s worth getting a physiotherapist or similar out to see him? And if so, any recommendations in the Bedfordshire area? I have also had the saddle 6 months now so will also get this checked

He is happy in himself, willing to work (and he is a massive wimp with pain!!), in fact, if I didn’t canter, I wouldn’t know there’s an issue….:confused:

Has anyone come across this before?

Thanks!!
 
Vets rarely seem to recommend physio although happy to go with it the owner asks, it certainly sounds as if that is what your horse needs before a full work up.
Getting the saddle looked at would also be a good idea, a physio will need your vet to approve treatment so they may be the best to suggest someone in your area.
 
i would go thought vet work up. mine couldn't canter right had physio who then refrered us to the vet. turns out mine had torn one of the ligements in her back.
personally i like to know what the issue is because then you can treat it more appropriatly
 
Funnily enough, I've recently had the same issue! No injury or anything though, just got progressively more difficult to canter to the right and then it started to the left as well.
It's an ex racer so I thought it might be his old injury giving him some trouble (never found out exactly what he did)
I don't rate physios, I've never yet seen one make a difference to a horse or a human. :)

Anyway, tried massage as I was convinced it's muscular. no change. tried chiro as I swear by them, no change.

Remembered an EMRT I had used in the past - better immediately! Had 2 sessions now and canters fine both ways, just occasionally there's still a bit resistance in the transition so he'll have a 3 rd session next week. Moves better than ever tbh.

In case you've not heard of this, EMRT stands for equine muscle release therapy, its basically bowen for horses. I know, a bit weird, but hey, it worked for my guy!
:)

However, if it hadn't worked so quickly I would have gone to the vets - the only thing that stopped me was the fact that I had no idea where the problem was coming from but of course you do.
Dumb question but could it be that your boy just needs some time off because of sore muscles etc?
Also, is the issue just in the school? My boy happily cantered on both leads in the field...
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I have asked the vets for the details of the physio they use and have booked her to come out next monday.
He is an ex racer and i've previuosly had issues with his pelvis resolved with a McTimoney but nothing to this extent. Also not with these symptoms. He won't canter on a straight line on a hack either
The phsio is going to consult the vet and hopefully can agree the best route
Thanks:)
 
Hi,

Not sure if you've got to the bottom of this now but I have the same issue. My girl will not canter on the right lead leg. She starts off on the right leg then does a few strides and bucks and does a flying change onto the wrong leg making it seem that she could not strike off from the left back. I got a Shiatsu massage for her and it turns out she was very tight on her left lower lumbar spine to sacroiliac joint area. The Shiatsu lady loosened this up for her so maybe this would help your horse. It's always an option.
 
TotalEclipse said:
Hi,

Not sure if you've got to the bottom of this now but I have the same issue. My girl will not canter on the right lead leg. She starts off on the right leg then does a few strides and bucks and does a flying change onto the wrong leg making it seem that she could not strike off from the left back. I got a Shiatsu massage for her and it turns out she was very tight on her left lower lumbar spine to sacroiliac joint area. The Shiatsu lady loosened this up for her so maybe this would help your horse. It's always an option.
Click to expand...

You can find your local practitioner on here : http://www.equineshiatsu.org/england.shtml
 
Hi, I had exactly the same problem with my ex racer last year. He wasn't lame but suddenly couldn't canter to the left, just kept changing leg or bucking, he also started to be really naughty on lunge. I had physio out & she said it was sacroiliac joint. She worked on him & he was fine afterwards, but she did say it would probably happen again. I think there are injections that can help, hope yr horse will be ok, good luck :)
 
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