Horse not wanting to canter anymore

[Marigold4]

Young horse (5) has started not wanting to canter. Lightly backed last year, the turned away for winter except for longreining and pole work to keep muscle strength. Restarted in spring. Now being ridden by a pro dressage rider for short sessions (20 mins) in school as well as groundwork and hacking at home. Walk and trot established, first sessions in canter ok, now really doesn't want to. Difficult to get him into canter, doesn't want to stay in canter. Worse to the left. Will buck if pushed hard. I've ridden him in the school myself now and he's the same for me. This is a very obliging horse so I don't think he's making it up. He's forward going, not at all sluggish. Owned since just turned two and know his full history.

Teeth done last month, physio regularly - last visit two weeks ago, no pain reaction anywhere. Saddle is treeless, fitted by fitter and he's seems pretty happy in it. No indication of pain or pressure points in saddle area.

Vet is coming for a lameness work-up and possibly xrays. In the meantime, looking for experiences of anyone whose horse has stopped wanting to canter and who found out a cause. Hocks, stifle, sacro-iliac? Answers much appreciated.

 

[Regandal]

Sorry to say that it was hocks with my horse, but he’s 15. Hope you find an fixable cause.

 

[Marigold4]

Sorry to say that it was hocks with my horse, but he’s 15. Hope you find an fixable cause.

Thanks for replying. I'll let you know if you are right when xrays are done.

 

[brighteyes]

Early, but PSD?

 

[ycbm]

I would x ray the back and explore back leg issues, and if nothing is found think about PSSM. If I knew the horse I might start straight away with a vitamin E test for PSSM and see if it made any difference.

Those seem the most likely places to start, for me.
.

 

[Goldenstar]

You doing the right thing getting the vet straight in .
I hope it something fixable I bred one like that she had KS before the day when they could X-ray and do things like that they found it on pm .
she had had an accident as a youngster when she tried to jump out a paddock and it all went wrong I am sure that was at the root of the problem .
It could be do many things but I would not miss out diagnostic ultrasound of the suspensories where they attach to the hock if you don’t find anything obvious .
good luck let us know how you get on.

 

[Abi90]

Mine did this with a pastern issue and ulcers

 

[Marigold4]

I should add his back was xrayed before I backed him. Experienced sports horse vetting vet said "you don't see much better than that!" about his xrays. We xrayed right back as far as we could go into his lumbar.

 

[scats]

My initial thoughts when canter problems appear are PSD, hocks or SI.
Mine started with the canter thing and it was very mild, but chronic PSD.

 

[Marigold4]

I would x ray the back and explore back leg issues, and if nothing is found think about PSSM. If I knew the horse I might start straight away with a vitamin E test for PSSM and see if it made any difference.

Those seem the most likely places to start, for me.
.

Thanks for replying. I've just posted below about his back xrays at 4. All 3 of mine have had vit e over the winter, but I've stopped now. I've had his mum tested for PSSM 1 (negative) so I think he cant have type 1, but I guess it could be another type? Thanks for thoughts.

 

[Marigold4]

My initial thoughts when canter problems appear are PSD, hocks or SI.
Mine started with the canter thing and it was very mild, but chronic PSD.

Thank you - useful thoughts. Xrays this afternoon.

 

[Sir barnaby]

What is he like cantering out on a hack in straight lines, I once had a horse couldn’t canter schooling or on a circle, he was five too I took him hunting and he sooner learned to canter and improved no end, I used to use the wheelings on a stubble field to keep him nice and straight, it also built up his muscles so he didn’t find schooling quite so hard.

 

[Marigold4]

You doing the right thing getting the vet straight in .
I hope it something fixable I bred one like that she had KS before the day when they could X-ray and do things like that they found it on pm .
she had had an accident as a youngster when she tried to jump out a paddock and it all went wrong I am sure that was at the root of the problem .
It could be do many things but I would not miss out diagnostic ultrasound of the suspensories where they attach to the hock if you don’t find anything obvious .
good luck let us know how you get on.

Thanks for reply and help. I've just posted about his clear back xrays at 4. I'll ask vet to bring ultrasound.

 

[Marigold4]

What is he like cantering out on a hack in straight lines, I once had a horse couldn’t canter schooling or on a circle, he was five too I took him hunting and he sooner learned to canter and improved no end, I used to use the wheelings on a stubble field to keep him nice and straight, it also built up his muscles so he didn’t find schooling quite so hard.

I'm not sure. I have no one to ride with out hacking except hubby on his iron horse so we stick to walk and trot. Lots of cantering done round the 5 acre field though - he used to offer canter on his own and like it

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Could he just be unbalanced and lacking strength so be reluctant as a result?

I would focus on cantering out on hacks for now and see how that goes.

 

[Frano]

Do you canter himout hacking? As in on the straight and not in the school. Does it make any difference?

 

[Marigold4]

thanks for replying. It's more than unbalanced, there's defo an issue somewhere and I dont want to continue and do him any harm

 

[Marigold4]

Do you canter himout hacking? As in on the straight and not in the school. Does it make any difference?

See above

 

[Casey76]

Thanks for replying. I've just posted below about his back xrays at 4. All 3 of mine have had vit e over the winter, but I've stopped now. I've had his mum tested for PSSM 1 (negative) so I think he cant have type 1, but I guess it could be another type? Thanks for thoughts.

It only takes one copy to be symptomatic. So if you don’t know the status of his sire, then I would definitely get him tested. Five is a prime age for PSSM symptoms to appear, as the workload is stepping up.

 

[Marigold4]

It only takes one copy to be symptomatic. So if you don’t know the status of his sire, then I would definitely get him tested. Five is a prime age for PSSM symptoms to appear, as the workload is stepping up.

Thank you. Will test.

 

[fetlock]

If you haven't already, also get a good farrier to check his feet out in case it's balance issues to do with that which remedial shoeing could perhaps put right.

 

[Kahlua]

I had a young one do this and was issues with the sacro, we all know sacro can usually be a secondary issue but following full lameness including scan, xray, mri and bone scan there was nothing else showing, so we put it down to saddle fit, gave the horse time off, brought back in slowly including ground work and not been an issue since.

 

[Wizpop]

Sorry to read this Marigold4. I’m afraid my story isn’t helpful in a positive way. Had my horse from 2yo, really lovely boy, very willing and forward but could never get canter established. Same as yours really in so many ways. Long story short, it turned out to be high suspensory ligament. Also turned out that his sire had hock problems which were “disguised” for want of a better phrase. I found out through a reliable source- someone I know who had worked at the stud where his dad stood.
Do hope however, that yours has a more positive outcome.

 

[Annagain]

Is he going through a growth spurt? Friend's youngster is off at the moment as he's gone quite bum high, struggling to balance and doesn't want to canter as a result. I'm not discounting the possibility of anything more serious, just wondering if (hoping) there could be a more simple explanation.

 

[Nudibranch]

I've experienced both sides of the coin. Previous youngster was hopeless in canter; reluctant, always on the wrong leg, unbalanced, funny transitions. He turned out to have hock and SI issues.
Current youngster has just turned 6 and has only just got the hang of it. As a 4 and 5yo she was useless and also reluctant. Initially the alarm bells went off and I was convinced it was history repeating itself. It was not! Lack of strength and balance and a naturally laid back character (she's a Dales). I agree with Annagain that growth spurts have an impact too. As it happens just this morning I really felt she had finally got it and we had some smashing canters. I may still test for pssm at some point purely because of her breed but I'd be surprised.
One thing - I have never worked her in a school.
We do everything out hacking (almost always solo) and I honestly think she would hate schooling in an arena with a passion. Hill work and very varied terrain has been our friend.

 

[SEL]

If he was happy to canter and now isn't then I'd agree there is a problem.

My mare does have PSSM so I think that distracted the vets for too long - but her issue turned out to be suspensory damage up by her hock, alongside arthritis in the hocks. She was only 6 when diagnosed. Like yours she had been happy cantering out on a hack then started to buck and nap. I'd say the hocks came first thinking back on timelines and I wish the vets had been more proactive at the time - I changed practice and they injected arthramid which made a huge difference but the suspensory damage was already done by then.

Really hope you find something fixable

 

[Red-1]

I would ask for some ulcer medication as a test to see if that changes anything, I would prefer that to a scope. They won't want to canter with ulcers as it splashes the acid.

 

[milliepops]

I would ask for some ulcer medication as a test to see if that changes anything, I would prefer that to a scope. They won't want to canter with ulcers as it splashes the acid.

yes,canter issues can commonly be caused by MSK type things as all the above suggestions show but mine absolutely slammed the brakes on when asked for canter when she had ulcers,. she was happy in walk and trot.

 

[InklePickle]

Mine wouldnt canter after hurting her sacroiliac but after treatment and rehab, all good now

 

[TotalMadgeness]

With one horse it was bone spavin diagnosed at 9 and the younger horse (4) it turned out to be his stifles. The older horse now canters nicely in the school after treatment, the younger horse (now 8) is still struggling with canter in the school but he's fine cantering out on hacks, in the field or in really big schools (i.e. not 20 x40). I've basically accepted he will always struggle to canter in my school so I just do work which suits him (i.e. hacking and loose schooling).