Horse slipping

[robbie's mum]

Help! My horse is a 16 year old welsh cob. In the last few months one of her front legs has started "giving way" whilst riding. It probably happens just once or twice on a 2 hour hack. It almost feels like she's put her foot down a pot hole. This is always at walk, but on a variety of surfaces. I had thought maybe she just wasnt paying attention to her feet. It doesnt happen at trot.
She's now started slipping with her back feet when we're going downhill, again at walk, and on a variety of surfaces.
She's shod all round and the latest incidents were about a week after the farrier had been. She doesnt appear to be lame and is happy to hooley around the field with her mates.
Can anyone advise me please.

 

[ihatework]

If this is a new thing with a teenage horse I’d be calling a vet. It’s possible you have arthritis or other issues starting.

 

[robbie's mum]

Thank you. I wasnt sure if i should start with vet, farrier or physio.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Agree with ihw, it can be a sign of arthritis brewing amongst other niggles, so a vet check by a good equine vet is a good shout.

If you can get it on video eg in walk on the lunge that’s helpful too in pinpointing where to look.

 

[robbie's mum]

Annoyingly its totally random. She doesnt do it at trot, or in the field. Thinking about it, she's definitely slowed down at walk when hacking and now often gets left behind by the others, but once we trot she does the usual firey welsh cob trot and outpaces everyone.

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

Yep. One for your vet.

 

[Barklands]

Definitely vet for first port of call as recommended above however, poor angles/length of feet can contribute to this problem as well

 

[robbie's mum]

I had wondered about her feet. Shes regularly shod but my longstanding farrier moved away 2 years ago and i did notice in the beginning that the new farrier trimmed her feet differently. Would my vet be able to see if the angles are wrong? Theyre large animal vets, but the only ones in my area that deal with horses. Would it be unethical to ask another farrier to come and have a look at her feet? We dont have many local farriers, and they all know each other!

 

[Amy May In A Manger]

I just think you need to get a vet, and then think about a different farrier if it's recommend.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Unfortunately a large animal vet may not be the most helpful unless the horse is fairly obviously lame. They tend not to pick up on more subtle equine issues - horses for courses and all that. But if that is all that is available, best go with that in the first instance.

Good luck.

 

[Jellymoon]

I also think you need a vet, but def a specialist horse one, can you box out to one?

In the meantime, can you see if the angles are wrong? Do a search on the internet to find pics of correct angles and compare? Or you could post pics on here. Maybe dangerous, but would be interesting. I think we all know who the really knowledgeable ones are on here!

So tricky with farriers, they do get the hump and they do all know each other, but that’s not your problem!! Have you told him she’s started tripping? Maybe he would appreciate the opportunity to come up with some suggestions.

I think my farrier would def like to know if that was happening and would have a good think about why that would be. Mine would also want a good look at him trotted up and on the lunge. He may suggest a really good vet who he could work with.

I think talking to my farrier would be my first port of call - you need him on side.