Horse suddenly refusing to canter?

[Ell196]

I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar?

My horse of about 8 years has always been very forward and enthusiastic and loves her work. About 18 months ago she stopped wanting to jump. We found out the saddle was too narrow which was likely causing the refusals and got her a new one. Almost 1 year ago, we bought her a new saddle which was much better and she started popping a few small fences again.

About 3 months ago, she stopped wanting to jump again and stopped cantering. Every time I would ask, she would just buck and come back to a trot. My osteopath noticed that the saddle probably needed adjusting and that was causing her to back off the transition. We have had the saddles checked and all are now fine (after some adjustments), and my osteopath seems to think everything is fine pain-wise. She’s sound and very happy to work - just can’t seem to get herself into canter.

She quite happily canters around the field and seems happy in herself. I just can’t figure out why she isn’t able to canter! My current plan is to do some more strength work over the next couple of months (she had some time off when we thought it was saddle/pain related) to see if that helps and to try a new arena in case it is just the surface at our yard which is too hard. Past that, it will be a vet call out…

Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If she canters in the field it would seem that either the rider or the saddle are causing her a problem

 

[Gloi]

What's she like on the lunge?
Both with and without saddle.

 

[Ell196]

If she canters in the field it would seem that either the rider or the saddle are causing her a problem

That was also my thought but her saddle was checked last week and is apparently fine!

The rider also makes no difference as she is the same no matter who is riding.

Just to add - she is also very well schooled and I previously competed/trained her to medium dressage!

 

[Gloi]

That was also my thought but her saddle was checked last week and is apparently fine!

I have come to the opinion that the only one who can say if a saddle is fine is the horse.

 

[Ell196]

What's she like on the lunge?
Both with and without saddle.

She has never been good at lunging, unfortunately, so it's hard to tell. She gets nervous and it involves a lot of bucking and trying to follow me! When she does go out on a circle though, she is normally fine cantering. I haven't tried with the saddle on though!

 

[tda]

Can someone else check the saddle fit?

 

[Hackback]

Saddle fitting issues (and refusing to jump) were the first signs that my horse had Cushings. The first sign - suddenly refusing to jump after previously enjoying it - was in the January and it was autumn when he was tested and diagnosed. He was only 9 so quite a shock at the time.

 

[Ell196]

Saddle fitting issues (and refusing to jump) were the first signs that my horse had Cushings. The first sign - suddenly refusing to jump after previously enjoying it - was in the January and it was autumn when he was tested and diagnosed. He was only 9 so quite a shock at the time.

Sorry to hear that. My last horse also got unexpectedly diagnosed with Cushings too.
Thankfully, I get this horse tested yearly just to be sure, so it isn’t Cushings for this horse (bloods this autumn were well under the limit).

 

[scats]

Scan her hind suspensories. Unwillingness to canter is a major red flag for suspensory problems.

 

[Prancerpoos]

My horse was somewhat similar - stopped wanting to jump and was reluctant to canter or would go disunited, but still charged around her field. She then started having difficulty getting up from lying down and was diagnosed with issues (never actually found out what) in both stifles. She was put on bute and was ok as a field ornament for a couple of years.

 

[Amymay Again]

Scan her hind suspensories. Unwillingness to canter is a major red flag for suspensory problems.

Absolutely this. Vet check needed.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Had one who would struggled with canter, then started to shoot off when asked. It was suspensories.

 

[SEL]

How is she straight lines out hacking? If that's fine I'd be looking at something which causes her more discomfort in the school - often suspensory damage

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That was also my thought but her saddle was checked last week and is apparently fine!

The rider also makes no difference as she is the same no matter who is riding.

Just to add - she is also very well schooled and I previously competed/trained her to medium dressage!

Sometimes the horse has a different opinion from the saddle fitter.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sorry to hear that. My last horse also got unexpectedly diagnosed with Cushings too.
Thankfully, I get this horse tested yearly just to be sure, so it isn’t Cushings for this horse (bloods this autumn were well under the limit).

If you are suspicious have a TRH-Stim test. Our Apoy mare tested negative several times on ACTH although numbers were rising. Then we had the T-S test and she was 8 times over normal. She went straight onto Prascend.

 

[Birker2020]

She has never been good at lunging, unfortunately, so it's hard to tell. She gets nervous and it involves a lot of bucking and trying to follow me! When she does go out on a circle though, she is normally fine cantering. I haven't tried with the saddle on though!

Try long rein lunging so using two reins so she can't turn into you.

 

[Orangehorse]

My horse started to refuse to canter while schooling, he was fine out on a ride and would happily have a few canters across a field.

After a long time, I mean about 3 years, he was eventually diagnosed with an arthritic hip, so he was happy to go in a straight line, but ask him to use himself more on a circle and he didn't want to do it.
With hindsight there were other pointers too. I had various examinations, but they were in a straight line, so it wasn't picked up until I asked a new vet who started prodding around and he tried to bite me when she found the painful area!

I kept on riding him, she said he was better being exercised. But no circles.

 

[Squeak]

As there's a history of saddle problems causing a similar issue I'd probably get another saddler to check the saddle. If they don't find any issues then I'd be going straight to a vet.

 

[Bobthecob15]

As there's a history of saddle problems causing a similar issue I'd probably get another saddler to check the saddle. If they don't find any issues then I'd be going straight to a vet.

Agreed, I would do this also and cut out the second guessing

 

[killeshin]

Scan her hind suspensories. Unwillingness to canter is a major red flag for suspensory problems.

I would also xray stifles also

 

[Zoeypxo]

Mine was similar when she had ulcers and undiagnosed hock arthritis, wasnt lame just wouldnt go forwards and would buck when asked to.

 

[Floofball]

I’d just be going straight for a performance work up. I wouldn’t be wasting time trying to strengthen up something before I was sure what it was. Bucking and turning in on the lunge could be another way she’s showing discomfort too? When mine started doing it (worse with saddle or roller on) it turned out to be ulcers. He was still (seemingly) happy playing about in the field. If you’ve gone from schooling at Medium to not being able to canter there’s probably something amiss somewhere, it’s hard to spot bi-lateral lameness for example. Hope you get to the bottom of it

 

[dapple_grey]

I've got to the stage now where the only person I trust to say a horse is sound is a qualified vet.

I would also be getting a second opinion on saddle fit and failing that, sending her for a performance work up. Good luck, hope it's an easy fix.

 

[little_critter]

I'd go straight to vet now.
As above, Medium dressage to can't canter under saddle is a big change.

 

[CJoe]

I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar?

My horse of about 8 years has always been very forward and enthusiastic and loves her work. About 18 months ago she stopped wanting to jump. We found out the saddle was too narrow which was likely causing the refusals and got her a new one. Almost 1 year ago, we bought her a new saddle which was much better and she started popping a few small fences again.

About 3 months ago, she stopped wanting to jump again and stopped cantering. Every time I would ask, she would just buck and come back to a trot. My osteopath noticed that the saddle probably needed adjusting and that was causing her to back off the transition. We have had the saddles checked and all are now fine (after some adjustments), and my osteopath seems to think everything is fine pain-wise. She’s sound and very happy to work - just can’t seem to get herself into canter.

She quite happily canters around the field and seems happy in herself. I just can’t figure out why she isn’t able to canter! My current plan is to do some more strength work over the next couple of months (she had some time off when we thought it was saddle/pain related) to see if that helps and to try a new arena in case it is just the surface at our yard which is too hard. Past that, it will be a vet call out…

Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

for me this was the first sign of navicular, perfectly sound in trot, a bit short in canter, still jumped until one day he just didnt but would get vet to check for any subtle lameness first!