Horse tripping

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silverstar

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Ive been to see a horse I like but when he was being ridden he tripped once and he also tripped twice with me. I rode him in a field which is quite uneven. Hes not a youngster. He was fine on the roads so Im wondering if this is normal.
 
I would not touch him because he is too much of a risk. It may just be bad training or it could be the first symptom of navicular syndrome. There are far too many nice horses for sale at the moment to take a risk on this one. If you do decide that he is the right one, get a vetting by a vet who does not normally go to that yard, (definitely NOT one recommended by the seller) tell the vet in writing (an email would be good) that you want him thoroughly checked out for why he tripped, and insist on a blood test.
 
cptrayes said:
I would not touch him because he is too much of a risk. It may just be bad training or it could be the first symptom of navicular syndrome. There are far too many nice horses for sale at the moment to take a risk on this one. If you do decide that he is the right one, get a vetting by a vet who does not normally go to that yard, (definitely NOT one recommended by the seller) tell the vet in writing (an email would be good) that you want him thoroughly checked out for why he tripped, and insist on a blood test.
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Agree with cptrayes
Sorry but a horse I used to own started tripping and it was Navicular.
Ok worse case scenario but unless his feet are bad then I would be cautious.
 
I have no idea at all about the horse you saw but I can tell you that we bought a mare from a RS. She had learned to trip as an evasion. We found that correct riding sorted the problem out over time.
 
Horses trip for several reasons.

Poor shoeing - toes over long, in need of shoeing

Unfit and unbalanced

Neck problems - nerves to front legs travel through 7th cervical vertebrae - if neck out then horse trips, chiro can generally fix this with a few treatments.

One of the early signs of Navicular. Look at shape of feet, shallow wide feet more susceptable. Watch horse in stable for a while and notice if he points the front feet - stands with one or other front foot stretched oout in front of him. To test place a block of wood under the toe of the foot so that toe is raised above heel level, leave horse standing like this for at least 1 min then ask horse to trot up quickly. Navicular horse will be really lame for several strides.
 
I would check the following: foot balance, saddle fit, level of training (ability to engage hindquarters), rider.

All can cause tripping. As can injuries and disease.
 
I agree that I'd look at his shoeing. It isn't unusual for horses long in the toe to trip.

Is he local? Maybe take some photos to show your farrier.

I'd go back and look again. Def have him vetted if you did want him.
 
Tripping can just be because of laziness and not engaging hindquarters.

If you like him go for a second viewing and look specifically for the tripping - defo get vetted just in case!
 
My youngster trips because he's a big dangly doofus! Only does it a few times a ride, gets his feet in a pickle! He's shod every 6 weeks, has had his back and saddle checked and is newly broken!
However, I'd be quite wary of a horse that trips a lot as it can be signs of Navicular.
 
because you say he is unfit do you think the owner would let you take him on a months trial with view to buy, just to see if as he gets fitter that the tripping will stop, but still have it subjected to a vetting, so get him vetted then take him on trial, if not get him vetted 5 stage one as it shows almost everything, and make sure you can be there for the vetting, i ride a friends horse who trips alot, and the vet has put it down to sheer laziness and that he doesnt engage his brain! he only trips in walk, fine trot canter and jumping, and he only does it out on hacks but he's got alot better as long as we hack him in his double bridle and he's on the contact working the whole time, untill a mile or two away from home.
 
How old is the horse? What do you know about it's previous work?

I had one who started to trip because he was getting arthritis in one of his front knees. He'd been heavily jumped before I got him (and would always chose to land on that leg).
 
If you really like the horse, get feet and knees x-rayed as part of the vetting (probably be a couple of hundred extra but worth it for peace of mind).
 
silverstar said:
He only did it at the start. His feet are not long and he is unfit. Seller has booked a school to jump in on 2nd visit.
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BIG danger sign if nothing else was changed but it wore off. Early navicular wears off with exercise, and they come sound after being ridden for a few minutes. When you go to see him again, ask to see him trotted on a circle on hard ground, straight out of the box (don't warn them in advance that you are going to ask them to do this, otherwise they could turn him out for it to wear off first).

If you really like this horse I would repeat my advice to get a "stranger" vet to vet him, tell him/her in writing of your concern (so they cannot later deny you said anything), get a blood test. Foot and knee xrays sound like a good idea too and I would probably ask my farrier to take a look as well.

This could be absolutely nothing and probably is. But you have been given a clear warning sign and it would be hearbreaking to buy him and then find him lame with something as tricky as navicular can be.
 
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