horse won't canter (long, sorry!)

[WoodysMum]

Just some background history. My boy is 17 in January, he's got bone spavins in both hocks (fused I think), he broke the point of his pelvis before I got him which left him very asymmetric. When the vet first came out to give him an MOT he said he was 2/10th lame on his right hind, and when he came out at around christmas he said he was bilaterally lame on his right hind and left fore

When I first got him just over 2 years ago, he would canter, although he had a 4time canter as well as 3-time canter. However as I was a nervous nellie (still am!) it took me a while to build up the courage to canter him, and so most of the time I just walked and trotted him (had a serious setback from falling off another horse about a month before I got him, I used to sit on the mounting block in tears freaking out and not wanting to get on him

) so I was only happy to walk and occasionally trot.

Anyway, he went lame with an abscess in his foot and back spasms, the vet said it was the worst back pain he had ever seen. It took him a few months to come sound. And then cue my confidence crisis of not having ridden properly for months so I would not try and ask for canter.

When we eventually got round to asking for canter (other people, not me!) he just didn't want to know. At first, he wouldn't canter at all when one person rode him, and then when she rode him a few months on he gave about 4 steps then fell back into trot. Although this person wasnt completely ideal to ride him I decided to stick to me being the only person riding him again!

I got the vet out to look at his canter problem, and they were very unhelpful, said it would take lots of expensive scans and even then they couldnt guarantee a fix for him, and that he would only be able to deal with light work. Fed up, I sort of accepted this.

Then a few months later I got the same vet out for a swollen leg and just asked him again about the canter problem, as he had suggested to put my boy on bute (he refused to eat it!) and see if there was any difference. I said it didnt work and he said that there wasn't anything they could do because my insurance now excludes claims on lameness and associated muscles (because of my claim from when he was really lame previously). Nice and helpful vet!

But, the next day...er...I fell off at canter in the school...He didnt have the balance for the corners so would dive in, and got faster and faster up the long sides until one big motorbike move in and I was off!

My boy was feeling quite fresh as he had had a few weeks off work because of his sore leg, so when he got the ok to be ridden again he was full of himself. I was trotting and he sprung into his extended trot and then burst into canter, and wouldn't stop!

I had been working on encouraging him to go forward with the rider on, so we had been doing lots of big trot in fields so he didnt feel restricted and that he could learn it was okay to go forward with the rider on. When he canters he panics and throws his legs everywhere and is reluctant to go forward.

So I have a horse that may never canter again, the vets wont do anything about it. My instinct says to take him out and canter him in straight lines so he can find his own balance and rhythm without having to worry about turning in a school, to see if he still can. BUT, i simply dont have the confidence to do this! And he is quite a sensitive and specific ride that there is no one around I would trust to do it for me.

I have tried lunging him with the clicker to build up his balance and confidence without a rider, but the places to lunge are very unsuitable. We aren't allowed to lunge in the schools, so we only have this rubbish lunging ring with a sand surface with stones in it! Not good for a horse with joint problems! I have tried lunging him in a field but last time I did he fell over because he slipped

, he is barefoot.

The owners of the yard wont give any exceptions to let anyone lunge in the school even for medical reasons, as it ruins the membrane of the surface apparently. So i have nowhere to lunge him to just try, and I dont have the nerve to canter him out hacking, especially when he bolted off with me in the school in 8 circuits of canter and wouldn't stop!

He is barefoot, has regular physio who hasnt picked up anything alarming that would stop him from cantering, is on 24/7 turnout with a few hours in his stable and I used magnetic boots on his back legs for his spavins. Im just completley at a loss as to what to do. I haven't cantered him properly for over 2 years now

He will canter no problem in the field with his mates, although the balance is very different, and when freeschooled he will canter although will dart in from the corners. I just dont know what to do!


If you have read this far...lots of cookies and hugs for you!

 

[stencilface]

Wow, thats a long post!!!

I woudl think that if he has problems with soundness and stiffness then it is likely that he doesn't want to canter in the school as it will be very difficult and possibly quite uncomfortable for him.

We had a pony with bone spavins, and I have to say we always had problems stopping him not making him go forwards!! He wasn't on bute due to an existing liver condition and was still jumping with it. We never schooled though, just used to hack, jump and do hunter trials etc (thats kids for you

)

Can you go hacking with someone you know (and trust) and try and have a canter there and get used to it on a ride. Maybe on a bridleway that is gated on the end so he can't go anywhere? What bit do you have in? If it made you feel more confident for a little while to ride in a stronger bit out hacking than I would do that. At least then you would feel more in control therefore less panicky, which means he is less likely to go faster than you want to imo.

I think lots of the time when you are nervous of cantering, you cna make the horse more likely to rush, as they are picking up on your panic vibes.

I know it sounds very new age, but if you have an issue with this could you go for some kind of relaxation therapy, hypnosis or similar so you can learn to control your nerves?

 

[wjgfred]

Hi,

Well I have read your posting and just have a couple of observations and suggestions.

It appears to me that you desperately need to make some changes in order to start enjoying your horse.

The following are what I would consider or maybe think about.

1. If the yard you are on are not providing the facilities you need then maybe you should consider moving. Is there another yard with more support and a school where you are allowed to lunge. We lunge regularly in ours with no problems to the membrane.

2. It is obviously important to find out whether the canter problem is pain related or just a schooling issue. This is a difficult one but in relation to bute did you try danilon which is the same and sugar coated so sometimes the horse will eat it more readily. Also if you put apple juice in the feed sometimes this masks things enough for them to eat it.

3. Having said the above it is difficult to know whether this is just a schooling issue. If your horse has not cantered properly for 2 years his muscles will be weak in this area and he will be unbalanced. Also without meaning to be rude, if you are nervous about canter and prehaps not very balanced then this will not help him. If it was me I would be finding someone qualified to maybe take him on and bring him back into canter work properly. There must be someone near you. Ask instructors or local equine college. It is obviously much easier for him to start cantering in straight lines than in the school. An experienced rider should be able to tell you whether it is a pain related or just balance issue, and then you can consider the danilon if needed.

4. With respect to the vet who has not been very helpful at all, I would change vets or ask around and find out who the best vet at this practice is and ask for them. You can actually ask for a meeting with your vet to discuss your horse and it is very difficult for them to avoid specific issues. Go with a list of questions you want them to ask.

It appears to me that you are in a bit of a vicious circle that you cant get out of. You need to make some quite drastic changes in order to start getting more enjoyment for you and your horse.

These are just my thought and I hope it helps a bit.

Good luck

 

[WoodysMum]

thanks both of you for taking the time to read and reply!

 

[Llwyncwn]

Couldnt have put it better myself Fred. My initial thought would be pain and change to an equine vet who knows their stuff.

 

[Flame_]

My somewhat cynical guess, based on what you've written and OME, is that this horse has numerous physical problems. The vet under-estimated your commitment to improving and enjoying your horse and didn't take you seriously when you wanted them to look for physical problems. Its sad but a lot of novice and not-so-novice riders are riding around on not really sound horses and many vets seem to think this is the way it should be. Lets face it, if everyone with schooling problems insisted on full body and MRI scans for their riding club horses the insurance wouldn't cover anyone, the horsepitals would be over-flowing, we'd all be bankrupt and there would be an awful lot of unwanted "companion horses" all over the place.

The vet wants you to accept this unsound horse because they don't think they can fix all its problems, if it were written off you'd not get any insurance money/money for long term treatment due to exclusions (everyone then feels guilty because once problems are diagnosed they should have the best treatment) and because if you don't accept this horse the way it is and make the best of it what is its alternative future?

I'm not sure if you'll see my point, or if you'll just think I'm being miserable, but the basic gist is - the horse is trying to tell you it can't cope with cantering, if you find out why you probably won't be able to do anything about it anyway. You can either give up asking and keep him, give him away as companion

, or PTS which needs vet's approval. I think the vet's hoping for the first one.

I hope I am just cynical and you're horse is OK.

 

[WoodysMum]

thanks for taking the time to reply

i appreciate your comments and it definitely it makes sense re the vet's view.

I could never ever give him away, he means far too much to me. But the problem is if I retire him I think he will get a lot more uncomfortable as he will lose muscle which supports his joints and keeps some comfort up.

And I couldnt have him being miserable....

 

[WoodysMum]

just a note to say: his walk and trot are fine, he can produce some lovely work. He struggles to soften through transitions and really struggles to rein back in a straight line, and will go wonky whenever he can! A previous physio asked me to walk him backwards over poles inhand and he struggled with this too, and once over the pole and asked to move forward, he would drag his hinds a little. I noticed this the other day when I got a straight rein back from him after great encouragement when he walked away from me in the field afterwards

He has a tendency to overbend and can sometimes seem a bit anxious under saddle, as if he is expecting something to hurt. He has never given me an OUCH! reaction though - can't recall him ever bucking or rearing but he is so honest and sweet I dont think he would have it in him bless. And if he's been in pain for years then there must have been some level of adjustment to putting up with it

Why do we love them so much

 

[Flame_]

Bless him, he sounds like a sweetheart. If your vet thinks there's some degree of unsoundness and the horse is seventeen I can't see a problem with maintaining him on bute. That would make him more comfortable and you might find him happy to offer a decent canter and rein back. You can get bute in paste form now (like a wormer) which is much easier and less messy than syringing. Stress to your vet that you want to do all you can to enjoy your horse and for him to be happy. I'm sure they can come up with some realistic ways to improve things for you both.

 

[BethH]

Just to say that I agree with a lot of the comments above, sounds as though you are severely lacking some positive support and I would find a yard where you can do more, or could you a least maybe tape off a small area of field to work in???

I would also be looking for a sympathetic instructor that could maybe teach you to long rein and help with some of the ridden bits. Long reining enables you to balance the horse better doing ground work and I found it was invaluable as it really bolstered my confidence and I had loads of fun, I could even do some basic dressage test on the lines and it really helped Ryan strengthen especially in canter (he had major back surgery and completely lacked muscle), you can go large or circle and your horse switching on loads more to your voice commands and body language so you are working as much more as a team. It also allows you a much better view of how your horse is going and from that you can judge if it is just a fitness thing or pain and that will help you make a decision about the way fwd.

By the way, your horse sounds very lucky to have found you, I hope you continue to enjoy him and I hope you manage eventually to be able to do just a little more so that you can both have some fun.

 

[dozzie]

Your problems with canter sound familiar to me. I have a horse with sacroiliac problems and canter transitions are difficult as is canter. So my suspicion is that the assymetry of the pelvis is possibly the problem and the vets know that there is little that can be done.

I have worked through my horses problems very slowly with gentle but correct schooling. Cantering out on a hack is not a problem for her as she is fine on a straight line. It also helps to keep the canter more forward. I would suspect your horse could do the same. The problem will always be in the transition as they have to use their backend to push themselves into canter.

I had a physio involved who showed me lots of inhand exercises i could do to help my horse so that is a route you could try.

I try to keep mine in work but dont school everyday although I try to school at least 3 times a week.

I think you may have to accept that your horse will struggle with canter transitions and maybe even the canter but I would definitely try to find out if he can manage it on a hack. If he can then you can begin to strengthen him in canter before trying to canter in the school and on circles/through corners.

 

[WoodysMum]

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies

Last time we took him out in a hack and asked him to canter, he panicked and trotted sideways (i wasnt riding him, far too much of a wimp!) But then when we asked again he cantered, but when he had to pull up he threw his legs everywhere so it definitely makes sense re the part about him struggling with the transition.

He wasn't sore or lame the next day though which was great. And one time when I had a lesson with an instructor, I told her that he could only really canter in straight lines at the moment, so she got him, and proceeded to hammer him around in canter on a circle for about 20 minutes! :O But to my surprise he wasn't any worse or more sore the next day.

Im just terrified he wont stop on a hack as Ive had quite a few horses bolt off with me

I guess the key with him would be to start pulling him up early so he has a chance to sort himself out? The problem I have is that I cant circle him to gain control if he gets strong as he isnt balanced enough and would probably fall over in a grass field...