Is he playing up?

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Rachel153

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My friend bought an ex racehorse that arrived at the weekend. He settled in fine and she decided to have a sit on him yesterday. He was perfectly behaved being tacked up, stood still for her to get on and walked around the field a few times no problem. When he started trotting he was lame, so she got off, put him back in his field, and 10 mins later he was trotting and cantering around his field fine. We put him on the lunge, and again, when trotting he was lame.

He does need to be shod and lost a shoe the weekend before, but seeing as he was happily trotting round his field beforehand, we thought it would be ok for him to be lightly ridden.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions?
 
Well since the difference between the lunge/field and being ridden is the weight.

Perhaps weight is enough to make his foot sore or perhaps his back and saddle need checking. That's where I'd start.

I very much doubt he's putting it on.
 
could be that he is soar if used to being shod - knowing thoroughbreds their feet are not always the best so with your friend sitting on him it could be just enough to make him a little foot soar. Not saying your friend is a heffer but just that they can sometimes be sensitive to weight and with the added saddle weight and your friend could be a problem for him. Horses feet can become very sensitive when they are used to shoes and this could be what he is finding a little difficult.
Might be worth seeing if you can do a flexi test...if really bad then call a vet or speak to your farrier...
 
I doubt he's putting it on. I would expect the concentrated work on the field and tighter circles on the lunge has just made it more noticeable.

My horse it hopping lame but he can still trot and canter in the field & sometimes it's not noticeable.

I would get him re-shod and see if the farrier can find anything, he may have a slight bruise. If he's still lame and you can't find any reason, then get the vet in.
 
Between riding and lunging him (no saddle/rider), which was about 1/2 an hour, he trotted and cantered round his field with no apparent problem, which is making me think that he's having us on.
 
Not suprised if he's only got 3 shoes.....probably unbalanced anyway being an ex racer (generalising I know but the ones I've met have been) so get he's shoes all on and try again I say.

People will probably think I'm mad but I give my boy a joint supplment as they're well known for haviing their fair share of knocks and do tend to get stiff (alot like ex polo ponies) but Ive found one that's quite cheap and has the same stuff in it.

Hope things work out with the new boy! x
 
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Between riding and lunging him (no saddle/rider), which was about 1/2 an hour, he trotted and cantered round his field with no apparent problem, which is making me think that he's having us on.

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Yes but in the field he doesnt have tack or a rider on his back!

It could be a back problem, tack, teeth perhaps causing an unusual gait, or even the difference in balance with a rider on board causing the lameness to be more noticable.

I dont think a horse would fake lameness to get out of work, if he wanted to get out of work im sure bucking, rearing or napping would be along a horses train of thought, not limping.
 
Well my horse looks sound trotting and cantering in the paddock, both his back suspensories are shot as are his front naviculars and he'd be lame as a cripple if you got on or lunged him.

You really can't say because they look Ok in the field that they are sound.

 
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Between riding and lunging him (no saddle/rider), which was about 1/2 an hour, he trotted and cantered round his field with no apparent problem, which is making me think that he's having us on.

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Why would he do that? Horses don't work that way. All they are concerned about is survival.
 
I had heard that sometimes horses can play up if they don't want to be ridden, which I myself thought was silly until the weekend.

Obviously she's going to wait for the farrier to come before she attempts to do anything with him again, so we'll wait and see.

Thanks to everyone for their advice!
 
Yes they can, but as someone else mentioned, evasion to work is more likely to take the form of bucking, rearing or napping.

I agree with everyone else pretty much.... get the horse shod and if its still not right, have the vet out to take a look imo.
 
I agree with ISH_Mad, it's not in a horses nature to purposefully show signs of weakness, they just don't think like that- Don't always believe what you hear.
I hope the farrier has the answers to what's wrong.
 
I don't think horses 'put it on' they haven't the intelligence, get him shod and checked, has he any heat or swelling on his legs, what are his tendons like, does he have any tender spots on pressure in his feet.
 
I'd have to agree it sounds more like a lameness problem to me. As the others have said the extra weight of a rider and the tighter circles on the lunge is probably more the problem than putting it on.

But I do have a mare that has pulled this stunt on and off for the last 10 years or so. It is definately something some horses do even if a lot of people think they can't.

She will walk out on a ride perfectly sound ask for a trot and she is hopping lame. As soon as you turn her round a certain corner towards home she trots up perfectly sound. I explained this to a friend who was of the same opinion as the earler poster, horse don't do this and I'm potty. That was until she started hacking her out for me and she was absolutely amazed when she did exactly the same. She now totally belivies Minski is putting it on. She is a very experienced rider has worked with race horses and on studs and a riding school, I've been riding for over 20 years and have a degree in equine science so we both have bit of exerience with horses.
 
Maybe she just knows she is going home and it takes her mind off it.I have seen people who are in pain not feel it when something takes their mind off it but the pain returns, same happens with adrenalin
 
Suggestion is that the horse IS lame. Speak to the farrier and to the vet. I presume your friend had the horse properly vetted before she bought it?
 
Forgot to say that my mare has been treated for lameness issues several times during the time she has been doing this for various lameness problems and non of the vets have found any on going issues whilst being treated.
 
A horse that has lost a shoe - especially a front shoe - will almost always feel unlevel when you ride them.

Hopefully your friend is experienced in her management of horses and will allready know this.
 
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