Is it me?

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pnap

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Bit of a strange thing going on at the moment with my 17.2hh thoroughbred cross. When I'm riding he feels unbalanced on the right rein, doesn't bend as well and often strikes off on the wrong leg when asking for canter. However, when I'm lunging him he is great on this rein (no pull at all on the lunge line) but leans on me the whole way round on the left rein. Do you think it's me that is unbalancing him?
 
Sounds to me like he may have a stiffness/problem on his left side?
Personally I'd get a qualified physio to check him. Hard to say whether you are adding any more difficulty for him.
 
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Bit of a strange thing going on at the moment with my 17.2hh thoroughbred cross. When I'm riding he feels unbalanced on the right rein, doesn't bend as well and often strikes off on the wrong leg when asking for canter. However, when I'm lunging him he is great on this rein (no pull at all on the lunge line) but leans on me the whole way round on the left rein. Do you think it's me that is unbalancing him?

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He's lame.
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Thanks I'll see if I can get someone to check him out - was just puzzling me that he seemed to switch which side was more difficult depending on whether I was onboard or not.
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Try Chiropracter and accupuncture, worked wonders on my mare (the problem turned out to be at the top of her neck, along with a load of other problems not related to that!)
 
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Thanks I'll see if I can get someone to check him out - was just puzzling me that he seemed to switch which side was more difficult depending on whether I was onboard or not.
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I'd say he was lame left hind...if that's any help to you?
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Funny you say that - I've just came back from 3 weeks holiday for which he was supposed to be on schooling livery - he got an abscess whilst I was away and wasn't worked for the whole time. Back into work the last 4 weeks and vet & farrier have declared him sound. Maybe there is something residual there - though he doesn't look lame when trotted up or lunged. Think I'll get them to recheck though.
 
Yes the lack of bend on right rein could indicate a problem on left side? Also cantner strike off on right rein could be problematic because of left hind issue?

But it may be that he is sound - Ie even striding, rythmical etc??? He could just be tight somewhere?
 
I say left hind because on the right rein, the canter sequence would be LH, RH + LF together, RF...but you say he chooses not to use his LH. On the lunge it is the inside hind that does the work...and from what you say...he is quite happy to work on his right rein, but has to lean on you for support on his left rein.
But I'm not a vet...and have never even clapped eyes on your boy, so feel free to ignore me....
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Yeah I definately think he's sound - just weird that without me up there he seems comfortable enough on the right rein and bends nicely when lunged yet is the opposite on the left rein. Maybe he's just at it - bit of a lazy buggar truth be told.
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I just thought perhaps I was unbalancing him when riding.
 
Hey I'm up for any advice I can get - it's not really affecting his performance at all I had just noticed this tendency to lean on the left when lunging and the right when ridden. Think in any case a wee visit from the physio wouldn't go amiss to see if there is some underlying stiffness/soreness there. I have just got a new saddle for him and he has put on a fair bit of condition recently so perhaps there's something in that.
 
I'd suspect the abscess is still brewing at a low level in his foot...especially if it is in the left hind, and even more so if he has good strong feet.
Good luck with him - hope it gets better soon.
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I agree with Shilasdair, my mare was exactly the same (well not quite cos it was opposite to yours
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) she was lame on right hind

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What?! Are you allowed to agree with me?
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I agree with shilasdair, he sounds lame, I had the same thing recently wih my big lad, and he was lame, you could only see it if you lunged him on a tight circle, he is totally sound on the straight.
 
Farrier booked to come out and recheck foot for signs of absess still being there and I've looked into getting an equine physio/body worker up to the yard to check him out as well. Probably just me being overprotective but he's my first horse (ridden since I was a child but only just able to afford one now!)
 
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Farrier booked to come out and recheck foot for signs of absess still being there and I've looked into getting an equine physio/body worker up to the yard to check him out as well. Probably just me being overprotective but he's my first horse (ridden since I was a child but only just able to afford one now!)

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Overprotective is good
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I agree with Shilasdair, my mare was exactly the same (well not quite cos it was opposite to yours
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) she was lame on right hind

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What?! Are you allowed to agree with me?
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Only if you let me
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