Stiff 5 yr old?

[amy912]

my 5 yr old mare is quite stiff in her back legs mainly (one more than the other) shes still pretty bum high and the other day my friend came on a hack with me and she recons shes gotten taller since i last rode her so could it just be the fact shes growing and achy? when i say stiff she still has full mobility of them both but she steps out to the side slighly with her back right more than her left? if you put this link it will show you my youtube channel of her working in the school, hacking etc so it may give you a better idea, as it may just be me worrying too much!! http://www.youtube.com/user/amzi912?feature=mhee#p/a/u/2/VS9y9pJRedg

 

[be positive]

In the video you are always on the left rein
She looks very unbalanced and at times uncomfortable. Have you had her teeth and back checked?
I would go back to basics with her in the school,Work on getting her straight on both reins, make sure you keep her looking where she is going.Try to establish a rhythm in the trot so that she is more balanced .Then she will use herself more correctly and be less stiff.
It would help if you could find an instructor to give you some help .You obviously have a great relationship with her and she is coming on well with her jumping.

 

[amy912]

yes they all seem to be fine. but she was used as a gypsy trotting horse so was just forced in a striaght line so she wasnt evenly worked. yes i have an instructor and that was in my lesson with her. ahhh we worked her evenly on both but i didnt put everything on there as my vid was already like 7 mins long :L and the best vids were on that side. i think thats why her trot is so off balance but i got someone out the other day and they said she has lovely paces she just needs to get all her muscel developed in the right places.
iv been worrying that its arthritis but lots of people hav been telling me shes not stiff as in arthritis stiff she just doesnt use herself well, and shes not in a any pain and theres no heath anywere either, hopefully everything will just come in time

 

[Maesfen]

If she is still growing and is uneven then personally, I would turn her away for a month at least until she's settled down again. If you don't and continue to work her she might well have setbacks later on because she wasn't allowed to develop properly and you worked stressed limbs and muscles. I'm surprised your instructor hasn't said the same TBH.

 

[BethH]

Hi

My first thought is what a lovely genuine little horse and my second is that she is rushing too much and it is unbalancing her.

If she were mine I would get some lessons from a decent groundwork instructor on long reining so that you can teach to move calmly and balance herself without a rider interfering first, that will help her build up some correct muscle which will then allow her to support a rider. Spend a lot of time working on a good walk and steady paced trot.

Just one other thing to mention and I am sure loads of people will disagree with me, but I feel that as she is still growing I wouldn't jump her yet. She just needs to do 1/2 hour schooling a couple of times a week and a couple of hour long hacks at her age. If you want her to age gracefully, look after her joints now and don't stress them before they are ready. Maesfen does make good points, allow her time to grow and develop before you ask too much.

Best of luck i think you will have great fun with her.

 

[texel]

I agree with the last few replies;

She is gorgeous and really she is trying so hard for you but yet her body can't cope with what she is being asked to do. She looks as if she still has some growing to do. If you carry on she will only become more crooked and stiff and then resent schooling altogether.

1. give her some time off - she won't forget how to be ridden.
2. then start some ground and long reining exercises.
Without the weight of the rider you will give her a chance to work out what her body can and can't do and you will give her a chance to become stronger.

 

[amy912]

ok thank you guys. how long do you recon it will all take roughly? i only jump her once every 2 weeks now. so you doubt its anything like arthritis atm?

 

[christine48]

Firstly I'd get a chiropractor to check her back and pelvis. Lunging and gentle schooling to help strengthen her, ensuring you do it equally on both reins.