Stumbling horse who fell

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Olliepoppy

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Hi my boy is a 6 year old cob. When I ride him on the road he is fine (not on roads often as he is very green still). When I ride him in the field or down a farm track he stumbles. My instructor has said he is unbalanced (due to his young age) and to do lots of transitions to help him. I have been doing this with him regularly. When I took him along the completely flat farm track yesterday he trotted all the way along it really nicely. When we turned round and I asked him for trot he took 2 steps and fell to his knees! I stayed on but am worried about him hurting himself (or me getting squashed!). After that when we trotted up the tarmac part of the track (uphill) he was all over the place, trying to canter, going left and right etc. Does it take a long time for the transition work to start helping his balance? He looks great running about in the field without a rider, no stumbling that I have noticed. Is there anything more I can do to help him? Any advice appreciated
 
I would advise you to get a pair of knee boots for when you ride him on the roads. Then if he falls on his knees they are protected.

I think your instrutor is right and he/she is the best person to help you bring him on.
 
You have probably already done this, but young horses can fool you, check the fit of your saddle.

I had problems with my mare stumbling, and she had grown out of her saddle. It was restricting her shoulder movement, so she literally wasn't picking up her feet and would stumble.

It ended up with us both on the deck (cracked ribs for me) and since then I have been manic about checking saddle fit on young horses.
 
I recently bought him a new (second hand) saddle which was advised by a saddle fitter as the synthetic one he came with was slipping all the time. This person has good recommendations so I'm assuming all is right with the saddle. He is due the farrier on Thursday so is possibly a bit long in the toe? I'm hoping it's just an age thing or foot thing and not something more serious..
 
I would suggest that you get a chiropractor to him ASAP. You may find that the 7th cervical vertebrae may be out of alignment, the nerves to the front legs travel through this and if pinched will cause him to stumble or as yours did fall on his knees.

I used to have a TB like this, he had regular chiro work for many months with a final one done under anaesthetic. Following that he was amazing - never stumbled again.

Also have the farrier check his action and shoes/trim to ensure he's not got too long toes. Roll toe shoes help with reducing stumbling.
 
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