Tail to the left and righ leg swinging in.

doonrocket

doonrocket

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Any ideas,

My 5 year old is sound but a touch awkward. He hands his tail over to the left sometimes and lunging on a left rein I can see his right foot tracking in a bit. (Fine going the other way).
I have to remind him to straighten moving my left leg backwards slightly sometimes.

I am having the saddle replaced as he has changed shape so much over the last 4 months to an ideal H&C tree.

I appreciate this is probably a niggle in his back, could it be growing pains, or a slight strain? Would you keep riding? How long do you think it will take to straighten him , and how would you do it?

Thanks

Ed
 
I'm afraid I don't believe in growing pains. I would get a new saddle sorted out, get his back checked and wouldn't ride him again until I was satisfied that he was completely comfortable.
 
Never heard of growing pains in young horses but take it as read that they will change their shape a lot when strengthening and muscling up. My friends 5 year old mare is about to move onto her 3rd saddle in a year as she has changed so much and I am keeping my fingers crossed my 5 year old doesn't change quite as much as her mare!
 
Id be interested to see what your outcome is. I've a rising 2 year old and he carries his tail to the side, but swops between which side! Everyone comments on it, he does it all the time whether in walk, trot etc. Its like a little switch has been turned on and, flick, over it goes to the opposite side. He doesnt do it all the time as if hes eating (in stable) its up but not over.
Very worried this may cause concern from dressage judges in years to come. He seems perfectly happy and is very supple and moves very well. He doesnt have an arab in him.
 
Had the osteopath out to look a my horse who often carries his tail to the right & she said its not a problem, that it does not indicate a back problem. Don't think the swinging leg sounds right though.
 
I like to run my hands all over my horses body, esp down the backbone and I lean my body weight down his tail, this is to check if he has any issues, ask your physio to show you the basics of light massage and get familiar with him when he is not unsound, then you will identify any problem as it arises.
I often see top dressage horses swishing their tails in an agitated fashion, to me this is not right, but they don't get marked down for it. I love the idea that your boy has a bit of character, and is sending you messages through his tail!
Re not tracking and so on, please do not continue with formal training until this is sorted, go back to light hacking in straight lines, and grid-work with long reins.
 
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my little chap doesnt swish his tail, just carries it to one side then, flick, over it goes to the other. Sometimes it stays to one side for ages and you dont notice that its changed sides till someone else comments. You can kinda see in my profile pic?
 
My 8 year old does exactly the same thing. He is also very uncomfortable to ride his trot.
He has had vet checks which found nothing, plus a very good physio who also found nothing actually wrong, but her conclusion was that he is very unbalanced with little connection between front and hindquarters! Basically he needs lots of suppling/lateral work to get him using his back properly.

I also found changing his saddle recently has made a huge difference. I got fed up with a succession of saddles fitted by reputable qualified fitters that all left dry spots behind his shoulders, so I now have a Lavinia Mitchell saddle which leaves even sweat marks and my boy is definitely moving better in it.
 
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