TB Mare struggling in canter - weak, unbalanced??????

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GreenEyedMonster

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My lovely little TB mare who is 11 was very weak when I bought her, she'd been stood in a barn with some cows and other mares so whilst she was well fed etc. she hadn't had the space to canter or really move.

At first she really struggled and would be totally disunited rather like an ostrich run! And as the months have progressed she got much much better to the point where I was jumping her and ready to compete her.

However, the last few days she has resorted to her original self - At first she rushes into the canter and then drops behind the leg and when I have done lots of transitions and tried again she is better and more responsive and is in front of my leg but after a dozen strides she disunites or changes legs behind or falls back into trot.

She doesn't show any discomfort, she's content as a cucumber in every other respect and has been doing some lovely stretching in the trot and canter over her back so that is reassuring at least.

But I can't help thinking it might be her feeling sore or stiff or possible because she's feeling mare-ish as she has become quite nosey and distracted too.

Like I said she improves with transitions but I did read somewhere that sometimes ulcers can cause discomfort?

Any thoughts or suggestions?
 
no, because she isn't lame amd is happy cantering round the field I assumed it was more of a muscular issue or balance related as she struggles under saddle (should have mentioned this already!)
 
Going disunited in canter is often an early sign that something is wrong, she may appear to be sound and happy cantering in the field but that does not rule out pain, if you think it may be muscular you can ask the vet to refer for some physio, if it is purely a balance issue then it should be more easily corrected with training, ulcers are a whole different issue and may be the reason but a vet would normally want to rule out more obvious things first.
 
My horse is very weak behind the saddle, always has been, particularly on his left hind.

It is something I have worked on over the past 12 months and whilst he is MUCH improved following physio/pole work/the right exercises, just occasionally if he gets tense (spooking usually!) he resorts to running, occasionally disuniting and generally getting in a bit of a pickle.

Do you think she has been getting tense about something perhaps which is causing her to resort back to her usual way of going?
 
I would be inclined to turn away for 6 weeks then start again. I would feed a few oats and minerals daily to make sure the muscles were kept strong, walking in hand for an hour per day, unshod.
 
Has she had Physio and her teeth done? If so and all is ok, it's time, patience and dedication. My exracer was horrific on the right rein but my instructor has really helped us. I'm an experienced rider and instructor but really needed outside help which has worked brilliantly. Good luck
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Has she raced? I know a few that we have had have struggled in canter and this has been due to sacroiliac issues stemming from lots of standing starts.
 
Please do not feed oats to a horse with a suspected muscle problem. It could be many things but if it's a muscle storage disorder oats will only help with getting a quick diagnosis when she ties up or a "cure" when she drops dead (!).

You'll need a vet to investigate the horse as disunited cantering is a sign of many things none of them good, particularly if the horse was cantering better previously than it is now. There's no good reason for a horse to suddenly start mixing it's legs up. It could be saddle, pain, muscle disorder and or a hundred other things.
 
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