Tripping and Stumbling

Wooleysmum

Wooleysmum

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25 years old, every time we go out he trips or stumbles a couple of times, I would say in the past few months. Not lame, shod well, not fat but has had laminitis in the past 9 18 months ago). Looks well. One of these days I am going to fall over his head as he trips! Any ideas?
 
Mine does this only on rough ground or long grass. He has very low action, maybe yours has typical "daisy cutter" action, - is he different on grass and road? Mine never trips on roads.

My heavy cob is worse if I let him slop along as well. Mine is probably a combination of a bit of arthritis, low action, and being on forehand naturally. Mine seldom feels dangerous though. I would be worried and investigate further if you really feel he is going to fall over.
A friends TBx tripped when we were out hacking, going down a steep grassy hill, it was pretty horrifying to watch, the horse fell right on its nose, but managed to get up before it decked her rider completely.
The horse has some old tendon or ligament injury.
 
Same as above, keep him active (i.e. don't let him slop along) and try to stay on good ground.

I'd also use knee boots (I use them on mine when he is a bit stumbly the week before farrier is due).

And yes, may be worth investigating further
 
Next time the shoes are changed ask the farrier to roll the toes on the fronts and fit road nails to the inside of the rear shoes. Keep light contact with the horses mouth when riding. Also buy some Jeffries knee pads for your hore so that if it does stumble it's knees are protected.
 
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Next time the shoes are changed ask the farrier to roll the toes on the fronts and fit road nails to the inside of the rear shoes. Keep light contact with the horses mouth when riding. Also buy some Jeffries knee pads for your hore so that if it does stumble it's knees are protected.

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This stopped FB's stumbling issues. We also had Natural Balance shoes fitted rather than just rolled toes, but that is a matter for your farrier. Agree with keeping them active and not slopping along - I could hear FB's toes catching on the road if my OH didn't keep him active.
 
An instructor once told me a poorly fitting saddle could cause them to trip - has his been checked recently?
 
Totally agree with investing in some Jeffries Knee boots, i did and the dents and marks that are on them show the day when it saved my old boy, now retired, from serious injury.
It's really not worth the risk of riding without them if he stumbles on a regular basis.
 
My 26 year old used to do the same (a lot) especially as it neared shoeing time. I changed him to natural balance shoes (on the front) and have never looked back, he's had them on three years now. The toes are much shorter and squarer if that makes sense. Has worked an absolute treat on him. He's still fully exercised and fit as a fiddle and no more tripping! Hope this is helpful. This is my boy working and honestly he would have tripped all over the place before they really made a difference Blizzard

Cate x
 
I'd speak to another farrier (for a second opinion) but if he's older and likely to be going on the forehand if he's stiff in the back (as Ty does) I'd be tempted to take his toes shorter and stick natural balance on so that he has support on his heels more.

I'm no farrier though!
 
Have you had his eyes looked at? Older horses sometimes get cataracts and they aren't always obvious when they are first starting to form. Just a thought if the tripping is fairly recent.
 
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