tripping cob

jojo5

jojo5

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Hi again,
I hope we are allowed to do lots of posts - it's so great to be able to reach so many people for help etc.
I have a wonderful cob who I have owned for 13 years - he is now 20. he is a relatively laid back 'geezer' who likes to be economic with energy! In the last couple of years he trips occasionally when trotting, and also sometimes 'drops' a hind leg when walking. I mentioned this to the vet at his last 'MOT' (which went really well) who recommended a particular farrier who has shod him with quite upright feet, off the heels, and a supportive breakover. (I was dreading hearing the 'N' word.) This worked well to start with but the trips seemed to have returned. They are worse on hard ground. Of course I can't see exactly what he is doing as I am on him and I usually ride alone. He hardly ever does this when being led (is it my riding?). Any ideas.
 
There was a older horse at the riding school I used to work at & he tripped loads. The vet checked him & he had cataracts & he thought that was why he was tripping.
 
My horse trips a lot so does my friends heavy cob.
Mine doesn't pick his feet up so well and is worse on rough ground, far better on the road and hard ground where he never trips, friends horse looks like he picks his feet up higher than mine but sometimes he fails to flick it forward(like a time delay) and he trips. Both of them are forward going cobs.
I think perhaps cobs are just clumsy oafs at heart.
Mine is quite fit with loads of stamina.
He can go all day and once he is limbered up trips less.

We have had conventional shoes, Natural Balance shoes and rolled toes, nothing really makes much difference.
 
When was his saddle last checked? A poorly fitting saddle can cause trips.

Tack naturally changes shape with normal wear, and of course horses change shape all the time so saddles need checking regularly by a qualified saddler.
 
It might simply be a part of getting older.

My 33 year old who used to have a very high action and was very forward going now does it occasionally.

If I actually ride him forward and make him work from behind he doesn't do it, he used to do this for himself but now needs a little encouragement.

I find he is worse if we are messing about and riding on the rein buckles, again something I would never have dared do up to the last couple of years.
 
I had this with my heavyweight cob - my vet's advice was it was either due to being on his forehand, shoeing issue or a knee problem (for example the beginnings of arthritic changes in the knee). It sounds like your vet thinks it was a shoeing issue, but prob worth get his knee checked out if your happy he's doing it when off his forehand x
 
Hi all, Thanks for all of this - really useful. My boy has always been keen to be on his forehand and does need 'lifting' off it so that may be something. I have the saddle checked regularly - in fact the next appointment is in two weeks time. He has had arthritic change quite early on, in that he had a bone spavin when he was 12, so he may well be predisposed to bone change generally.
Thanks x
smile.gif
 
my cob mare tripped quite alot when i first had her she was 16 when i bought her. First thing i did was get lots of fat off her that helped, then had a word with the farrier who advised side clip front shoes so he could take her toes short to help with the breakover i also put her on cortaflex. The combination of all these changes really helped she can lean on me a little when we hack out alone and get a little lazy this can cause her to trip, so i keep her moving faster than she would like which keeps her on the ball. I suppose age and wear and tear of the joints does take its toll she was 20 this spring.
 
If your horse trips then always hack out with knee pads. Jefferies do some nice leather ones with felt so if they come down then their is some protection for their knees.

Suggest rolled toes on their front shoes.

Also don't ride them on a loose reign and have light contact with their mouth.

Feed them some Formula 4 Feet and also linseed. (Good for their joints).
 
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