Tripping ... Full vet work up, X-rays Cost advise please?

Antw23uk

Antw23uk

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Hi All

I've owned my ex racer since May last year and since owning him he has been tripping a bit when in the shool. We put it down to him working in a lazy way so have been working on propulsion which does seem to make a difference but yet these is still this odd trip.

He has had his teeth, back and saddle all checked and up to date and the tripping is a lot less than it was now he is fitter and better in the school but its still there. I've spoken to all his previous owners and there is no history of injury and as I would like to start teaching him to jump (bit of a task in itself it would seem!) I dont want to be doing so if I shouldnt be!

Does anyone have any idea of what a vet visit will involve, I imagine a full work up (not sure what this means really) and possibly X-Rays?

If anyone has a rough idea on costs then that would be very much appreciated (I will make sure im sitting down when i read the replies just incase!) but obviously I've emailed the vets asking for a guide to how much this could initially set me back.

Thanks
 
My first thought would be to have the balance of his feet checked by a farrier who properly understands the importance of skeletal alignment. A vet will happily take your money for x-rays, MRI scans etc then tell you his feet are out of balance (yes, I am a cynic when it comes to these things). Fix what can be fixed first, then if you still have a problem you still have your hard-earned cash / insurance money :)

Why not put up some photos of his feet here - directly side on, directly from the front and underside. There are knowledgable folks on here who will be able to tell you in a trice whether this is potentially the source of the issue.
 
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Agree re farrier first. Then I would be looking at how strong and supple he is. My horse (not an ex-racer, was just green, unbalanced and a bit stiff/ lacked suppleness) did it when he first started schooling regularly. It went away with time and the right work. Now he is much stronger, more supple, muscle development has improved so he carries himself better so he doesn't do it anymore. I think he was just a bit uncoordinated and unbalanced. Also, he can be quite a whizzy little thing and I sometimes think he didn't always quite know what he was doing with his legs, as he was so busy trying to bog off or spook. He now concentrates much better and is generally better mannered, so he is listening and working properly.

It took time to resolve and for him to develop the right muscles, and right way of going.

How often do you school him? Mine needs it 3x a week ideally so maybe yours needs more schooling to get stronger?
 
Thanks All, will speak to my farrier. I do find it difficult speaking to him when I am not there when he is shod. Working full time is obviously frustrating for things like this but i will give him a call.

Will grab some pics tonight and post them, thank you all again :)
 
Hopefully it is hoof balance with yours, but my old TB trips - vet says she has 'arthritic changes' and 'reduced mobility' in her fetlock joints.

No x-rays or anything done, but a change of joint supplement and bute are keeping her pain free and more mobile for now ( she hacks occasionally, just because she loves going out, but we have to be careful because she has fallen a few times, before the new joint supplement).
 
I would get X-Rays done personally. Mostly to make sure there isnt any thing under lying, but a close friend on same yard recently took on a 6 year ID X who would occasionally trip (I put it down to how unbalanced the rider was and unfit the horse was), after a particularly big trip on the road, she got the vet to X-Ray and her Hocks were totally knackered and she can not be ridden again. Never came across lame and was well shod, had her saddle fitted etc.

Hope its not any thing like this - but I would feel safer in the knowledge. I would expect to pay around £300 - £400 for full examination and several x-rays

Good luck
 
I also would check the foot balance, but equally check yourself. Over last year, I noticed Henry starting to trip more and more. It took far longer than it should to twig that I was leaning slightly further forwards and my stirrups were a little long for me. As soon as I made a conscious effort to sit up straight, heels down and stirrups at correct length, the tripping stopped! I recently had a set back with my back and within days he was tripping again. Just something to bear in mind.
 
I would not get the farrier first .
I would get a good equine vet to look at the horse and comment on its shoeing and it's foot balance .
The thing with a work up is you need the right vet be careful who you choose .
As to cost how long is a piece of string from 200 to a fortune depending on what they find .
Talk with the vet about costs .
I had Fattys hocks worked up because I was a little worried he went to surgery had flex tests was lunged on the hard and the soft and trotted up he was sound and it cost £175 .
If they had started to do anything like nerve blocks or X-rays the costs would raised quickly .
 
If it helps I have just had a full set of X-rays on front feet to investigate lameness. All in with original visit to nerve block and sedation for the x rays themselves it was just over £700.

This was not including any treatment!
 
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