Tripping up - any advice?

Foxy girl

Foxy girl

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My new boy (Been with me nearly 3 weeks now) is so chilled out he's almost horizontal BUT he trips a lot on his front feet, even in walk. I had the farrier out this week who took a good look and who thought it might just be down to his age (he's only 6).

I just wondered if anyone had had similar problems, and will he grow out of it or do I need to dig deeper to find the cause? He has two wall eyes and I know they are purely cosmetic and supposedly don't affect eyesight but I can't help putting two and two together and making 16...

Thanks!
 
Our 17h chilled out hunter trips a lot if you let him! He will happily bumble along with his head in the clouds, and that is when he trips. If you push him, and get him walking properly he doesn't trip. He did it a lot as a youngster when he was still growing into his massive frame (4-6yrs).
 
Is he a cob? I have had two very laid back cobs personally and know of another one also who all trip up due to not paying attention! :D

As long as you have ruled out issues with sight etc (one of mine had a wall eye and no problems what so ever) then best course of action is:

1) keep feet trimmed and shod short (two clip style shoes on front seem best) and

2) keep paces active and make sure you always have a bit of a contact so that if they do go you are there to 'catch' them slightly (seems silly to say but does seem to help, assuming of course that you are stable in your seat otherwise you may get pulled forward).

If he is just plain not paying attention I also give mine a tap down the shoulder and a 'pick your own bl00dy feet up' vocal repremand which seems to do the trick for a little while at least! :)
 
Bless him! The things that spring to mind are: is he sound? how fit is he? when was he last shod? how long are his toes, whats his foot balance like, what type of shoes does he wear, where has the farrier put the break over point?- With some but not all horses i think sometimes by moving the break over point forward instead of back it can make them move much freer- that's what I've found with my horses! -may be wide webbed rolled toe shoes or shoes with quarter clips? will help them break over quicker- or or bog standard shoes to keep it simple.

Could be something that is easily sorted by tweaking his shoeing and could be co ordination and fitness related and the fitter and stronger he gets and the more he uses and activates his hind legs the better he will get!

Hopefully you can get it sorted easily- enjoy your new horse!
 
Thank you all! He is a cob and I do think he does bumble along with his head in the clouds too! He's so laid back - he'll happily trot or canter but any opportunity to stop and he'll take it! I used to ride a Fresian who tripped a lot while he was growing - seems a combination of laid back boys plus growing up might be the answer!

The farrier shod him on Tuesday - just two normal front shoes and left his back feet barefoot for now as he is made of tough stuff.

The problem is my legs are aching like mad from squeezing him on constantly - maybe when I'm a bit fitter too (!) I'll be able to keep him marching along and he won't have chance to trip so much!

Thanks again
 
My pony frequently used to trip over her own hooves the first year or so that I had her (as a 5 - 6 yo). She was very loose limbed at the front, tended to be on her forehand, and I think just not strong. Now, as an 8 yo she very rarely stumbles.

Maybe it's just a case of getting stronger with age and schooling?
 
Apart from having rolled toe shoes in front - it is worth having the horses neck checked out.

The nerves to the front legs come through the spine around the 7th cervical - any mis-alignment can result in nerves being pinched and tripping. I had a lovely TB who tripped terribly - the chiro came out regularly and finally he was manipulated under general anaesthetic and he never tripped again after that.
 
Evelyn said:
Apart from having rolled toe shoes in front - it is worth having the horses neck checked out.

The nerves to the front legs come through the spine around the 7th cervical - any mis-alignment can result in nerves being pinched and tripping. I had a lovely TB who tripped terribly - the chiro came out regularly and finally he was manipulated under general anaesthetic and he never tripped again after that.
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Oh yes - I forgot to say that I have her back checked regulary - it needed work to begin with, but rarely has anything done these days.
 
check saddle not pressing into shoulders. friends pony used to trip constantly when ridden, & fell over few times walking down hill. found out saddle was putting pressure on shoulders & digging in. sorted saddle, pony fine.

Also know an old tb who trips in walk as she can't be bothered to focus, too bust looking over hedges & done peoples driveways....nickname Hilda (as in Ogden)
 
I was told that tripping behind was lazyness, and tripping in front was usually due to unevenness of the ground :)
tripping in front can also be a sign that the horse is on his forehand :)
 
My boy used to trip a lot as a youngster but it is much better now due I think to a combination of him being less gangly, less on his forehand and I ride him forward more positively, we rarely 'bumble' now.

I have also gone barefoot which has made a whole lot of difference, I think the shoes where just another thing to get in a muddle. It might be worth considering, even if you only do it while he is maturing.
 
i know of a horse that does this and has completely tripped over and dumper herself and rider on the road a couple of times.
She is very much on the forehand and tends to drift off when not working actively.
Keep your horse awake and make sure he is working properly from behind and maintain contact to a) work him properly in a better outline and b) you can help stop them going down if they do trip.
 
Foxy girl said:
Thank you all! He is a cob and I do think he does bumble along with his head in the clouds too! He's so laid back - he'll happily trot or canter but any opportunity to stop and he'll take it! I used to ride a Fresian who tripped a lot while he was growing - seems a combination of laid back boys plus growing up might be the answer!

The farrier shod him on Tuesday - just two normal front shoes and left his back feet barefoot for now as he is made of tough stuff.

The problem is my legs are aching like mad from squeezing him on constantly - maybe when I'm a bit fitter too (!) I'll be able to keep him marching along and he won't have chance to trip so much!

Thanks again
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Carry a long schooling whip when you ride, and tickle him behind your leg now and again instead of constantly squeezing. Not hitting, but just to say "Oy you, move on a bit".
 
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