Tripping up???

[SecretSquirrell379]

My girl is a 15 year old appy who has started noticably tripping over. The started a month or so ago when she tripped going down a hill

I thought nothing of it to be honest, but I remember that it was her left hoof she tripped on. She did it a couple of times in the following few weeks (again thinking about it now it was her left foot/leg) but I put it down to her being a bit lazy and not walking out properly. She does not do it in lessons when she is working properly.

We had a fall on the beach just over a week ago when she went down on what we think was soft mud (coincidently on her left side??) and I hurt my hand so was unable to ride for a week. I got back on her on Monday and walking down the driveway she felt not surprisingly a little stiff and tripped on her left leg/foot two or three times. She had been trotted up several times during the week and just before I got on her to make sure she was sound and she was. We just walked and she seemed to soften up after 10 mins or so, we had a little trot and she was sound and happy. I was though not 100% happy, she felt like it took very slightly more effort for her to bring her left leg forward, but it was a teeny tiny bit and I was not sure if I was imagining it. Again this disappeared after 5 mins or so. She was ridden again on Wed eve and felt softer but again had a little trip going up the lane. She was only walked and one short trot and she is sound.

Last night we went out for a longer ride and trotted quite a bit, she was fine and felt good so we had a short canter. She went beautifully and felt fine. Just before we got back to the yard though she tripped over coming off a very small grass verge, again on her left leg.

I am going to get her back checked first, I have already rung and left a message for the lady. Is there anything else I should get checked? She was shod only a couple of weeks ago and her feet are fine.

Sorry for the waffle, I hope it all makes sense. I've got to shoot off very soon for an appt but I'll be back on later.

Thanks

Tricksy

ps I won't be sueing if any info is wrong

 

[AmyMay]

Back was the first thing that I thought - after that I'd speak with the vet.

Your saddle isn't too tight either is it??

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

I'm pretty sure her saddle fits fine, but, I will have a proper look at it this afternoon when I go down there. If it was her saddle I would of expected some bucks thrown into canter as she is very expressionate!! Still waiting for the back lady to ring me back

The vet is the next port of call, I thought that it was probably best to get her back ruled out first as he would no doubt suggest it when we came out.