NLPM
Well-Known Member
This is quite long - sorry! And it might be I'm reading something into nothing.
About three weeks ago, when my horse stumbled a bit on a ride. Not a 'trip', i.e. a lurch forward over a tree root or something - just a strange kind of 'ripple' in one of her shoulders for a fraction of a second; it didn't tip me forward or in any way affect my balance. I didn't give it a second thought, until she did it again on another ride. And then two or three times each ride last week. Always walk, never trot or canter. No pattern in ground type or level. Usually in the first 45 mins or first hour of a ride. Not slopping along, head in the clouds, either - but as I said, it's not a 'trip'; it doesn't feel like a lack of attention. It's very difficult to explain but it feels almost like she's put the hoof down twice (I know she hasn't; I just can't think of any other way to explain it!), or stomped a bit harder on that one step.
Farrier came last Thursday and said yes, her hooves had grown a bit quicker than usual and her toes were a bit long. A quick trim and she'd be right (barefoot and always has been).
Yesterday's ride, she 'tripped' three or four times again. It's always a front leg, but not always the same one, so I thought maybe her saddle was a bit tight - she's put on weight on the spring grass, etc., maybe her shoulders are just a bit restricted. Decided to call saddle fitter, and maybe physio, and all would be well.
Tonight though, I saw her do it walking over to me in the field. Just a split second - an extra ripple in the muscle (/fat!) in her shoulder. I wouldn't even have clocked it if I didn't recognise it as what she's been doing under saddle.
I've videoed her walking in the field tonight on my phone, but not ideal - it was getting dark so it's a bit blurry, plus she's wandering with a grazing herd so only ever taking ten steps or so at a time. Have watched them at 0.25 speed obsessively - she appears to be landing 'flat' rather than heel-toe and there are a couple of strides where I think she's actually landing toe first, but difficult to tell. I tried to attach the videos to this post, but no joy.
I'm not entirely sure why I'm posting this, other than to get a sanity check really... Whether I'm being paranoid or whether it is worth ringing the vet to say 'my horse occasionally does something odd, but I can't explain it well or recreate it for you to come and see'! Having the horses at home is wonderful apart from those times you really just need a second pair of eyes/someone to bounce thoughts off!
Anyone got any ideas? I'm trying not to leap to thoughts of navicular on the basis of a few funny moments!
I have a bit of an odd relationship with my local vet practice, so would really prefer not to call them out unless I need to, but on the other hand, if this does sound to more experienced posters like the start of something more serious, then I'd prefer to call them sooner rather than later.
About three weeks ago, when my horse stumbled a bit on a ride. Not a 'trip', i.e. a lurch forward over a tree root or something - just a strange kind of 'ripple' in one of her shoulders for a fraction of a second; it didn't tip me forward or in any way affect my balance. I didn't give it a second thought, until she did it again on another ride. And then two or three times each ride last week. Always walk, never trot or canter. No pattern in ground type or level. Usually in the first 45 mins or first hour of a ride. Not slopping along, head in the clouds, either - but as I said, it's not a 'trip'; it doesn't feel like a lack of attention. It's very difficult to explain but it feels almost like she's put the hoof down twice (I know she hasn't; I just can't think of any other way to explain it!), or stomped a bit harder on that one step.
Farrier came last Thursday and said yes, her hooves had grown a bit quicker than usual and her toes were a bit long. A quick trim and she'd be right (barefoot and always has been).
Yesterday's ride, she 'tripped' three or four times again. It's always a front leg, but not always the same one, so I thought maybe her saddle was a bit tight - she's put on weight on the spring grass, etc., maybe her shoulders are just a bit restricted. Decided to call saddle fitter, and maybe physio, and all would be well.
Tonight though, I saw her do it walking over to me in the field. Just a split second - an extra ripple in the muscle (/fat!) in her shoulder. I wouldn't even have clocked it if I didn't recognise it as what she's been doing under saddle.
I've videoed her walking in the field tonight on my phone, but not ideal - it was getting dark so it's a bit blurry, plus she's wandering with a grazing herd so only ever taking ten steps or so at a time. Have watched them at 0.25 speed obsessively - she appears to be landing 'flat' rather than heel-toe and there are a couple of strides where I think she's actually landing toe first, but difficult to tell. I tried to attach the videos to this post, but no joy.
I'm not entirely sure why I'm posting this, other than to get a sanity check really... Whether I'm being paranoid or whether it is worth ringing the vet to say 'my horse occasionally does something odd, but I can't explain it well or recreate it for you to come and see'! Having the horses at home is wonderful apart from those times you really just need a second pair of eyes/someone to bounce thoughts off!
Anyone got any ideas? I'm trying not to leap to thoughts of navicular on the basis of a few funny moments!
I have a bit of an odd relationship with my local vet practice, so would really prefer not to call them out unless I need to, but on the other hand, if this does sound to more experienced posters like the start of something more serious, then I'd prefer to call them sooner rather than later.