Wwyd with pony not “getting it”?

[Blueysmum]

We are full loaning a beautiful 14.2 cob. She’s an absolute dream on the ground and hacking. My 15 (nearly 16yo) and 7 year old absolutely dotes on her and are love her so much. We’ve had her 2 years. When we started loaning she had barely been sat on (she’s 12).

we’ve had two different trainers trying to different methods and the one we have now is very good but she just isn’t progressing. Still struggles to hold a canter in school, trips over jumps etc but hacking she’s a dream and all the girls at the yard love her. She’s not going anywhere as I worry where she will end up.

but would you carry on? Give her another year and see where we go? Her fitness is amazing now and she’s looking fab. Or do I keep her for dd7/as a hack and look for something more for dd15? Or send her back and fear where she may end up? Her owner can’t afford to keep her and she would probably end up at another loan owner won’t sell but does not want her back. She doesn’t want to sell because she doesn’t want her ending up in different homes. She would be ideal for dd7 in a few years.

Trainer suggested getting bloods done to see if anything internal is going on.

 

[ycbm]

Assuming that she holds canter fine on straight lines, I would be thinking of a performance workup looking at front feet, hocks, hind suspensories and just possibly C6/C7 asymmetry in the neck.

She sounds too nice to send back.
.

 

[Red-1]

I too would send for a performance workup. I would not jump one that can't physically hold a canter.

 

[Blueysmum]

she doesn’t hold a canter really, it takes a lot to get her into it. Although trainer can and she does hold it for a good 10/15 strides.

She couldn’t even trot when we took her on or go forward. She’s amazing and so loving to us. She’s not going anywhere.


is so frustrating because she’s amazing in every other way.

But when my youngest gets on her, she just doesn’t budge either. It’s like she doesn’t know what you want, she’s completely dead to the leg really

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Is she the same on all school surfaces, or just yours? Sometimes it can be because the surface is too deep that they struggle. Could Dd15 school on hacks. If she us the same in other schools then, yes, a performance workup would be best.

 

[ycbm]

she doesn’t hold a canter really, it takes a lot to get her into it. Although trainer can and she does hold it for a good 10/15 strides.

She couldn’t even trot when we took her on or go forward. She’s amazing and so loving to us. She’s not going anywhere.


is so frustrating because she’s amazing in every other way.

But when my youngest gets on her, she just doesn’t budge either. It’s like she doesn’t know what you want, she’s completely dead to the leg really

OK, have you though about PSSM, it's pretty rife in cobs and some of that fits?
.

 

[Blueysmum]

Is she the same on all school surfaces, or just yours? Sometimes it can be because the surface is too deep that they struggle. Could Dd15 school on hacks. If she us the same in other schools then, yes, a performance workup would be best.

Well I thought that, but we’ve started using the outdoor school at a yard ip the road and she’s the same.

 

[AmyMay]

Does she canter when hacking?
Is she shod?
Who regularly rides and schools her?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

OK, have you though about PSSM, it's pretty rife in cobs and some of that fits?
.

Was reading and thought it sounded PSSM, if it’s a coloured cob potentially type 1?

I second bloods though. Mine was a bit quiet and had severe liver damage.

 

[Blueysmum]

Thanks all! Il read about PSSM!

The field she was in when we got her was full of ragwort etc so do worry she has some underlying issue maybe, will get her booked in tomorrow!

It’s not proper jumps, like raised trotting poles practically lol.


Same with her bum, it’s very flat and even though she’s fit and she’s never out of breath even though she’s worked hard it doesn’t seem to be toning up at all.

Dd rides her 4 times a week, either hacking or in the school on her own or with people at the yard, she has a lesson once a week and the trainer schools her once a week too. So she has usually one or two days off a week.

We’ve figured she prefers to be in the school alone and worries if another horse is in but out hacking loves company lol

 

[AmyMay]

Do you have a photo of her?

 

[Blueysmum]

We had front shoes put on as trainer recommended them and they did make a difference when out hacking she seems happier

 

[AmyMay]

In August you said he was doing well at cross country. What’s changed? Was it the injury?

 

[Goldenstar]

Falling over poles is a huge indicator for a lameness of some type the being worse in the school often points to soft tissue involvement I am another who would be wanting a work up making sure they look for neurological issues KS and PSD a as well as the very common boney issues .

 

[Blueysmum]

I have hundreds lol

It’s saying they are too big so had to make a collage x

 

[Blueysmum]

In August you said he was doing well at cross country. What’s changed? Was it the injury?

In August you said he was doing well at cross country. What’s changed? Was it the injur

Oh no it wasn’t an injury like that. She’s fab out hacking.

 

[little_critter]

In August you said he was doing well at cross country. What’s changed? Was it the injury?

Different horse? It’s changed sex?

 

[Blueysmum]

same pony, I was worried about owner originally but I’m not now. Situation has kinda been sorted. She still won’t sell but I’m not that worried anymore tbh.

 

[AmyMay]

Different horse? It’s changed sex?

Is it?

Anyway, not much info forthcoming and lots to take away from the photos.

Looks like a nice pony though.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Why are the stirrups so short has the trainer not mentioned this?

 

[Blueysmum]

tbh I wasn’t there in that lesson, let me find a better pic they aren’t normally that short, I think she had got on after her trainer but not sure.

 

[Blueysmum]

Ringing the vets tomorrow to ask for blood work.

Thing is she’s extremely flexible lol to the point where she’s too flexible and turning her head to get her to move doesn’t work because she can practically fold in half.

 

[AmyMay]

When was the saddle fitted and by who?

 

[Goldenstar]

I would not start with blood work .
Get the pony walked and trotted up and get basic flexions done it might be as simple as that to find something wrong .

 

[Blueysmum]

Yep saddle was fitted in February by a saddler local to us who is highly recommended

 

[Sossigpoker]

Sounds like hind limb lameness and/or SI issues. My cob was the same before he had his hocks treated.
I'd go for a performance work up and not waste money on bloods as they are unlikely to reveal anything useful.

 

[AmyMay]

Yep saddle was fitted in February by a saddler local to us who is highly recommended

I’d say it was too small.

 

[Blueysmum]

She has quite a short back and don’t think it could be much longer, daughter has lost abit of weight since the hacking photos so looks better in the saddle.

Was bloody expensive so best fit lol

 

[Blueysmum]

i just want to do best for her she’s such a darling.

 

[FlyingCircus]

Sadly my experience with horses who struggle to progress with canter is not a positive one - including my own mare who has both suspensory and spinal issues.