Young horse Dis-uniting behind

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Fanatical

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Just wondered peoples opinions on this as I can't help wondering if it's an issue and the horse is 'protecting' something.

Young horse (5 yr old this time), backed and turned away last year. Been back in light work since mid Feb. Has always found the canter extremely difficult. He's quite big at around 16.3hh so I am hoping its just a balance/ strength issue. In his early ridden work he bucked A LOT in canter - the transitions, during the canter, just generally spent a lot of time kicking out and pratting about. It concerned me I have to say.
Had saddle checked numerous times.
Anyway, this has improved greatly as the weeks have gone by, almost to the point of never happening so I was appeased and told myself it was indeed just that he was unbalanced and found it hard. However, the one thing that has remained is that, if he can get away with it, he will change behind on one rein. Again, it is improving and I prefer to canter only for say a long side and then one short side before asking for the transition to trot, as if you get carried away and try to go all the way around, for example, he will lose his balance and swap behind so its trying to get the transition in before he does it himself as he will often swap during the actual transition (which worries me even more as its like he doesn't want to take the weight on that inside hind in the transition on that rein).

He will also quite happily canter across the field disunited too - alarm bells.

So, what I am asking is, would this worry you in a young horse - has anyone had this issue? Will it continue to improve as he strengthens up (I'm in no rush), or do I have a soundness issue?

I have plenty of experience with young horses and also have even more experienced people around me. They all say just unbalanced, but I can't help worry - I have been through the mill a bit of late and can't help worrying I'm going to end up back there again.
 
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Personally, to save my sanity if I was in your shoes I'd head off to the vets for a check up. It'll be in the back of your mind constantly otherwise. Better to know now if there's an issue. And if there isn't then you can stop worrying.

I took one of mine in recently because I was stressing over something, they did a bit of a work up and sent me home with a diagnosis of Paranoid Owner. What's nice is that we have a benchmark now as she ages so if we're unlucky and anything does develop in the future then I have something to compare it to. Mine was never vetted so we never did any trot ups/flexions etc when I got her.
 
milliepops said:
Personally, to save my sanity if I was in your shoes I'd head off to the vets for a check up. It'll be in the back of your mind constantly otherwise. Better to know now if there's an issue. And if there isn't then you can stop worrying.

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This


Fingers crossed that it's just a balance isssue in a big baby but it's better to be sure.
 
milliepops said:
Personally, to save my sanity if I was in your shoes I'd head off to the vets for a check up. It'll be in the back of your mind constantly otherwise. Better to know now if there's an issue. And if there isn't then you can stop worrying.

I took one of mine in recently because I was stressing over something, they did a bit of a work up and sent me home with a diagnosis of Paranoid Owner. What's nice is that we have a benchmark now as she ages so if we're unlucky and anything does develop in the future then I have something to compare it to. Mine was never vetted so we never did any trot ups/flexions etc when I got her.
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Very sensible. Probably just the advice I’d give someone else - never as easy when you’re in the bubble is it.
I guess I just worry that vets will always find something when you start down this route - especially when they find out you’re insured. Urgh my gut instinct was right last time - I just hope it isn’t this time.
 
My OH said the same about vets always finding something, but I know my vets pretty well and I saw one of the partners and said those exact words to her. She could see what I was getting at.

But I still wanted to know if there was something that they would pick up from a basic work up. Lunging hard & soft, trot up, flexions etc just the basic stuff. Obv if something had shown up that warranted investigation then I was fully ready for scans and x rays and so on, but we didn't get to that as not needed (the one that went the following month was a write off but that's a different story!)
 
milliepops said:
Personally, to save my sanity if I was in your shoes I'd head off to the vets for a check up. It'll be in the back of your mind constantly otherwise. Better to know now if there's an issue. And if there isn't then you can stop worrying.
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I'd also get the vet out. It rings alarm bells for me, he sounds uncomfortable. Both of my geldings have 'issues' and both go disunited behind. One turns out he has neck arthritis and the start of hock arthritis, he'll disunite after a fence but it did improve since hes had steriods. My other one was much worse, disuniting a lot and turned out he had done a suspensory. Haven't cantered since his op so can't tell you if hes any different yet.

Hopefully its nothing major but worth a check for definite. As Milliepops, I know of a good vet who will always go down the sensible route before saying this that and that is wrong, and he is the lameness specific vet so knows his stuff. A basic work up, flexion tests, lunging etc. Just see if they can see anything. Worth it to settle your mind
 
Fanatical said:
However, the one thing that has remained is that, if he can get away with it, he will change behind on one rein.
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I wouldn't say hes trying to get away with it, I'd assume pain. Both of mine I backed myself (before any issues, as youngsters) and non of them ever bucked or acted difficult. Theres being unbalanced then bucking and swapping behind a lot, that sounds more like something isn't quite right or hes uncomfortable specially to swap hind mid canter.

Best of luck OP do let us know how you get on :)
 
Deffo get the basics checked at the vets, swapping behind over such a period of time would have me wondering too im afraid :(
 
Aimeetess said:
I wouldn't say hes trying to get away with it, I'd assume pain. Both of mine I backed myself (before any issues, as youngsters) and non of them ever bucked or acted difficult. Theres being unbalanced then bucking and swapping behind a lot, that sounds more like something isn't quite right or hes uncomfortable specially to swap hind mid canter.

Best of luck OP do let us know how you get on :)
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Completely with you, hence my gut feeling something isn't right. I just don't want to believe it.
Thanks.
 
My mare started doing this, also putting in an extra half step on downward transitions.

Took her to a lameness specialist vet and was diagnosed stifle inflammation. Have had both her stifles medicated, along with her right fore coffin joint. Along with physio, rehab and very careful riding she is now fine.
 
Aimeetess said:
I'd also get the vet out. It rings alarm bells for me, he sounds uncomfortable. Both of my geldings have 'issues' and both go disunited behind. One turns out he has neck arthritis and the start of hock arthritis, he'll disunite after a fence but it did improve since hes had steriods. My other one was much worse, disuniting a lot and turned out he had done a suspensory. Haven't cantered since his op so can't tell you if hes any different yet.

Hopefully its nothing major but worth a check for definite. As Milliepops, I know of a good vet who will always go down the sensible route before saying this that and that is wrong, and he is the lameness specific vet so knows his stuff. A basic work up, flexion tests, lunging etc. Just see if they can see anything. Worth it to settle your mind
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Would you mind sending me the details of your vet? I am pretty local to you and not that happy with current vets.
 
I've backed 3 big irish draughts last one ending up 18.2hh none of them bucked or changed behind when learning to canter or any time after so I would be concerned at this behaviour.
 
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