Young inexperienced horse in a muddle...

[Beth321]

Hey everyone! Wonder if anyone could help me?
I have a tripping, pigeon toed horse in a muddle who is on her forehand badly! When she walks she gets all her legs in a muddle and then just keeps falling over her own feet, in trot the tripping is a lot better but she rushes so much and is so unbalanced that you can barely rise to it, canter is just no comment!!!

My horse is 6, we bought her when she was 3 (thinking she was 6) when she had actually only just been broken in .... we rode her for a few months before we realised.. then upon realising gave her a year off to grow up. She was then sent to a trainers yard for a re start basically to get her going correctly, she went better, but she came back at the wrong time of year and for other reasons too she didnt have as much time as she needed which meant that she ended up having about a year on and off being ridden no set routine, and got very fat and seems to have lost all knowledge of her re start! She is never nasty, and would never let you fall off, shes just so unbalanced and in a muddle with her legs and i dont really know what to do with her...

If you get what im on about, or have any views on what im trying and failing to explain please let me know!!! Thanks in advance.. x

 

[brucethegypsycob]

Hi Hon. you do sound as if you are in a bit of a pickle with your youngster. Presuming that you`ve had her checked out by the vet/back person/farrier ect and that she`s physically ok then i think the best thing for you both would be to go and have some lessons together. i have a youngster who, because of his age, is unbalanced but that is to be expected. Whilst i have a certain amount of experience i have found it so beneficial to have lessons on him. A good riding school teacher can be worth their weight in gold for sorting out any problems you may be having.
Basically - you need to do lots of short sessions of schooling - lots of walk/trot/walk transitions, circles, loops, serpentines - on both reins. Dont worry about cantering at this stage. The balance will improve with time.
good luck.

 

[MrVelvet]

Please dont be offended.. but are you experienced enough to handle a young inexperienced horse? Do you have regular lessons with an accredited instructor? .. if not, then maybe this is your problem?

What breed and type is your horse? Maybe he may benefit from another holiday.. some breeds don't mature til around 7!

Pigeon toed - I don't believe theres a cure, but remedial farriery and shoeing may help.

On the forehand - Please refer to the first bit of my post! lots of transitions can help. Don't think about canter until youve cracked walk and trot. lots of bending and lateral work in walk! Dont give up

I personally wouldn't really lunge an unbalanced horse but perhaps long reining him could help. Pessoa type gadgets are designed to help the horse balance .. but many are against them.
Hope this helps! x

ETA - not at all meant to sound patronising.. so sorry if it comes across that way!!!!!!

 

[Beth321]

Hi Hon. you do sound as if you are in a bit of a pickle with your youngster. Presuming that you`ve had her checked out by the vet/back person/farrier ect and that she`s physically ok then i think the best thing for you both would be to go and have some lessons together. i have a youngster who, because of his age, is unbalanced but that is to be expected. Whilst i have a certain amount of experience i have found it so beneficial to have lessons on him. A good riding school teacher can be worth their weight in gold for sorting out any problems you may be having.
Basically - you need to do lots of short sessions of schooling - lots of walk/trot/walk transitions, circles, loops, serpentines - on both reins. Dont worry about cantering at this stage. The balance will improve with time.
good luck.

Thanks, this is really helpful yes shes been checked by everyone and is happy and healthy! yes should be getting some lessons soon with a riding school teacher actually funny you say that!... the reason i asked on here is because i wanted more than one opinion!

 

[Beth321]

Please dont be offended.. but are you experienced enough to handle a young inexperienced horse? Do you have regular lessons with an accredited instructor? .. if not, then maybe this is your problem?

What breed and type is your horse? Maybe he may benefit from another holiday.. some breeds don't mature til around 7!

Pigeon toed - I don't believe theres a cure, but remedial farriery and shoeing may help.

On the forehand - Please refer to the first bit of my post! lots of transitions can help. Don't think about canter until youve cracked walk and trot. lots of bending and lateral work in walk! Dont give up

I personally wouldn't really lunge an unbalanced horse but perhaps long reining him could help. Pessoa type gadgets are designed to help the horse balance .. but many are against them and they shouldnt be used by inexperienced people.

Hope this helps! x

Not offended at all, bought her thinking she was older and she behaved impeccably when we tried her so didnt think anything of it.. Im not that experienced....hence why there has been problems - its like the blind leading the blind!

She is tb x trotter dont know when that breed matures but didnt think it was as late as 7....

Lunging doesnt go well, she gets even more rushed and unbalanced and in a muddle!! Will try long reining though, with the help of an instructor maybe if im too inexperienced!

Thanks for your reply!!