Youngster stumbles/trips frequently!

alainax

alainax

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I am riding a 15.1 coloured gelding. He's not mine but ive been asked to bring him on. He's 3 and has not long been broken. He lacks muscle tone and has long legs.

He listens very well, i eager to learn and to please and is in general a lovely horse.

However, he stumbles and awful lot! Maybe once every 5 mins, sometimes more. He has shoes all round and they look well fitted. His tack fits him well.

Sometimes its just a pathetic trip, other times we've both nearly ended on the ground! I love riding him but its starting to make me anxious that he will fall and do himself damage while im on him. Ive put brushing boots on him and over reach boots as he does over reach in trot.

Ive found he mainly does it when walking foward in walk, when hes chilled out and plodding along hes not as bad ( although still does it). But when hes excited or you walk foward with him he gets all stumbley.


Ive been thinking he just needs to build muscle through schooling, however its getting hard to even do this!
What on earth can i do???

Please help!
 
Heres a pic incase its anything you can see conformation related (or otherwise). thanks


13042010369.jpg


(he does live out but his feet arent always that muddy - and the muds wet not dried in)
 
Sounds like lack of muscle and it means that ligaments/tendons are not kept in line as the muscle isnt there to keep them in place . If all other things are fine ... picks up feet ok and stands square and moves straight then its just an age thing . As he's only 3 plenty of hacking , straight line work ( circles put way too much stress on young legs/joints ) , gentle slow walk and trot and a little canter work . As they say ... you reap what you sow ... so gentle work now will ensure no stress's/strains on legs and body and so he'll stay flexable and strong and ache and pain free well into old age . Well worth taking your time now ... you've got another 20 or so years .... there's no rush !!!!
 
Mine knocks his head on his hay bar occasionally and hasn't moved his body properly around gates etc and had some bashes! Hes so laid back though!
 
bj666 said:
Sounds like lack of muscle and it means that ligaments/tendons are not kept in line as the muscle isnt there to keep them in place . If all other things are fine ... picks up feet ok and stands square and moves straight then its just an age thing . As he's only 3 plenty of hacking , straight line work ( circles put way too much stress on young legs/joints ) , gentle slow walk and trot and a little canter work . As they say ... you reap what you sow ... so gentle work now will ensure no stress's/strains on legs and body and so he'll stay flexable and strong and ache and pain free well into old age . Well worth taking your time now ... you've got another 20 or so years .... there's no rush !!!!
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Yeah he stand nicely and can walk straight and true.

Thanks for your reply, im glad some else thinks it could be the same thing (lack of muscle)

His owner is nervous of him, he is very genuine just a little excitable. I would hate for his tripping to put her off riding him - but it can be a little un-nerving.

Also, when he does trip i sit deep and keep contact with him, just feels natural, almost as if my contact keeps his head up. Is this right? or should i let his head go down with the trip so i dont pull harshly on his mouth making it hard? (just a though!)
 
I'd just let him hold his head where he's most comfortable .... you'll need to just keep an eye on his speed and ensure he's paying attention and not tripping over stones etc and just let him slowly work in a lower head carriage . His head will be high as he's young and excited . If you can walk out in hand sometimes they really enjoy it and its great for bonding . He's having to cope with work ... carrying you ... walking in a straight line ... look at the cows .... car coming by ..... your leg pushing him over ..... the beastie in the hedge just ahead .... etc etc so work inhand is a real relaxing way for him to work and enjoy work . Pleeeeease dont put any martingale/draw reins etc on ... he's young .... it will come with patience and time ..... Its the 3 P's .... Preparation , Patience and Practice .
 
Lunging and long reining will help him learn how to move and balance properly without a rider. Then he will have to re learn how to balance himself once he has got a rider on, so I would suggest do some lunging or long reining. It will also help you to see how he is moving without a rider so you can see if there are any probs from the ground.
 
Long reining great ... lunging fine but only only on really big circles and for short periods and not much as again its alot of stress on young legs .
 
Admittedly I didn't really do much lunging, occasionally do it now if she needs some exercise and I'm pushed for time. I did loads of long reining before I rode my youngster, most days and for short periods of time, and aim to do it at least once a week now.
 
bj666 said:
I'd just let him hold his head where he's most comfortable .... you'll need to just keep an eye on his speed and ensure he's paying attention and not tripping over stones etc and just let him slowly work in a lower head carriage . His head will be high as he's young and excited . If you can walk out in hand sometimes they really enjoy it and its great for bonding . He's having to cope with work ... carrying you ... walking in a straight line ... look at the cows .... car coming by ..... your leg pushing him over ..... the beastie in the hedge just ahead .... etc etc so work inhand is a real relaxing way for him to work and enjoy work . Pleeeeease dont put any martingale/draw reins etc on ... he's young .... it will come with patience and time ..... Its the 3 P's .... Preparation , Patience and Practice .
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No sorry i was talking about where his head goes when he trips, ie nose an inch off the ground, he holds his head lovley in normal riding, just throughs it up when he gets a wee fright every now and again ( which isnt a problem). I just worry when his head goes groundwards, and wether i should keep it up with contact, or let it loose for him to correct him self.

Doing some in hand work is a good idea, his owner has asked me to bring him on for her, but any kind of muscle and bond building excercise will do him wonders!
 
cider loving mare said:
Lunging and long reining will help him learn how to move and balance properly without a rider. Then he will have to re learn how to balance himself once he has got a rider on, so I would suggest do some lunging or long reining. It will also help you to see how he is moving without a rider so you can see if there are any probs from the ground.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, in sure he could really benifit from some basic lounging! :)
 
My youngster is just 4 and he sounds very similar - long legs and quite gangly (he's 16hh)

He used to stumble quite a bit when I first got him 6 weeks ago - and we have just been focusing on lots of hacking. I only walked for the first month and introduced a bit of trot 2 weeks ago, and last week had our first canter. We do lots of little hills and only go in the school once a week max.

He hardly ever trips / stumbles now - the only thing he finds hard is walking down hill when his legs seem to run away with him a bit!! I just lean back slightly to help him balance and try to help him steady himself by sort of zig zagging down steeper hills which he finds easier.

Ig you horse is better on a long rein just do that - donlt even think about worrying about a contact at the moment - let him stride out in the way that is comfortable for him so he can slowly build up his muscles then worry about the other stuff later.

Also - i only ride 3 times a week max and only 1 of those would be a longish hack (45 mins now) - that gives him lots of time to rest inbetween work so he feels stronger when we do ride.
 
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