YOUNGSTER tripping over herself?!

[EquestrianFairy]

My friends got a new 7yo Welshie (like mine.. woop woop!! but older)

However shes abit pigeon toed on her near fore and although the farrier said he can sort it out he cannot completely correct it, anyway, she constantly trips over herself purely because she doesnt pick her feet up properly.

She hasnt fallen over (yet!) but it does get abit frustrating at times especially when my friend worries about cantering incase she trips and causes an accident.

Shes not very footsure at all.
Ive watched her and its almost like she cannot be bothered to pick her feet up properly but its the pigeon toed foot she lacks the energy on.. shes not fantastically schooled so needs work there so is that the problem?

Personally ive never come acorss it before, shes had and passed a full 5* vetting, back, teeth, and fitted saddle.

Any advice on how to help her pick her feet up?

 

[Shilasdair]

Nutritionally - stumbling and tripping can be related to Vit E and Selenium so it might be worth making sure she has a Vit?Min supplement.
Schooling - lots of pole work - walk poles, trot poles, canter poles, jumping. Some lateral work might help supple her and improve her engagement behind, thus lightening her forehand.
Hacking out over rough ground - let her deal with it, will also teach her to be more careful and footsure.
S

 

[flowerlady]

When your friend had the 5 Stage vetting was she present?

Because they are normally put through walk, trot, canter and gallop. Did the pony not stumble at all then?

Did the vets report not state anything about this?

Who's vet was it?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Yup she was there and she tripped once, although the vet did say shes very green on her schooling so be bear that in mined.
It was her vet and nothing else was mentioned.

Its not all the time, its probably about 2/3 times in an hour or two's hack but its frustrating as my friend is now aware of it and almost waits for it to happen?

We've been taking her into forestry over rough ground, giving her lots of rein (when it gets very rough or logs in the way) and bless her, she goes very slowly and carefully.
To be fair, shes never tripped in canter *touches wood!!* and neither in trot its mainly in walk.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

[ QUOTE ]
Nutritionally - stumbling and tripping can be related to Vit E and Selenium so it might be worth making sure she has a Vit?Min supplement.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shes on topspec so should be getting it all?

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare used to stumble when she was still growing - she stopped once she's muscled up and grown into herself. She didn't stumble all the time though... What's she like on the lunge without a rider on her?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I havent seen her stumble on the lunge myself, personally.

She is very under muscled (she was never ridden properly as her owner became ill) So is it a case of her just learning to pick up her feet with correct schooling, pole work, rough terrain?!

 

[flowerlady]

Then I'd put knee boots on just in case and do lots of transitions from walk to trot and trot to walk for a while then increase work to include canter when your friend feels more comfortable. Start a fittening program as though you were bringing a horse/pont back into work after a long lay off. She can do this even while hacking. Just have patience with the pony and your friend. She'll get there and needs your support I know it can be a bit boring when you want to have a canter etc. But I'm sure she would do it for you?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Im only worried for her, its new to me as ive never had a pony that trips but was hoping it wouldnt be anything too sinister which is good!

She hacks her out alot on her own so im sure they'll sort it out, its just ive never come across it before

 

[LCobby]

I would ask farrier to not to try to correct a pigeon toe on a mature pony, but to use a rolled toe front shoe gving her a good natural breakover point.
Would also ride up on a contact, and off the forehand, rather than a loose rein when on anything other than smooth flat going, so she is more balanced.