Youngster walking at 2beat gait? Any ideas?

L&B

L&B

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I've spent a long time observing my ponies at liberty with the herd. I find it fascinating and relaxing too. My wee filly (yearling, not bred by me) when walking though, I've notice walks two beat at times (more so downhill). So both left legs then both right legs step out at the same time... Like a human walking if you like (hope I'm explaining this). It makes her look all lazy and her bum bobbles all over the place.
Do you think this is a matter of balance? Or could there be more to it?
Thanks in advance. No nasty comments though please. I love my babies dearly.
 
It is usually called a lateral walk, we had a livery that walked this way normally just under saddle usually worse if he was in any way tense although if ridden carefully you could stop it to a degree, he was sound, passed all the tests when checked and it was put down to a training issue, in a young unbroken horse I would be concerned it could be a sign of something neurological and want it checked out.
 
It sounds like she is pacing which can be a very difficult habit to break. Unfortunately one of my youngsters often paced and it turned out she had an abdominal tumour.
 
Well I have a TB x Shire that paced as a youngster, he is also a shiverer. He is now 19 years old, he has hunted, RC evented, competed at level 3 TREC. He still paces occasionally, tending to roll downhill. However I keep him fit and he loves working. So don't worry too much, I am sure you youngster will grow out of it.
 
Crikey me!! Can always count on h&h to put the heebie jeebies up me!! :o

Okay first things... Neurological 'be positive'? How would I know if it was Neurological? What kinds of tests are done for this kind of thing? If I told my vet I wanted Neurological testing cos my horse walks laterally I'm pretty sure they'd think I'd gone mad, no? What would make you think to check neuro? Eeek!
So sorry to hear about your youngster 'eggs' :( How did it transpire that it was an abdominal tumour? We're there any other symptoms?
Thanks 'alex2'. I sure hope so!
It seems mainly to be downhill, as if her bum is running away with her (she is phenomenally bum high at present) so it just 'looks' easier for her, if that makes sense?
Her trot and canter are beautiful (for a trad cob) she has flicky toes and some nice hock action when she's feeling herself!! Owed to a good shoulder in my opinion :)
 
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I've never seen it in the walk. The only time I've seen a gait like that is pacing. I don't suppose she has pacer in her bloodlines?
 
My trad cob (also a little bum high despite being 6) does this when going downhill. It is as if his legs are running away with him, if I ask him to steady a little he stops doing it! He passed a 5 stage vetting when I bought him and has always done it with no other issues. I put it down to a balance thing so hopefully it is not anything more sinister!
 
Jo1987 said:
My trad cob (also a little bum high despite being 6) does this when going downhill. It is as if his legs are running away with him, if I ask him to steady a little he stops doing it! He passed a 5 stage vetting when I bought him and has always done it with no other issues. I put it down to a balance thing so hopefully it is not anything more sinister!
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That's the best way of describing it. Like his bum is running away with him. Same as my filly! And it's the same. If I'm walking beside her downhill and have her in hand I'll hold her back, almost asking her to collect herself together and she will steady herself and walk normally again... Then the momentum of her big butt catches up and she's bobbing all over again. Hmm...
I wonder if it's just a combination of down hill, bum high and too much leg then??
I sure hope so!
Is your guy ridden yet?
 
Sorry to put the heebie jeebies up you, the reason I suggested to get neuro checks done was that was what my physio suggested with the horse that came here doing the same, she felt it could be due to wobblers and as the horse had only just been purchased to get it checked immediately, it just about passed although was a bit weak the vet put this down to being under muscled and unfit rather than anything underlying.
The vet ran through a series of tests to see how it reacted, nothing complex just backing up, turning tightly, moving while the tail was pulled plus a few others that I cannot recall.

Pacers do not usually "pace" at walk it is a gait that shows instead of a diagonal trot, I hope yours is just going through a growth spurt that has thrown her off kilter and that she will grow out of it.
 
I have not heard of this in a traditional cob but just to reassure you a little, there are plenty of breeds with gaits of this type and in them it's completely normal. It does have a genetic component so it would be odd to find in a line that doesn't show the trait but it's very possible for it to arise from a spontaneous mutation so don't panic - you may actually have a very special little horse rather than a sick one.
 
L&B said:
That's the best way of describing it. Like his bum is running away with him. Same as my filly! And it's the same. If I'm walking beside her downhill and have her in hand I'll hold her back, almost asking her to collect herself together and she will steady herself and walk normally again... Then the momentum of her big butt catches up and she's bobbing all over again. Hmm...
I wonder if it's just a combination of down hill, bum high and too much leg then??
I sure hope so!
Is your guy ridden yet?
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He is ridden, he has done it since he was backed about a year ago, although he does it less now! I do see him doing it when he walks downhill in the field when he's in a hurry and he does a very impressive lateral 'ski' down muddy hills when ridden, often leaving his friends behind!
I have put it down to his shape and being a baby as he CAN walk normally if he thinks about it and slows down!
 
I don't have any "well bred" horses and mine all have leisure conformation .... All , as youngsters down hill, have lost the 4 beatness of the walk. Not always fully lateral, but in the case of my trad cob a proper "pace" or "camel walk", two lovely swinging sides ... He still does it aged 10 if he's on a short rein and tense, never does it when relaxed or free walk. Events BE90, even got an 8 for our free walk recently ... I spent the entire first 6 years of his life worrying there was something wrong with him, then got another foal, different breeding, different type, and she did it down hills as well, although as obvious (he legs seem more independent of each other!) ... Now I dont' worry!
 
Well the latter responses have made me feel a little better. I must say a lot of the experiences here are similar to mine and I watched again this morning and performed some of the neurological tests to which she responded favourably.

I do think she is perhaps being lazy downhill and unbalanced - she looks like a slouchy slumpy teenager haha! Letting it all swing from side to side and the momentum takes her.
I slowed her up downhill and she was walking four beat and she walks four beat naturally on the flat anyhow.

She was also checked by the physio 2weeks ago when I had her to my others who said she was developing nicely and freed a hamstring up for me as it was slightly tight, but that is all.
I'll not panic just yet, unless there are any other signs.
 
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