Hi Everyone,
Its been a while since I last posted,and things haven't been going quiet as well as usual. As you know I have some help from a friend from my yard who helps me with my schooling sessions, well last week we decided to jump Echo for a change, now this is most defiantly NOT my thing I have no confidence in him where this is concerned so she jumps him for me. All was well to start with until about the forth jump and Echo decided to only pick one front foot up, and the both ended up on the floor. Both rider and horse were fine, they went again, but we ended it there.
Sunday was lovely here, a real spring like day so I headed off out for a ride with a friend, we had a lovely trot, super canter and then surprise surprise, walking down the track, Echo ended up on his knees, how the heck i stayed on I've no idea, just lucky I guess. Is this a curly trate tripping/falling over? Ive fallen off Echo more time in walk than any other horse I've ever rode. Its not as if he trundles along either, i always make sure he is forward in walk, i think people think i lie about the amount of times i end up on the floor in walk, its so strange.......
Sarah, definitely NOT a Curly trait! My Curlies have all been very sure footed, and if Echo just fell without tripping over anything, I would get the vet out pronto! Also, have you ever talked to your farrier about this?! This is dangerous to both horse and human! eeek!
ReplyDeleteoo Sarah that is so scary, I don't think it's a curly thing. I use to ride a Haflinger and had the same problem, flipped over once and broke my colarbone just walking.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway...let him check by a chiropractor or a osteopat and also his feet.
Take care and be save, like Susan said it is dangerous!
It sounds really strange Sarah! Espcially since he is not stumbling. Do you think he is being clumsy? (I once had a really clumsy horse who stumbled over his own feet, not a Curly horse by the way:) but he did not stumble in walk.
ReplyDeleteIt probably is a good idea to have him checked. I hope you are able to find out what it is and how to solve it, good luck with that and keep us informed!
Oo thanks everyone im a little worried now, he has always done this since i have had him. It has never happened in the area only when we are out hacking, in the two and a half years I have had him ive fallen off in walk 4/5 times???? I mentioned it to my farriar but he seemed to think i was probably letting him dwindle along, so i always make sure he walks out nice and forward.
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteIf I were you, I would change farriers. Maybe he is putting an improper angle on your horse's hooves, and MAYBE IT HAPPENS TO OTHER CLIENTS OF HIS, TOO, IF HE IS BRUSHING IT OFF THIS WAY LIKE IT IS NO BIG DEAL.
Does anyone else out there agree with this? Michelle, are you reading this?
Sarah, do you keep shoes on Echo? Are there any farriers across the pond that do a Natural Trim?
Hi Sarah -- a horse tripping is definately not a trait, and not from being lazy, either. Horses don't want to fall! It hurts, and they can't run away from predators. Something is going on. I would have another farrier look at him, and evalute his hooves. If you want, you can take a photo of his hooves, put your camera down near the ground and take a photo from the side so that I can see the angles, and email it to me at mmives@comcast.net. If his toes are long and pulled forward will cause him to trip. You can also pick his foot up, clean out the sole, and take a photo of the sole for me. If he's heels are contracted or he has a weak or infected frog, he will trip from not weighting his heel properly and landing toe-first.
ReplyDeleteOther things to check are, I would have him evaluated by a chiropractor. I would also run your hands all over his body, at first lightly, then press in, looking for a reaction. If he's a good boy, he may not react in any way other than to move his ears, or widen his eyes, or tighten his mouth, so watch him carefully. Feel for any areas that feel warmer or cooler than the rest of him, and of course look for that pain response. Another thing could be saddle fit. Do you know that your saddle fits him properly? It could be hindering or causing pain in his shoulders causing him to not be able to stride out properly, or it could be irritating his sacrum causing him to "catch" himself as he's moving. An impingment in his neck (which can also be from saddle fit) can cause numbness and radiating pain to his shoulder causing him to "catch" a leg as he's moving.
It also could be a neurological issue like Lyme or EPM.
If you can take video of him w/t/c at liberty and under saddle, and video of him free-walking with no tack and with tack, photos of him from both sides like conformation shots, and of course photos of the feet, maybe we can give you some thoughts on what we see?
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI shall mail you some confo shots and feet shots to you in the next few days. Tbh i have one of the best farriar's around were I come from, he was actually trained while he was in the Queens Guards and was the farriar to the horses while he was there. His back was checked around 6 months ago, and iam always proding and poking, and im getting no reaction there. I admit Iam having a problem recently with his saddle but only when schooling, its only when i ask for canter on a corner he is rushing and making the saddle slide forward, this doesnt happen when we are out hacking, and the tripping has happened since i bought him 2 1/2 years ago. I have a friend who is a saddle fitter so ill ask her to pop over for a look. Something else for thought thou, it appears his half sister does it too???? She was backed before christmas and fell on her knees before been turned away. I was lead to believe (and have been told not many people are aware of this) but horses put there toe down first, infact i have a great pic that demo's this. I think it could be an idea to get the chiro lady out again thou it cant do any harm. Thanks everyone for your help, and Michelle Ill get the pictures to you in the nxt few days.
Hi Sara, I'm glad you have those resources available to you! Actually, a horse is supposed to land heel first. Studies on the wild horses have proven this many times. A horse that does not land toe first has pain in the heel. Sure, there are many, many horses that land toe first and we can find photos and proof of that all over the place, but that is only a sign of a pathology with all those horses, usually those that are conventially trimmed and shod. We have to look to the wild or feral herds to learn what is optimal.
ReplyDeletei had a quarter horse mare that fell down a lot. mostly at a walk. she ended up having navicular disease. so the blood flow to her feet wasn't good, the angles weren't good and her coffin bone had rotated. her feet hurt so she would drag them. poor girl.
ReplyDeletegood luck with your boy!!