Stumbling/tripping when ridden?

[ccc]

Rose out yesterday for a short hack and had a worrying time

She stumbled lots and all we were doing was steady walking on tarmac.

She isn't obviously lame, so am worried about her shoes.

She tripped so badly at one point that I nearly went over her head and she grazed her nose. This has scared the living daylights out of me due to my balance troubles, so need some advice!

I did try asking her for lots of half halts during the ride to get her listening to me, but she seemed to be looking around lots

She had new shoes put on 10 days ago and looking at them today, the front set seem to be set back on her foot, so that she has hoof sticking out

Do you think I should speak to my farrier? Or my vet incase she has done something to her back

Adam was watching her and he said she was not putting her foot down properly and just stumbling.........


Any suggestions?

[loopylou]

Depends on your relationship with your farrier, but i would first of have a chat with the farrier and get them to have a look. Then if unsure go to your vet.

I hope Rose is ok and keep us posted.

[greydales]

If this is something that has occurred since her last shoeing, then I'd suspect it's something to do with that and I'd speak to your farrier Clair. Is this a new way of shoeing her?

[zeldalithgow]

I agree if it's just come on since her last shoeing then have a word with the farrier

[Debbie]

I'll echo the others, and say chase down the farrier if the problem cropped up since the last shoeing. Perhaps the way the shoe is set is thowing her feet offbalance?

A stray thought is if the saddle's changed at all, it might be pinching at the shoulders, preventing her from setting her feet down properly as well.

And if she's lookie looing, she could easily have her mind elsewhere and not be bothering with how her feet land. Did she pay more attention after she grazed her nose? Did she stumble after that?

[ccc]

Thanks everyone! Farrier is coming out to have a look tomorrow and if he has no ideas then will get the vet out!

Debbie, she was moving very freely in the new saddle and no she still tripped after she hurt her poor nose!

Fingers crossed that is something straight forward!

[harleydales]

Fingers crossed the farrier can shed some light on it

[Debbie]

Well it doesn't sound like the saddle at all, and I certainly hope its not pony attention deficiency. I'm sure she would pay more attention if she'd hurt her nose and still stumbled like that. I sure hope the farrier can shed some light.

[mickey]

My 1st thought was are her toes too long? I'd start with the farrier and if that doesnt help or even before he comes pop her on the lunge and see how she's moving? Whether she's striding out of doing short shuffling strides

[taffydales]

Clair my first thoughts would be the saddle, the only time this ever happened to me with Sam, the saddle was pinching him on the shoulder and he just went around tripping constantly it was awful, hope its not that but may be worth a check.

[harveydales]

Let us know what the farrier thinks today. It does sound the most likey cause of the stummbling. I think I've read somewhere about the shoes being put on slightly further back at the toe to encourage breakover - maybe this is what your farrier is doing and Rose isn't happy with it?

Also, you say the saddle is new? Even if it is a good fit, maybe the slight change in weight distribution, combined with the new shoes is causing her to stumble?

Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of the problem quickly. I can see what a worry this must be for you.

[ccc]

Farrier has been....... no problems with her shoes. He checked her front hooves and couldn't find anything obvious. Has suggested not to get vet immediately but to leave her for a few days then lunge her on both reins to see how she goes. If okay try a short ride.

Fingers crossed!

[harveydales]

Mmmmm, would have been nice to have a definate answer to the problem but good to know her shoes are fine. Did your farrier explain about his type of shoeing?

Do keep us posted - fingers crossed she will be back to normal now.

[bevbob]

Clair does she still trip when being led inhand? you could try and eliminate things like saddle, riding etc, lead her inhand with saddle and without to see if she does it.

[harleydales]

Or ride her bareback and see if she still does it?