Bridget has a fall, what do you think?

[khristyne]

Verity's new horse is doing really well on the ridden side although V has had to work very hard on getting her to go forward. She has just started cantering in straight lines in the field now on good ground.

Yesterday, because of yard circumstances she had to stay in so she rode her twice, but neither time hard. in the morning she was excellent but in the eve, she fell to her knees in canter and again walking on a loose rein across the yard!! (She tripped!)

V is paranoid after Robyn and her wobblers, she doesnt show any of her hind limb weekness. and was checked at the vetting.

Is it possible for a newly backed 8yr old to fall if they are tired?? I suppose it must be, afterall we do!!

I am wondering if it is a balance issue and perhaps she tipped too far onto her forehand and being so new to it took a nose dive. She is fine by the way and so is V!!

I think I will retire from being a mother!!!

[JoM]

When I bought D, he was very much on the forehand! So much so I bought a pair of knee boots for him - and we have utilised them several times! We are getting better, but still have our moments. The last one down to his toes been too long on his front feet. Dancer can fall over galloping up the field himself! If you watch him he saunters across and sometimes trips up about 5 or 6 times. He gets mad with himself about it though and runs off having a right little tantrum!

In dancers case it is sheer clumsiness in the field and cant be ar*edness when riding.

I honestly wouldnt worry too much for the moment - just maybe get her some knee protection until you think you have got it sorted out. It sounds very Dancer ish, which basically means not picking the feet up to get the ground clearance! We can trip up over a 1 penny piece somedays! ;D

Glad they are both ok!

My knee boots are neoprene ones - they were about £15 for the pair - velcro on the top through a hoop above the knee, and a strap below the knee to keep in place if they are required! Mine are sporting some scuffs!!! But rather them, than the knees!!

[mickey]

Paddy is an absolute swine for tripping up. I have schooled him tonight for 15 mins, he doesnt go forwards (to the point I was sure the spurs would be impaled in his sides :banghead:) and you cant smack him and back your leg up.
Very frustrating. When he's working in an outline he is fine, give him a bit of rein or let him go along as he pleases and he ends up in a heap (and so do I)
He is worse when warming up and cooling down.It sounds like it is a balance problem- Paddy's is. He even trips when being led in as he's too busy being nosy.
Im also guessing as its recently backed its probably very green and looks around?
Im going to do some more lunge work to try and build Paddy up, and possibly some pole work with the aim of getting him to think about his feet.
I seem to remember some pole mazes used for coordination somewhere that I must look out....
It could also be tiredness, and being bored so nosying around rather than concentrating?

[khristyne]

Thanks ladies, that makes me feel better!! I think it is nothing to really worry about, but you know how worried we get about our neddies!!

[bevbob]

Bobs has fell while I was riding past the mares field, I think he was just daydreaming about the ladies! He went right down and scuffed his muzzle. He is very clumsy when he is walking and is also a very nosy pony, never looking where he is going. When he is doing fast work he doesnt put a hoof wrong, very sure footed even on the rough ground we have accidently galloped up.
Maybe its just tirdness or her muscles are still getting fit? does that make sense LOL.

[jakesmum]

just be really careful I had a mare that was very much on the forehand anyway she tripped in canter and was unable to recover herself. Thats how I did my neck

[harleydales]

Harley trips when he's not concentrating, and to be honest, he gets a wallop for it. He expects the wallop now and hirries on, bless him!! Sometimes I just say CONCENTRAT!!!!!! to him and that works.

[Manx Cat]

Mhenna my highland is a terrible tripper. So much, that my farrier 'rounds' her toes to help her roll her foot more. She has fallen totally with me while walking, and gone to her knees in other paces... Funnily, when jumping she NEVER trips, and she loves jumping.

Anyway,

It got so bad this year, I was convinced she had navicular.

Then Mhenna went to work in Rose's riding school.....

Well, I had a lesson last week from Rose and I was riding the fittest highland pony (mhenna) Ive ever ridden! Rocket fuel she was....

She is now superdooper forward going, NO TRIPPING at all. I was so concerned she would trip though during my lesson, that I found my riding had become rather ridged and fixed. Because she is now so fit, getting her to work is much easier, so my riding doesnt tire so easily.

Oddly enough 4 years ago, I tried to breed Mhenna, dispite running for the summer with Nashend Buzzard a rather nice highland out of Balmoral Dee, but she didnt get pregnant. But, since she has become SOOOOooooo fit, she is now having much more regular seasons.... Pity shes missed her window to be a mum.... no highland stallions on IOM anymore!


So, I am now wondering if her bad tripping was due to a) being megga unfit and sloppy, and b) having a rider who was as well.

I do think riding posture has a lot to do with tripping. OR it did in Mhennas case anyway.

Hope Verity sorts out this tripping, as it can amount to a heck of a lot of stress when riding, it did to me anyway.


Mary xx

[khristyne]

Mary, we have uped the energy content of her food and she now is able to carry herself forward more . The tripping has definately improved, and so far she is looking good but hasnt put on too much weight so the work food ration must be ok at present.

Her work on the lunge no is quite amazing. I am so proud!!

[bevbob]

Thats good to hear! get some pics of her she is lovely.