Hey guys
I have a 3.5 year old mare qurter horse. She has been broke for about a year.
I noticed from early on , after rideing for 20 min she will get very ruff on her front end. Almost like her legs are not bending smoothly. She does not act lame. She will lop and jog, but when we walk she is almost limping, very slightly.This is only while walking.Am I over doing it and she is just young and tired.Or is there something else going on.
She is absolutley acting perfectly sound. And doesnt refuse.
Any thaoughts.
thanks mike
I don't know why you say she is perfectly sound and not acting lame and then describe her limping about. That's what lame / unsound means!
Does she have the same awkward gaits when being lunged or walking/trotting without a person on her back?
If you are worried about being too heavy, how big is the horse? Pictures may help.
What you described sounds like a lame horse to me. It's not always easy to notice how/why/where if you aren't a trained eye.
If she moves differently under saddle than not I would evaluate the tack and make sure the saddle is fitting correctly. You may also want to see if you are too big for this horse (can't tell you w/out that info) and causing her to be uncomfortable. If she still limps with you on the ground I'd have a vet come but at least you could give her a few days off and see if that improves things.
She acts perfctly sound. Only after i have ridin her for 20 or so min at trot or canter. After this when i walk her she is clicky on the front end. Does not drop her head, but will go back into trot or canter again no prob. She is fine on lunge line and with no weight. Rode her last night walk only, she wkas fine. Starting too think its my size, and just is too young still. Posted via Mobile Device
Not hypp. When she gets like this, she will go onto trot and canter with no issues at all. Then when we walk, she acts tired in the front end.
Like i said, im.235 pounds. She is just over 3 years old. Broke for almost a year. Wonder if i am over doing it. The other night i rode her at walk only, she was fine.
Just not sure. Posted via Mobile Device
I would definitely have her tested. It is something you want to rule out any time a paint or QH is having exercise related lameness. It can present in lots of different ways, from total tying up to mild problems like you're describing. 3.5 is pretty young to be working pretty hard IMO and you're putting a lot of weight on her when her growth plates haven't yet closed. I'm not saying this to be personally mean, it is what it is. You're a big person and with a lot of tack, it is very hard on a growing animal.
The steps I'd take would be first getting the test for HYPP (it is a whole blood test and I believe UC davis does it, but your vet will know for sure). Then keep her in work, but maybe not so much undersaddle or with a smaller person. If she continues to be lame sporadically it is time to call in a vet. Good luck!
If you are the first person to really ride her, then her back may not be strong enough to carry you , for the time being. She may need to do a lot of walking , for several weeks, til she is really ready to work more.
If she acted lame after some vigorous workout, BUT she will trot forward or canter, it might be that the saddle doesn't fit well. Sometimes a horse will rather try to run faster to try to "outrun" the pain they feel. Also, while trotting or cantering she can more easily raise her head and brace her back muscles against an ill fitting saddle. Have you tested her back for soreness?
Show us some pictures, ok?
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