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Picking up your horse's front end?

2K views 5 replies 5 participants last post by  ecasey 
#1 ·
Hi! I own a 21 yr old mare, and I'm having a little trouble with her. Her previous owner told me she shouldn't be lunged/be ridden in tight circles because her stifles are tight due to an incorrect attempt at artificially insemination. Although, I lunged her twice this week and figured out the real problem.
She's kind of lazy about picking up her front end. She used to put a lot of weight on her front feet, but since I've changed her shoes, she doesn't trip anymore. However, recently she's shown that she's just lazy about picking up her front feet now. She drags them a little, hangs her head low, and when I lunge her she leans inward and makes the circle smaller.
I've tried using the stick to make her widden her circle, tap behind her legs, and even walk bigger circles with her. She picks up for a second, but then drops back down.
Today she had a slight outburst of energy and cantered while we lunged, which was really good. Her canter was collected and she picked up her front end a lot more. So mainly she struggles with her trot.
Does anyone know any exercises or training methods I could use to encourage her to pick up her front end? I've considered an elevating bit of some sort (she's a hunt seat mare), but I'd rather strengthen and motivate her before switching a bit.
 
#2 ·
At 21 id be thinking about arthritis and this a thorough vet examination before demanding she work in a more uphill manner. Small lunge circles should not be introduced until a horse is well balanced on the large circle and has developed sufficient strength and fitness.
I also would not be touching an elevating bit with a 40 foot barge pole. Developing uphill tendency is about training and gradual conditioning, not sticking it in a bit to make it lift it's head
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#3 ·
My vet says she does not have arthritis. She's just stiff and lazy on her front end.
I don't want to switch her bit. I want to strengthen her on her front. For how old she is, she has a lot of muscle, and is usually motivated to work. I just would like suggestions on exercises for stregthening her front end and motivating her to pick up her front feet more.
 
#4 ·
I am trying to make sense of what you wrote. I cannot imagine a link between AI breeding and a stifle injury or problem. Could you further explain?

Then, I do not know why you are trying to get this horse 'lighter' on her front end by longeing in tight circles. She is obviously broke to ride at 21, so why don't you work on actual collection while mounted. You can do so much more by pushing her forward with your seat and legs and then asking for more elevated shoulders. You can gradually get her to lift her back and belly and her shoulders will come up as her hind end comes forward.

Also, your Vet says she is not arthritic yet she is stiff and lacks flexibility. Have you worked her with pain medication like Bute or Banamine to see if she travels differently when she is medicated? That is a very good way to see if a horse is in pain or not.
 
#5 ·
Hi! I own a 21 yr old mare, and I'm having a little trouble with her. Her previous owner told me she shouldn't be lunged/be ridden in tight circles because her stifles are tight due to an incorrect attempt at artificially insemination. Although, I lunged her twice this week and figured out the real problem.
She's kind of lazy about picking up her front end. She used to put a lot of weight on her front feet, but since I've changed her shoes, she doesn't trip anymore. However, recently she's shown that she's just lazy about picking up her front feet now. She drags them a little, hangs her head low, and when I lunge her she leans inward and makes the circle smaller.
I've tried using the stick to make her widden her circle, tap behind her legs, and even walk bigger circles with her. She picks up for a second, but then drops back down.
Today she had a slight outburst of energy and cantered while we lunged, which was really good. Her canter was collected and she picked up her front end a lot more. So mainly she struggles with her trot.
Does anyone know any exercises or training methods I could use to encourage her to pick up her front end? I've considered an elevating bit of some sort (she's a hunt seat mare), but I'd rather strengthen and motivate her before switching a bit.
My vet says she does not have arthritis. She's just stiff and lazy on her front end.
I don't want to switch her bit. I want to strengthen her on her front. For how old she is, she has a lot of muscle, and is usually motivated to work. I just would like suggestions on exercises for stregthening her front end and motivating her to pick up her front feet more.
As you noticed when your horse had the outburst of energy and cantered while lunging, she picked up her front end more. The relative elevation of the front end of the horse is primarily brought about by the horse tilting its pelvis and getting its hind legs to step further beneath its body. The hind end assumes more of the work of weight bearing and the front end is lightened. The muscles of the thoracic sling lift the withers, but the main area of concentration should be the rear of the horse.

You should work to both strengthen these muscles and improve their flexibility and suppleness. Lateral work – particular the shoulder-in – has been traditionally used to do this. Hill work and transitions are also beneficial. As with all exercise programs, work to develop the muscles slowly. Overworking the muscles may require periods of rehabilitation which would prolong the process.
 
#6 ·
As far as I know, the only way to "know" that a horse has arthritis or not is to do xrays. Has your vet done xrays? If not, he's just guessing that the horse doesn't have this problem, which is strange considering the trouble she's having and her age. I'd get xrays to find out definitively if it were me.
 
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