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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 4, 2011 19:21:30 GMT 1
My gelding who is 4 1/2yrs old is striding out fine in walk, but in trot he is well out with short choppy strides. I thought he may have slipped being a typical youngster who can't stand still in his field and must charge about like something possessed, so I had the McTimoney spinal therapist out last week who put all his vertebrae back in place and she said his left hip was out and put that in place also amongst other things. Told me to give him a few days rest which I have done, but today when I took him out for a hack, he is still not right. Doesn't appear to be in any pain and as I've said he is fine in walk, strides out well, not limping at all, but in trot he is choppy like a pony. He's a middle weight, gypsy cob x welsh section D, 15.3hh so he should have a long stride in trot. It's definately not in his legs, but higher up where the problem seems to be. Any ideas what could be causing this? I have got the vet coming out tomorrow, but money is tight at the moment so hoping this isn't going to be expensive. I'm so fed up at the moment, nothing seems to be going right and everything costing a fortune to repair/replace. I just don't seem to have much luck with my horses and their health
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Post by julz on Dec 4, 2011 19:30:45 GMT 1
why should he have a long stride in trot??
Jay is 15hh, like yours (also a gypsy cob) he has a longish stride in walk, but a very pony like trot, short and bouncy.. through a couple years training and schooling, his trot is much smoother now and much more balanced.
Has he changed shape at all and could his saddle not be fitting in the way it did?
As I understand it, vertebrae's weather human or equine cannot just "pop" out (what would they pop out of?).. it is the muscles that surround them that become tight and this does not allow for flexion.
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 4, 2011 19:49:19 GMT 1
Hi Julz,
It probably was the muscles along his vertebrae she put back in place, I'm no expert and let her get on with it, just noticed that she was working along this area, I have just worded my post badly, simply because I'm so worried and not thinking straight.
My lad had a beautiful long stride in trot, but the past 2 weeks he's not been right, its hard to describe. My two friends have ridden him also and know what he is usually like with his gaits and even they have noticed the difference with his trot.
I understand he's still growing and he is bum high so not properly balanced and this will come with schooling and time. He hasn't really changed shape in 2 weeks and he is fine with his treeless saddle that allows for body shape changes and is extremely supportive for him as confirmed by my saddler who works with both treed and treeless. However, my friends both rode him in a treed saddle to see if there would be any difference and there was none.
I'll see what the vet says tomorrow.
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Post by jen1 on Dec 4, 2011 19:57:09 GMT 1
could be anything, is there visible lameness? is he shod or barefoot, both can have a bearing, where you Upto with training? Fleur always looked unlevel until she gained a proper left and right side and the even muscle to match with the in-hand work that Becky holden does,
mta, speling im like velma ff scooby doo, wheres my glaaases ;D
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 4, 2011 20:05:06 GMT 1
Hi Jen1, there is no visible lameness and as I said in my post he doesn't appear to be in any discomfort. He is shod, and farrier had a good look at him on monday and couldn't find anything wrong with the way he is shod that could be having an affect on his trotting gait. Jared is well schooled for his age and normally well balanced on both sides, and is normally extremely flexible and can work on a small 10-20 metre circle beautifully and to a standard that a lot of older, more experienced horses struggle with. So its so hard to put my finger on what is causing this. All I know is the McTimoney therapist did say his hip was out and put it back in place so whether there is a weakness there causing a problem. Come to think of it I haven't tried him in canter so not sure how he is with this gait...
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Post by jen1 on Dec 4, 2011 20:16:16 GMT 1
ok, this is what fleur was like and her hip was for ever out, but the in hand work seems to have sorted it, especially the lateral work, shoulder in and travers etc, see what the vet says, could it be a brewing abcess? or do you feel its higher up, pole work literally on the weaker side can help too , get that side stepping high if that makes sense,
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Post by julz on Dec 4, 2011 20:26:40 GMT 1
Hi Julz, It probably was the muscles along his vertebrae she put back in place, I'm no expert and let her get on with it, just noticed that she was working along this area, I have just worded my post badly, simply because I'm so worried and not thinking straight. My lad had a beautiful long stride in trot, but the past 2 weeks he's not been right, its hard to describe. My two friends have ridden him also and know what he is usually like with his gaits and even they have noticed the difference with his trot. I understand he's still growing and he is bum high so not properly balanced and this will come with schooling and time. He hasn't really changed shape in 2 weeks and he is fine with his treeless saddle that allows for body shape changes and is extremely supportive for him as confirmed by my saddler who works with both treed and treeless. However, my friends both rode him in a treed saddle to see if there would be any difference and there was none. I'll see what the vet says tomorrow. this makes more sense to me now.... if he's shortend his stride in trot it would seem that something is wrong.... and if not visibly lame, could suggest something higher up, but still growing could be that he just needs to wait til his body has caught up and re-adjusted of it's own accord.
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 4, 2011 20:41:15 GMT 1
Thanks Julz & Jen1, you have both been really helpful. Yes, I do think whatever it the problem its higher up, as there is no evidence to suggest a brewing abcess. Once spoken to vet I will certainly take on board Jen1's groundwork advice, and hoping as Julz has suggested that it is simply my beautiful boy still growing and that it could be that he just needs to wait till his body has caught up and re-adjusted.
Thanks again.
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 5, 2011 15:39:33 GMT 1
What have I done to deserve such bad luck with my horses, lifes so unfair Vet just been - my beautiful boy needs to go in to the veterinary hospital this wednesday if I can find someone to transport him for me, and have nerve block tests and xrays starting at his hocks and working upwards. Vet thinks he has problems with his hocks, as he now appears to be lame on both hinds after flexion tests and is clipping his toes in trot. So not in his hip/pelvis from a fall as thought and as suggested by McTimoney Spinal Therapist. I'm so fed up. In 10 months my oldie got diagnosed with narcolepsy and bone spavin. So after a search I took on Duchess who went back to the dealer after 3 months with severe lameness from side bones, lateral cartilage damage and bone spavin. Now just 4 months after having my youngster, who I had hoped would be ailment free being 4 yrs 7 months old and would help me keep mobile with my arthritis for years to come - today I get told by the vet that he has problems with his hind legs and depending on what they find on wednesday to whether he can be hacked on a life of bute or never again Sorry just need some cyber hugs. Feeling so down at moment, with my dog dying 3 weeks ago and now this
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2011 16:02:31 GMT 1
**hugs** Sounds like you're having an unfair share of bad luck at the moment, hopefully it'll end soon.
Just a thought, but hock problems can very easily start in the feet, so might be worth asking for a different farrier's opinion. We've seen on our yard how one farrier can be quite happy with his own trimming and shoeing while a different farrier can be utterly mortified at it.
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allyny
Olympic Poster
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Post by allyny on Dec 5, 2011 16:09:32 GMT 1
Sending a cyber hug.
On a positive note, you must take heart from the fact that you are a caring enough owner to have discovered the ailments in your horses. Some folk don't even know they have a lame horse, let alone doing anything about it. I know it may sound like small comfort, but it is a quality you should take credit for.
Fingers crossed the hospital don't find too serious a problem on wednesday.
Sorry about your dog.
Ally x
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Post by Spirit of Wales on Dec 5, 2011 16:10:23 GMT 1
Thanks Michellep, I have the best farrier in the area and the vet looked at his feet and said that there was nothing wrong with his shoeing or the way his feet have been trimmed.
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Post by jennyb on Dec 5, 2011 16:14:03 GMT 1
Really sorry for your news. Sounds like you have had more than your fair share of bad luck. Vets can be a bit gloomy at times though, so try not to get upset before you know the full picture.
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rie1
Intermediate Poster
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Post by rie1 on Dec 5, 2011 19:17:13 GMT 1
Sending big hugs.....so sorry to hear about both horsey and dog xx
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Post by julz on Dec 5, 2011 19:26:57 GMT 1
Oh no, that is bad news.... why can things never be simple?? here's hoping the vet si wrong and the horsepital find something less nasty?
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