New vids of elsa..what do we do?

[Gail&Merlin]

Well weve owned her for 11 days now and after her seeing an equine vet, a farrier, 2 back people, and a dentist..we are no closer to finding out if there is something wrong with her off hind..a friend suggested it could be a slipping patella as she doesnt seem in pain, and if you saw her hooling around with the boys youd know it doesnt hurt.lol..she had a wolf tooth filed down and some rough edges,, and after being ridden a couple of times is sarting to soften and listen, occassionaly she naps to the boys and youll see jamie get after her when she does , shes much better..but the question is whats wrong with her hind...should we keep her or not..we are rapidly getting attached to this pony but wont spend any more on finding out whats wrong if she may well go back...im so frustrated its unreal..your opinions again please..Oh no nastys about the jockey please, this is her second pony but her first one with a bit of gumption, i think shes done well in a few rides on her..anyway vids here sorry theres lots!..i tried to get all paces so you could get a real good look..i will also up the previous thread so you can compare if you like when she first arrived.

[kya]

Hi Gail,

I'm going to be blunt and forget the finesse of science and physiology. I don't think the pony has great paces. I think she's unbalanced, and was objecting to the work as a result, simple as that. If you are uneasy about her soundness, and I think you are, I would say send her back. You've a great eye for a horse, and you know there are others out there. This should be the honeymoon right now, not a load of bills and worry. I think your daughter is riding her rather well. Any horse or pony will be lucky to have you as an owner and there's no rush surely? It's tough I know, I'm about to let one go myself, but this is not a great start.

[jes]

I'm going to agree with Kanga, she looked unbalanced to me, especially in canter.

If you're unsure and she doesn't feel right then it might be the best decision to send her back unfortunately.

[Deleted]

To me that looks a lot better than the first vids, when if I remember rightly she was fighting with her head pretty well all the time.

One of my "things", I know, but have you tried without the flash, even with just a dually or something? I'm just wondering if the restraint on her head is bothering her. It's worth a try. Also, have you worked her on longlines at all? If so, is she any better?

As for soundness, to be honest it's quite hard to see because the video isn't always all the clearest (Liz is trying to be diplomatic, here!). Did the vet think there was a problem or is it your feeling?

Have you talked to her previous owner about this? Is there any scope for a reduction in price to cover the cost of the extra examinations?

If it did come down to the nail, though, and you felt she was unsound, I would return her sooner rather than later, before the attachment grows any further. Yes it's a wrench but worse is having a pony who can't be ridden.

And definitely no nasties about the rider. I thought she looked more than competent on a new pony.

[joto]

This pony looks to be lame on the of hind. Stiff, not lifting leg properly, short stepping. had good look at the vids and called OH over to look and asked if he could see anything wrong and he said lame behind rigt away, without having read this thread.

[Ryan&Dizzy]

after all the hassle i have had with Ryan since i bought him if i ever had anything that i was begining to wounder about i the first few weeks it would go back... im 4
months and i dread to think how far into vets bills and im still no closer to owning a sojund and healthy horse. and tbh other than the one bronching fit Ryan looked very similar under saddle to that little pony. i just put it down to an unballaned that had been ridden badly... and im regreting it (not that i would swop him now tho)

[sarahfox]

I cant remember how old she is or what she has done,she is def shorter striding on her off hind and crossing to avoid weight bearing,whether this signifies a physical problem as such or is just a lack of balance and correct work to build the muscle is very hard to say.If horses have a slipped patella it is generally no problem if they are fit and in regular work,as she isnt showing any obvious signs of it I wouldnt be overly worried there.
She is a million times better than the first vid already so I do tend to think it is more a lack of schooling that is causing the problem.
What are you planning to do with her?has she been vetted? what did the vet say?
She does look a nice sort and your daughter seems to be handling her really well,as to nasties about your daughters riding,she looks great to me,lovely soft hands and nicely balanced,and she has clearly acheived a lot with the pony already!
Re her head carriage,have you tried her in a halter or dually? I am a big fan of getting the basics without using the bit and I wonder whether the head carriage is more to do with the bit than the hind leg,you can put the bit back later when she has better accepted control,just a thought anyway,but if she needs the flash strap then she is probably not 100% happy in her mouth yet,and it may take some of the argument away,its clearly nothing to do with your daughters hands though.

[sarahfox]

sorry gail,just read your other thread! If the vet says she is sound then I guess its up to whether you trust his judgement or not,but it certainly could well be simple lack of balance.
I see you are already looking into bitless too!

[Gail&Merlin]

Thanks guys, thanks liz, it was the vet who suggested the flash and that he couldnt find anything wrong, he offered to xray but thats more money of course..lol..He also thought it was becasue she was head strong and maybe pain in the mouth, this could be rigt as since the dentist has been she is starting to relax..she was also quite naughty on the day, alot worse than the first videos i put up of her. We havent don much with her at all really, i tried box resting to see what would happen, and also rested her, incase she injured herself in transit. I think i said in my previous thread, the farrier thought shed been taken down too low, so if she'd had shoes on before chances are shes footy with our rough drive.

When we spoke to the dealer we were asked to give it a bit of time, with the old story of, well she was ok when she was here..i didnt expect to hear much different really, they are hardly likely to own up to selling an unsound horse..i knew we were buying a green horse, green i can cope with, its if she has a long term medical problem that is what concerns me, could the balance just literally be lack of correct schooling and lack of muscle on the hind?

[babycham]

Hi Gail.

I have just watched the videos over and over again, but she still doesnt look right in the back end.But being totally honest, i think its more down to the jerking on the video.
You daughter seems to handle her well.
But i just cant put my finger on whats wrong.You have had all the checks done. Have you spoke to the previous owners, maybe got them to comeo out to you, and ride her at your house?? See if there is any difference.
ITs very fraustrating isnt it, but you have to be 100% right, especially when its for your children.
Couldnt you ask if u could have her on loan for a while rather than buy her, state you are not 100% sure.if they want whats best for the pony, they shoulf agree.
I am just going back to watch the first video compared to these ones again.

You really have to go with your heart Gail, what i do is put the 2 answers in a hat, eg keep, go. Then when you pull one out, you know if the one in your hand is the answer you wanted to come out, or you think"oh i wished i had the other one" this way you answer your own question.
Good luck in what ever you do, and dont let your heart rule your brain lol xxx

[Louise C]

The other thing I noticed Gail is that Jamielee is on the same diagonal in the last video - the right one. Strong possibility that the mare is putting her on that one as the most comfy for her - she does look uncomfortable behind - sorry:-(

[iwillbuy]

well she looks a lot happier with the contact than in the first couple of vids
i am still with the thought of her just being unschooled i can,t really tell from the second lot of vids as they are a bit jumpy on mine
i think at the end of the day gail go with your gut feeling it is usually always right, and good luck

[Gail&Merlin]

thanks sarah, jamie will be pleased theres no nastys on her riding, she was terrified when she saw me putting the vids on..lol..we havent tried bitless yet as she is having to be ridden on my hubbys driving range..lol..our paddocks are far to slippery for her to ride in, but as she was so good today i think we may well risk it tomorrow, i suppose the worse that can happen is that she tanks back to the paddocks to be near the boys,..lol..she does actually have canine teeth breaking the skin so that must be pretty sore,..on that note i thought only males got canines..lol..

[joto]

difficult situation this, what concerns me is that she is obviously short striding on the off hind, ie both hinds not going equally.
i have an 8 yr old arabian mare who slightly dragged her hinds until this summer, this was due to her still growing and awful conformation anyway. she uses herself properly now, turning out onto hilly ground helped build muscle, but whatever, she was alwayd equal behind.
a friends mare would occasionally short stride/go lame on one hind leg and after lots of veterinary searches and about a year later it was discovered to be an enlarged ovary on that side causing intermitant slight pain.

[babycham]

Has she done driving ?? AS she seems like she uses her chest as though pulling a trap etc, Hence maybe why her head goes up ??

What work did she do before she came to u? was she mainly used for hacking? I know you also state she is unfit, so maybe not used to schooling work??

Do you ride gail? if so have you rode to see if there is any difference in riders style, hence horse acts different? just thinking of other things to try as vet seemed happy. x