Why does my horse trip a lot when I am riding?, he is not sure footed, maybe has a lazy way of way of moving?

Answer 1

It could be any number of things from not being shod correctly, poor conformation, laminitis, uneven ground or rocks where you are riding, a rock being stuck in his hoof, sore joints or muscles, and yes laziness.

If you want to check to see if it's something other that laziness try taking your equine over ground poles- this will force him to think about his feet and not his next feeding time. A lot of horses will to something called forging- where they'll drag the top of their back hoofs when you're riding. By getting him to pick up his feet with ground poles you'll be able to tell if it's him being lazy or something medically wrong with him.
To check for sore joints or muscles the best thing you can do is observe him. Take your hands and rub him in a massage like pattern all over his body- from his poll to legs and flank. If your horse is feeling pain he will either twitch or move away from the pressure. Also you'll be able to tell if he has any heat in his legs and feet which is a sure sign of laminitis If this is the case you may need to get an equine message therapist or put your horse on joint supplements. And if it's laminitis you'll need to consult your vet.
Also talk to your farrier about him tripping constantly and if your equine needs a special shod. If your vet seems like he's BSing you or dancing around your questions consult another farrier. Your farrier you use right now may be in fact messing up your horse by trying to get his paycheck in as little time possible and you'll want a farrier who values your horse's business. I've known some farriers that are just in the business because their father or grand dad did it and not because they loved to help horses.
I would also call your vet out for an at home vet check. Ride your horse in front of him and let him see how your horse is moving. Your horse may just be having stiff joints or arthritis and need some supplements to help him heal.

Also check your saddle and it's fitting- if you're saddle isn't fitted for your equine you could be causing the problems by improper pressure and weight not being distributed properly on his muscle's and joints. You could in fact be making him sore and I know you wouldn't want to harm your equine.

Answer 2

As other people have mentioned, it may have something to do with eye sight or the way in which your horse is shod. Horses where the farrier hasn't trimmed the toes short enough (which can cause collapsed heels) are often a bit more clumsy. It may well be worth getting a vet check for your own peace of mind.

If your vet says your horse is fine, then it is more than likely to be the way in which your horse carries himself whilst ridden & is unbalanced. You may have heard of the term 'on the fore-hand' where the horse is carrying a disproportionate amount of weight on his fore-hand (not that your horse is fat but walking with his weight on his head & neck & front legs without engaging his back legs). Personally I think this is the more likely explanation as young & green horses often trip before they have had much schooling. You need to learn to ride your horse 'on the bit' which helps your horse to shift his balance so that he can use his hindquaters properly (where the power in a horse comes from!) which automatically lightens the horses forehand & your horse will become less clumsy. To teach your horse to carry itself properly in this manner is a fairly long process so it would be best to seek help from a good instructor with this.

The thing to look for, when your horse is in his paddock without any interference from a rider - does he still trip? If the answer is no then it is a schooling issue. Often horses that trip under saddle can canter smoothly up & down hills without a rider on board!

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I would have your vet take a look at him. It could be any number of things including poor farrier work with either wrong angles, too long of break over, or too close trimming. It could be mechanical that your horse just doesn't carry himself well. It could be that your horse has an injury or condition causing him to have issues either picking up, placing, or moving his limbs. If after you have a vet look at him, there is no physical reason for his tripping, I would look at training methods. Rarely are horses truly "lazy". He should be motivated to move forward. If you only ride in an arena, try riding on a trail, or on a safe back road. Put some reason to move forward back into his rides and workouts. If he feels there is no reason to move quickly he's not going to do more than is absolutely necessary. Developing a good ground relationship with him can also help. If he feels that you are an important part of his life, he is more likely to be responsive and move out for you. Hopefully these will help.

Answer 4

There are numerous reasons why your horse may be tripping a great deal, and it's hard to tell specifially why just based on your question.

The first thing I would check are his feet. If he is not being seen by a farrier on a regular basis, his hoofs may be overgrown. Horses that are too long in the toe can trip a great deal. I would also have his shoes checked to make sure they are fitted properly and that nothing is loose. The farrier can also make sure that he isn't accidently clipping himself with his own hooves when he moves.

What kind of ground are you riding on? Horses can slip when traction is bad (like on concrete or roadways where shoes will slip, especially if the ground is slick). They can stumble on rocks or trip on ruts and tree roots just like us. Does he do it on even ground with no visible obsticles?

It is only when walking when he trips? There is a chance that you might just be dealing with a case of stumblefoot if he moves slowly and without energy. Focus on keeping your leg on him and not let him slow down from a moderately paced walk. When horses move briskly, they make more of an effort to pick up their feet. If his gait is steady under a trot or canter, he may just be lazing out on you. Also, look at how you are riding him. Horses work better when the rider is balance and helps to keep them in balance. A sloppy or inexperienced rider can throw even the best trained and willing horses off balance.

If nothing becomes apparent, you need to speak with your vet. He might be having vision problems (like cateracts or moon-eye), but if he shows signs of being unsteady even under optimal conditions, there might be a muscle or neurological issue. If a lack of energy is the issue, the vet can suggest changes to his diet that will give him a bit more pep.

Good luck!

Answer 5

if their are no conformation or shoeing problems with your horse then it could be a schooling problem.

Horse naturally carry 60% of their weight on the forehand and 40% behing. Once you plonk a rider and tack on thats a lot of weight up front and many horses will trip. As riders we need to encourage the horse to lighten his forehand by taking bigger steps with the back legs. you want him to carry more weight behind so that he is not riding "downhill". Then he will be less likely to trip.

To do this use more leg but controll the speed with the reins. you dont want him to go any faster, just take bigger steps

Hope this helps

A good book is "all about riding" by Claire Albinson

Answer 6

Maybe he is use to a different surface. Pastures always smooth and level, and you take him out on rocky bumpy trails. Its like me, I walk down a long hall way with tile on it, and I will find the one high spot in the entire floor. DOH! Your horse might not have any problems, maybe it just doesn't look down at the ground and is to busy enjoying the scenery from the trail packing? Animals are like humans, they are clumsy as well, but if they are use to being shoed and are not at the moment, they can get thrown off a little by it, or visa versa. So all the horses that rub your knees into trees on trail rides do it all by accident? How old is your horse? How long of a trail ride are you going on, and does it always start from the get go? Maybe changing the diet? Maybe he just has 4 left feet.

Answer 7

First make sure he is shod correctly, bad shoeing can cause a horse to trip, next get his back done. If everything there is fine the the next thing to do is consult a vet to make sure he has no problems in the legs. If you can find nothing wrong then it is proberly a problem with his conformation which unfortunately cannot be fixed. Flatwork can sometime improve it but not always. Good Luck

Answer 8

The first thing I would advise you to do is get a vet to check him out - excessive tripping can actually be a sign that all is not right within the horses hoof.
If that comes clear he could just be lazy or careless.
Its not an ideal way for a horse to be as one trip too many can actually result in you taking a nasty fall.
xx

Answer 9

You need to have him checked by a vet and a farrier (preferably at the same time for consultation). We had a similar problem with our older QH. We just figured it was old age setting in, but in actuality he was being shod in a manner that his heels were so retracted that he was developing almost a club foot issue. He has always had small feet so we didn't notice the slow development. So have him checked by the vet and the farrier. Consider letting him go barfoot, you'll be suprised most horses can do it.

Answer 10

You say that he trips when you ride him, what about when he is loose in the field or on the lunge? If he is only tripping when you ride him he could well just be being lazy and not using himself properly. Try riding him forward a bit more and keep his attention with lots of changes of direction and pace.

If it continues get your farrier to check his feet, he may need shoes with rolled toes or something similar.

I wouldn't worry too much.