Just general growing pains? Or something else?

[Marusenka]

Am starting to wonder whether my youngster has something strange going on or whether it is just simply the fact that he is young and growing!

Have noticed recently that he is very unbalanced on a circle on the lunge and although he has got better at it and doesn't fall in anywhere near as much he still struggles with it a bit. He doesn't track up with his right hind but will with his left and on the right rein cannot turn a circle, it turns into a funny square shape and he always has his head to the outside not bending inwards! Interestingly this right hind leg is the same one i had so many problems with picking out when i first got him although he has no problems with this now! I do not ask too much of him as i know at 4 1/2 he is not physically ready for much hard work- we do schooling a couple of times a week for about 30 minutes and lunging/ long reining a couple of times a week and try and hack out as much as possible on weekends (we don't have great hacking and the weather has been pretty rubbish!)- i cannot go out weekdays as it is dark by the time i get home from work! So our only option for working through the winter is the school which is not huge and i always do more straight line work than anything else! I plan to turn him away in January for a month to let him grow up a bit- he still has a good 2 inches to catch up in front as he is still very bum high but i don't want to give him loads of time off work as he seems to enjoy it to be honest and is coming on very well.

He is not lame at all and seems fine trotting up on straight lines. he has no soreness everywhere and his saddle is frequently checked! He does not seem to have any areas of muscle wastage anywhere that is obvious.

Is it just normal baby stuff as he is finding his balance or could something else be going on? Could i be affecting him as i'm sure i am probably a bit one sided in my riding (aren't most people to an extent!) who would be the best person to check him out?

[Iron Maiden]

My horse P had just turned 4 when I bought her & she has had all sorts of niggly stuff like you describe. She's gone through phases of not wanting to pick a certain foot up when I pick them out, not wanting to bend a particular way (usually to the left), favouring one canter lead, throwing her shoulder, not tracking up with a hind leg, having a tight muscle somewhere...never anything really alarming, but stuff that you want to keep an eye on in case it's the beginnings of a significant problem.

I've had her seen monthly by a lady who does Bowen, Reiki & other therapies, she has been brilliant! She rarely needs me to tell her about the latest niggle, she treats P as she finds her. It was strange because initially P reacted quite badly to the treatments - I think she was a bit freaked out by this stranger going straight to her 'vulnerable areas' and wanting to do stuff to them - but it wasn't long before she was pretty much sidling over to her therapist and going 'please treat this bit here'! The therapist's opinion has been that the niggles are mostly related to her growth, development and general physical changes, and the treatments have helped loads.

In addition, I've been having treatments too because I am such a wonkey donkey! I have broken both my legs at some stage and I have rubbish posture, I used to have to ride with my stirrups 3 holes different for them to 'feel' level! Now I ride 1 hole different on the flat and have my stirrups the same length to jump. I'm sure P appreciates me being a bit more level! She is nearly 5 & a half now and the last 3 times the therapist has been she has needed minimal treatment or none at all. She is a lot more even on both reins under saddle and is currently picking up each foot without any problems, so hopefully we're getting there! :D

[eventerbabe]

if you are one sided then YOU need to get checked out too, not just the horse. I have a sports therapist work with both my horse and i (a) to treat him and (b) to sort me out and give my physical adjustments i make to ensure i sit absolutely straight and balanced. It's pointless sorting out just the horse if you are going to knock them wonkey again.

He's still growing, so i wouldn't be massively worried, but it's always useful to get a therapist out. I am qualified to do reiki on my own horses so my youngster gets regular reiki, along with a quick look over from the rolfer who treats toby.