Storm the stumbler!

[Trewsers]

Hi there, can anybody offer any advice on the following? Storm seems to stumble quite a lot - nothing dramatic, but I can "feel" it if you know what I mean. She does it both in the indoor and outdoor school (both of which are quite uneven surfaces). She has done it when we're out hacking (which is quite rare) on the road. Do you know of any particular reason why she does this or perhaps how I can help her improve? She's not shod but farrier comes to trim / sort her feet regularly. She was only vetted 3 months ago and her tack is professionally fitted / checked regularly. I rider her 6 times a week - usually for about half / three quarters of an hour. She is a little overweight (I had the vet check her weight and he said its nothing to worry about - she is just a little bit over the recommended weight). She can be quite spooky and I sometimes wonder if she is so busy noseying and spooking :p that she loses concentration and hence loses her footing. (sorry for long post). Any ideas folks? Am quite concerned that at speed say in canter she may lose her footing and fall completely and hurt herself (and me too of course :p )

[eventerbabe]

my horse used to stumble coz his toes were too long. farrier cut his toes back and added rolled toes to his shoes. might be worth having a word with your farrier, mention the stumbling and ask if he could possible alter his trim slightly, see if this helps. if the stumbling is really bad, might be worth riding her in knee boots to prevent any serious damage.

[Trewsers]

Thanks for that - I was thinking of asking farrier next time I see him. I have knee boots for hacking out - perhaps not a bad idea for in the school also.

[Gill]

Is she fit and going forward in a well balanced way? Sometimes being too heavy on the forehand leads to stumbling. I am currently schooling my Highland to try to get her lighter. She doesn't stumble much but did nearly tip me off in the woods one day with a massive stumble.

Something else to look for is to watch as she moves and make sure she is landing heel first. If not then the farrier should address the problem. As she is not shod, can I ask if he puts a nice mustang roll around her hooves? that should also help.

[Trewsers]

She is forward going and I'd say quite fit - although like I said before just a little overweight - but hopefully that will soon be put right ;) I'll have a word with the farrier - about this roll? you mentioned. I'll get OH to watch me tonight and see exactly how she puts her feet down.

[Jessey]

I had a similar problem with Bo and keeping his toes short helped alot, the farrier also tried rolled toed shoes which helped a bit but I have found since going barefoot he is much better, I try to ensure I do regular road work as it seems to help keep his toes shorter inbetween farrier visits, and the farrier showed me how to run a rasp round the foot to stop the edge getting 'sharp' a little rounded edge seems to help the breakover.

[baxter]

my gelding stumbles, he is shod with natural balance front shoes and they are a god send.

[KarinUS]

My gelding used to stumble a lot. So bad in fact the vet suspected a neurological problem. Luckily it turned out the farrier just put him too much on his toes.
He is now barefoot and happy this short/rolled toes and shorter heels and doesn't stumble. :)

[StephA]

Harry stummbled alot when I got him but it turned out he was foot sore and he toes were too long.

So echo what others have said really, just speak to your farrier.

x

[Bay Mare]

You could speak to your farrier or you could get a barefoot person to have a look. A friend of mine had a horse that stumbled sometimes. She didn't take him barefoot because of the stumbling (ie that wasn't the reason that she went barefoot) but after just one session with the EP he stopped and hasn't stumbled since!

Having seen the difference in Saff's movement since she's been barefoot I have to say that I would never have believed the difference that it could make :cool:

[Trewsers]

Farrier booked in for this Wednesday coming - so hopefully I'll get something sorted. Thanks for all the replies. :)