Hello, I have a 13 year old 16.3 paint gelding. I have owned him for 3 years and have taught him to jump. We compete in the pre-adult/adult hunters at A rated shows. He previously was a paint world champion hunter under saddle before I bought him. He recently has started tripping while riding him under saddle. He is a very large horse (wears and 86 blanket) and his front left foot is slightly turned in but that has caused no issues. Even while standing in his stall his front legs shake and it looks like he can’t lock his knees. He is not lame at all and not in pain just seems like his legs are “loose.” He has the best farrier in the area and is on a 4-5 week schedule so I know it cannot be from the shoeing. The vet has taken full x-rays, blood work, and tested for neurological problems and everything has cam back negative. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be?
Test for EPM. This requires a spinal tap. I hope it is not EPM.
Check his hoof angles with x-ray. Recent experience tells me that if you get the heels too high/toes too short you get this effect.
Also, could be heel pain even if angles are good.
IME, that is almost always due to heel pain. And IME that is almost always due to heels that are underrun, either low and crushed, or tall.
A regular schedule has nothing to do with the quality of the trimming. And “the best farrier in the area” can still be doing a really bad job, sorry 
If you can get some pictures that would help a lot 
And, like with saddle fit, sometimes what looks really good to us, doesn’t work for the horse. I’ve gotten quite the education on that this last year.
I’m sorry your guy is having troubles. It sounds like this requires a veterinary diagnosis because it could be a number of things. He could have issues in the front leg(s) or feet, or he could have bad hocks and really over compensating by loading his front end too much.
A good work up is in order so this guy can continue to perform well for you! He sounds like a keeper.
My friend’s horse does this, and it is from a previous injury to the tendon in his leg. I can’t remember which one, sorry.
HYPP status?
Yes on heel pain. Also can be suspensory pain (mild doesn’t necessarily cause obvious lameness but will usually palpate sore). I’d have a good vet out to do navicular Xrays and a thorough lameness exam.
I wouldn’t jump to EPM or HYPP yet. it’s possible I suppose but this is so common with heel pain that would be my go-to.
Third heel pain. I was in the Western world for a good many years before switching to Hunters. Those breed show horses are bred for a small, low step in big horses standing on small feet some trim to stay small and fashionable…typically a bit high in the heel, prone to contraction. And I don’t know how you are assuming the turned in left front foot isn’t involved in this, maybe it isn’t, maybe it is.
He’s got a lot of miles on him and when you started jumping regularly, you might have gradually aggravated a pre existing condition or conformational problems. Like small feet with high heels and the asymmetrical turned in toe, are catching up to him as is his age.
Seen HYPP and EPM, front leg shaking as they try to unweight the heel is not a symptom, those things effect basic basic balance and whole body control. Front leg shaking and shifting is a pain evasion. Seen that with navicular, severely contracted heels and with DDFT injuries…anything that hurts the heel/lower back of the foreleg(s). And if it’s only in one leg, they overuse the other creating pain there. That’s why you heed a good lamness work up from a good Sporthorse vet.
The good news is most these things can be managed without breaking the bank BUT you need a good vet work up with x rays and probably blocks (it should block out low though, not need many blocks).
Still have enough friends on the Western breed side to venture it’s the conformation/size/shape of the hoof and the way he’s been trimmed and shod catching up to him. Quite Classic in early teens if not earlier for those horses. My friends and I all learned that the hard way and changed both the type horse we selected and how they were shod.
Keep us posted on what the x rays show and vet says. You can list pictures of his feet on a photo sharing site and share the link (don’t make it private). Like to see…of course he might be under run which blows my theory out if the water but…curious to see.
Hello! Thank you everyone for your help! He does have some heal bruising on his front feet so we added pour in pads and started him on previcox. This has completely fixed the problem and has made him better than ever. He is now very happy, is moving 10+ on the flat, and no tripping.
