Helping Standardbred get over hobble related fear?

[CHT]

I have a feeling the Appendix QH I just bought to be a lesson horse is really a Standardbred that refused to pace. Fantastic mare, but has a quirk at the trot.

She always starts out with a really awkward, lame looking trot. She will trot normally either after cantering, or after I put her over a pole or cross pole. She does this lunging or under saddle. She does not do it when loose. I do not think she is lame, and neither does the vet that did her PPE.

She has scars on her upper foreleg and hind leg which I am told look a lot like hobble scars (pacing hobbles), so I think she was just punished for trotting, and is anxious about it until distracted by an obstacle or a leg yield.

Super minded mare with a fantastic attitude about jumping, but I would like to resolve this trot issue sooner rather that later.

Any ideas?

(she is 8 years old)

[FraggleRock]

She must have been incredibly bad gaited or had way too small hopples to end up with scars…
I can definitely picture that awkward hop/trot fake lameness before trotting I’ve have one who does that. The fact that she trots when loose is a great sign, how long has she been under saddle? Maybe she just needs some time and consistant work. Assuming she is truly sound Push through the awkward trot, keep your legs on hopefully she will figure it all out with time. Do you take lessons or have a trainer?

[luvmyhackney]

Lots of long lining till she finds her balance. Lots of bending and getting her to relax her back. Pole work helps. Might be tight muscles in the back, how much of a warm-up do you do?

[CHT]

She is not unbalanced. As SOON as she trots a pole she is fine. She does not have tight back muscles. There is no evidence she is unsound. Jumps and canters very well. She was vet checked. The vet just thought the odd movement was because he started out lunging her on gravel and then she improved once on grass.

I am quite sure this issue is an expectation of something bad, and hobbles would explain it. Trotting a pole seems to distract her or something? Would like to find a way to resolve without having to use a pole though. I wonder if just starting out at canter rather than trot would be another solution? That would be more horse show friendly…

FraggleRock,: According to a client who used to race Standardbreds, the type of scars she has aren’t that uncommon. She has absolutely no pace in her, so yes, very poorly gaited for pacing. Nice enough mover for riding. Been under saddle as least 3 years. Pushing her through just makes her anxious. For now I just make sure I have a pole in the arena, but I don’t want to rely on that indefinitely.

[demidq]

Lots of transitions, with huge praise anytime you get a good one. Under saddle as well as long lines or lunging. How is she out of the arena? Are her transitions better if she is distracted on a trail ride?

[CHT]

@demidq

Lots of transitions, with huge praise anytime you get a good one. Under saddle as well as long lines or lunging. How is she out of the arena? Are her transitions better if she is distracted on a trail ride?

We have been getting too much cold & rain to trail ride since she came. She is the same in the indoor arena as the outdoor though. Today we trotted a pole about 20 meters into our first trot and after that, zero issues. That is the odd thing. She only does it to start. Not after subsequent transitions, not even after I sit for a while and then start again. I am going to make sure anyone that rides her, aims her at a trot pole immediately into the trot. Maybe this will help her lose this habit?