I have had this horse for almost 3 years. He goes through phases where he trips a lot. We have checked everything, I think, and sometimes he is better then others but still trips. Does anyone have any suggestions? 3 different vets, ultrasounds, xrays, injections, shoeing… we are at a loss…
Did you x-ray his neck also?
Which leg does he trip on and what’s previously been xrayed, u/s and injected? Where does tripping usually occur and how is footing? Is this at s walk, trot, canter etc?
Have you tested or treated for EPM?
Tripping in front? Interfering behind? And echoing the other questions: what was X-rayed and what specifically have you injected or done with shoeing?
I did a full lameness and neuro eval, including neck and foot x-rays and testing for EPM and Lyme, after my horse had some episodes of tripping to rule out nefarious causes and inform our plan of action. Found horse had a weak hind and long toes up front.
I have had success dealing with the tripping by rolling toes in front, working on angles in front, and shortening shoeing cycle… but also by building up the hind end. Rein-backs, turns on haunches, transitions, and Equicore Equibands. No access to hills, but if we could (or had access to a safe treadmill on an incline), we would. Also put the horse on an amino acid supplement to build muscle.
Have also found it’s very important to ensure we aren’t just plowing along on the forehand or behind the leg, but really coming from behind.
I would suspect neck arthritis or something neurological but so hard to say. Just please be careful. A horse that trips with a rider can become a horse that falls with a rider
He trips on various different feet. Sometimes front sometimes hind. They xrayed all feet ultrasounded suspensories and stifles. We shortened his toes to quicken the breakover. We have hills and in the winter time we do a lot of pole work. Only trips at the trot never walk or canter.he has plenty of muscle and top line.
He has been flexed and blocked. We have injected with both steroid/ha and prostride.
We thought it was the shoeing cycle, he gets done every 5 weeks. But sometimes he trips the day after getting his feet done.
He runs in the field fine.
He can turn and cross his legs. Saddle fit fine no sore back or hocks.
Not sure what else to do
Definitely test (or just straight up treat) for EPM.
Has the vet done a neurological evaluation (to give you an idea in case the vet did it without specifically telling you, it can involve crossing one foot over another to see if the horse puts the foot back where it should be, walking with the head raised up high, walking blindfolded, etc.)?
I have one like this. He is 15 and has done it all his life and at all gaits. He does have neck arthritis. Interestingly when we pulled his shoes for awhile he stopped tripping.
My horse tripped or stumbled quite a bit. He was in Natural Balance Light. The farrier tried Avanti shoes and it disappeared that day, and did not return. The contour is different so there isn’t as much stress on soft tissues when they pick up a foot, but the breakover does not change and the wear pattern was the same as the NB shoe.