Horse refusing to move one way - vet call needed?

[Kowalski_penguin]

Before I begin if I’ve posted this in the wrong category let me know. This is my first post on here so I’m trying to find my way around the forum. Also, ignore the silly username, I don’t even remember making this account so I’m not sure what was going through my head at the time.

Basically, my horse has started refusing to move one way (to the right), specifically at the trot. This concerns me because he is usually very forward in nature and I even have trouble slowing him down occasionally. About two weeks ago he started bucking at the trot mainly to the right, but my trainer told me it was likely him being lazy and not wanting to move so I kept at it. I started getting after him but the bucking never really went away. The bucking was also paired with him opening his mouth and rooting at the bit, but he’s always been fussy with the bit so that wasn’t too surprising. He’s always had a high head carriage but now that I’m thinking about it his head was pretty high at the trot. The weird thing is when he’s just at a walk, he lowers his head and uses his hind end and is lovely. But the minute I have asked for a trot to the right, starting last week, along with the kicking out he’s just stopped. Sometimes he backs up but he never rears. I have a really hard time getting him to move out at even the walk after a trot attempt (still to the right) and he’ll only trot a few pretty pathetic steps. I’ve found that the minute I change directions (to the left) he trots with no bucking or stopping. He still carries his head high but is much more forward and willing to move. I lunged him the other day and he still seemed reluctant to move to the right and even tried to kick me a few times when I really pressured him to move out but was pretty good to the left.

I asked my trainer about it and she said she thinks it’s just him being naughty but I’m having my doubts. I would like to call the vet but I have no clue what could possibly be wrong with him. I’ve heard ulcers could cause irritability, as well as back and leg issues. I’m just not sure what would cause sourness one way and not the other. 

His saddle has been checked and fitted to him, so it’s not that. It’s also not my riding I don’t think, as we’ve never had this issue before and I’ve been riding him exactly the same as always. Anyways has anyone ever had a similar experience?? If so what was the problem? Maybe I should have a chiropractor look at him? Or should I address it as more of a training issue? Im planning on getting some sort of input from either a vet or chiro I just wanted to get some advice from other horse people and get a good starting point.

 Sorry for all of the questions I’ve just never had this problem before and am stuck on what to do. Thanks in advance.

[Bluey]

@Kowalski_penguin

Before I begin if I’ve posted this in the wrong category let me know. This is my first post on here so I’m trying to find my way around the forum. Also, ignore the silly username, I don’t even remember making this account so I’m not sure what was going through my head at the time.

Basically, my horse has started refusing to move one way (to the right), specifically at the trot. This concerns me because he is usually very forward in nature and I even have trouble slowing him down occasionally. About two weeks ago he started bucking at the trot mainly to the right, but my trainer told me it was likely him being lazy and not wanting to move so I kept at it. I started getting after him but the bucking never really went away. The bucking was also paired with him opening his mouth and rooting at the bit, but he’s always been fussy with the bit so that wasn’t too surprising. He’s always had a high head carriage but now that I’m thinking about it his head was pretty high at the trot. The weird thing is when he’s just at a walk, he lowers his head and uses his hind end and is lovely. But the minute I have asked for a trot to the right, starting last week, along with the kicking out he’s just stopped. Sometimes he backs up but he never rears. I have a really hard time getting him to move out at even the walk after a trot attempt (still to the right) and he’ll only trot a few pretty pathetic steps. I’ve found that the minute I change directions (to the left) he trots with no bucking or stopping. He still carries his head high but is much more forward and willing to move. I lunged him the other day and he still seemed reluctant to move to the right and even tried to kick me a few times when I really pressured him to move out but was pretty good to the left.

I asked my trainer about it and she said she thinks it’s just him being naughty but I’m having my doubts. I would like to call the vet but I have no clue what could possibly be wrong with him. I’ve heard ulcers could cause irritability, as well as back and leg issues. I’m just not sure what would cause sourness one way and not the other. 

His saddle has been checked and fitted to him, so it’s not that. It’s also not my riding I don’t think, as we’ve never had this issue before and I’ve been riding him exactly the same as always. Anyways has anyone ever had a similar experience?? If so what was the problem? Maybe I should have a chiropractor look at him? Or should I address it as more of a training issue? Im planning on getting some sort of input from either a vet or chiro I just wanted to get some advice from other horse people and get a good starting point.

 Sorry for all of the questions I’ve just never had this problem before and am stuck on what to do. Thanks in advance.

It could be anything, better get a proper diagnosis first, then go from that.

We had a race colt we started here working cattle, then were late going to the track ourselves, so we sent him ahead and another trainer was to be galloping him until we got there, a couple weeks at most.
When we got there, the horse would not turn to the right, at all.
Vet was called, figured he may have been cast in his stall and pulled something in his neck.
A groom later told us in confidence that the trainer always would tie all horses tight to the side and let them in the stall “to soak” to make them docile?
Seems that the colt fought and fell down and probably is how he hurt his neck.
Took some three months before he was well.

Not knowing what is wrong with your horse, better have a vet check him over, just in case it is something that needs help?

[sara78]

If thé horse was normal before and now hé refuse to turn one way, like bluey, i would suggest trying to figure out what IS going on with a vet. Looks liké more liké a pain related problème than a training issue. Good Luck.

[leesa1]

I’d bet my hat it’s spinal, maybe kissing spine or arthritis in his facets.
The very first symptoms for my horse was difficulty with trotting in one direction. He’d refuse to bend around my leg and would instead offer me a compromise by going right but bent around my left leg.
Walking was okay but trot is a more concussive gait and irritated his back to the point where then he’d also be uncomfortable at the walk afterwards.

While standing beside him and unsaddled, try press the nerves on either side of his wither with your hands so that he dips his back. Does he get upset? Try and bend him in the direction from the ground, stand on his off side, touch his ribs with your fingers as if it was a spur signal and ask his head around a little bit. Does he get upset? Does a belly lift make him upset?

If he were me I’d get a (good) vet out (who has an interest in lameness) and get a workup done, back xrays. it might help if they can watch you ride so you can demonstrate what’s going on.

[clanter]

I was at a friend’s place and saw a horse that was in a pipe fence corral who was standing close to the fence when lighting struck the fence up line about 500 feet… horse in the corral fell to the ground

We thought at first it had been killed, but after a while it got up and would only make left hand turns

I was told horse did fully recover after a few weeks

[Ghazzu]

Far more likely to be pain than pissiness.
Get a good lameness DVM to check him out.
And personally, I’d be looking for a new trainer as well.

[greywithchrome]

This sounds a bit like my mare and ultimately her issue is kissing spine. She also has an old injury to her right stifle, and seems to have hindgut issues (the hindgut is on the right) so I think that’s why she’s more reluctant to go to the right.

Manyyyy people have told me her issues are behavioural and she just needs more training. Trust your gut, have a vet look at your horse.

[Kowalski_penguin]

Okay I rode him today just lightly for a 15 minutes lesson with my trainer. He walked super nicely and offered a nice trot to the left. He trotted to the right pretty well today and didn’t buck, although after a lap he stopped. My trainer got a lunge whip and rattled it on the ground behind him for a bit and after a while of trotting he stopped stopping and went pretty forward. His head was still high but that’s pretty normal for him as he’s still green and was abused in the mouth before I got him so he’s a bit hesitant with contact (teeth have been checked). I also ran my hand down his back today and pushed down with my fingertips all over and he didnt care at all. Of course I’m not ruling out spinal issues, only a vet could tell me that. My trainer thinks that his left hind leg is weaker then his right and he has to push with it to the right which is hard, making him not want to use his body that way.
I’m still getting a proper vet check soon, though. My usual vet is very booked so I might have to make it happen in a couple weeks. He’ll definitely be getting it done soon just not 100% sure when.
Thanks for all the advice so far. Keep it coming if anyone has anything else to add.

[skydy]

@Kowalski_penguin

Okay I rode him today just lightly for a 15 minutes lesson with my trainer. He walked super nicely and offered a nice trot to the left. He trotted to the right pretty well today and didn’t buck, although after a lap he stopped. My trainer got a lunge whip and rattled it on the ground behind him for a bit and after a while of trotting he stopped stopping and went pretty forward. His head was still high but that’s pretty normal for him as he’s still green and was abused in the mouth before I got him so he’s a bit hesitant with contact (teeth have been checked). I also ran my hand down his back today and pushed down with my fingertips all over and he didnt care at all. Of course I’m not ruling out spinal issues, only a vet could tell me that. My trainer thinks that his left hind leg is weaker then his right and he has to push with it to the right which is hard, making him not want to use his body that way.
I’m still getting a proper vet check soon, though. My usual vet is very booked so I might have to make it happen in a couple weeks. He’ll definitely be getting it done soon just not 100% sure when.
Thanks for all the advice so far. Keep it coming if anyone has anything else to add.

I would stop riding the horse until you have him evaluated by the vet. It’s very unfair to ask the horse to push through what may be painful for him, and especially escalating with a longe whip before you have him checked by the vet.

If he does have an injury you may be making it worse by riding him. Take him for walks to keep him moving and wait until you have a veterinary diagnosis before riding him.

I agree with @Ghazzu. I’d be looking for a more knowledgeable trainer as well.

[IPEsq]

First sign of neck arthritis in my horse was that he didn’t want to track one direction, whether ridden or on the longe, and some balking. There are several other reasons for it, but most likely pain related from somewhere.

[endlessclimb]

Your trainer is full of baloney.

@Kowalski_penguin

My trainer thinks that his left hind leg is weaker then his right and he has to push with it to the right which is hard, making him not want to use his body that way.

^ this is hogwash. Along with all the other crap he/she’s said…

Find a new trainer.

[Marla_100]

You reminded me of an incident I saw- a full sized horse kicked a tiny mini in the head- poor mini
could only circle one way for a couple days.

OP, call a good lameness vet.

[Jealoushe]

This could also be ulcers, have him scoped when the vet comes out, or just do a treatment. Kicking out and refusing to move forward under saddle are common symptoms.

[walktrot]

Definitely get the vet out, and as advised above, stay off him until you have a diagnosis, or at least an idea of what is not working. Get rid of the trainer. Find someone for some lessons that focus on your body. A certified Centered Riding instructor, preferably level 2-3, is a good choice. You need someone who can figure out what you do or don’t do with your body that might be affecting your horse. It is basic classic riding. What I like, for example, was understanding that I do better concentrating on keeping my head up and steering with my belly button. When my head drops at the trot my back changes and the horse falls apart.

The barn I moved to a year ago is mostly eventers (think wannabes). They have a BNT coming monthly, and while he is very good, he never says anything about their body and the horse’s body. When they post they don’t follow the horse. They are stiff, use their legs to go up and down, have a “duck butt” and stick their belly out at the top. Balance and softness make a big difference. No matter how a saddle fits, for example, you could be leaning to one side, too far forward, too far back on the cantle. I see locked arms (no elbow joint, I guess), driving seat, gripping with some portion of the leg and bumping on every stride. It’s worth some time to watch other riders.

I felt bad for the horse who couldn’t pick up the right lead. Always got the left. Rider and instructor spent 2 weeks teaching the horse to canter on the right lead. The instructor was clueless: she missed the problem with the transition. Rider kept posting when she asked for the canter. She totally blocked him going to the right. Left was fine. I quit cantering around 2005, but even I can see that. It’s worth the time and effort to watch other riders and trainers. They are a great source of information.