Horse that flags it’s tail as it’s going around

[anony2]

I am currently looking at a horse that is adorable, jumps great, has the right look and way of going, except…

it “flags” it’s tail as it travels. Not an Arab style vertical carry, but more straight out. Like the tail Bone is parallel to its body as it goes. As he jumps he is a tail flipper too, but it starts from a place that is high and goes higher. My description makes it sound worse than it is, but that’s my general observation.

While I am ABSOLUTELY NOT interested in any sort of physical block, I was wondering if anyone has experience with a tail position like this.

Is it a sign of pain (the horse shows no soundness issues)? Does a heavy fake help? Any other experience or suggestions?

TIA

[HungarianHippo]

I’d get a thorough PPE to check for back pain. Is the tail always raised regardless of gait / context (such as hacking out on a loose rein)-- or only when in the jumping arena? Regardless I would assume that reflects tension or some problem and check very carefully. Which would make for a more expensive PPE-- is it worth it? Even the horse has a clean PPE and this is just a quirky behavior, it’s going to be a disadvantage in a dressage or hunter competition.

[vxf111]

Maybe I’m just sensitive due to experience but any weird tail business and I pass. Every time I’ve investigated it’s been a sign of pain. My kissing spine horse soldiered around for years and his only symptom was an active tail. Now I look back and realize his back hurt long before we realized it. I also find weird tail action super distracting and ugly. That’s just my personal idiosyncratic opinion but I hate an an active tail.

[buck22]

One of the earliest clues that my horse was suffering from back pain (from wither damage from an undisclosed accident, long before me), was holding his tail out, exactly as in the photo shown. He only did it when a rider was up. He is a quirky horse, so we noticed it but wrote it off as just another oddball thing he did.

It took 3 years to figure out his back was hurting, he never showed pain in exams/workups. Hindsight is definitely 20/20.

My opinion is absolutely colored, and its only the one experience… and surely there are just some quirky horses out there… but I personally would pass.

[LaurieB]

If the horse doesn’t hold his tail that way when there’s no rider on him, and he does do it when there is, I think he’s trying to tell you something.

I would pass.

[anony2]

@LaurieB

If the horse doesn’t hold his tail that way when there’s no rider on him, and he does do it when there is, I think he’s trying to tell you something.

I would pass.

He looks the same in the pasture and on lunge. If he’s walking or trotting he holds it out. He’s so beyond adorable otherwise…

[IPEsq]

I would be suspicious of a back or SI problem

[vxf111]

Sounds like you really like the horse and you’re trying to talk us out of being concerned about the tail carriage. If you knew what you wanted the answer to be, I’m not sure the value in asking. We’re not psychic. This could be something, it could be nothing. Only a thorough PPE will tell you. I would focus on the back and hind end if you do decide to PPE and do films of the back and neck for sure.

[Scribbler]

What breed? Arabs and Saddlebreds can do odd things with their tails!

[Chall]

Arab enters the chat room…
Whats his breeding?

ah, scribbler you beat me to it.
He has a nice roundish butt, relatively thick legs not elongated legs and he’s grey.
Some show on TV had a “Name that butt” segment where you had to ID the celebrity by his butt :lol:

[Training_Cupid]

Interesting, I was only aware that a tail to the side could be a sign of a problem. Or a wringing or swishing tail, could be attitude, could be pain, or could just be the horse. I would have thought a tail as in the picture is just that horse’s way of going but it sounds like most people disagree.

[Peggy]

I rode with a trainer who would not consider a horse for hunters (or maybe even eq) if they had a flaggy or flippy tail. She did not like the look at all. I suspect that there are some judges out there with the same opinion. YMMV

Have no idea what it may or may not mean with respect to the horse being in pain or having some sort of issue.

[anony2]

@vxf111

Sounds like you really like the horse and you’re trying to talk us out of being concerned about the tail carriage. If you knew what you wanted the answer to be, I’m not sure the value in asking. We’re not psychic. This could be something, it could be nothing. Only a thorough PPE will tell you. I would focus on the back and hind end if you do decide to PPE and do films of the back and neck for sure.

odd. I provided clarity on whether or not he did the action only while being ridden. To determine if that made a difference for the poster on if she thought it was pain related. Since that poster mentioned it as a reference to under saddle. And said he is beyond adorable. Which he is. Doesn’t change my seeking of guidance of others’ opinions.

[anony2]

@Chall

Arab enters the chat room…
Whats his breeding?

ah, scribbler you beat me to it.
He has a nice roundish butt, relatively thick legs not elongated legs and he’s grey.
Some show on TV had a “Name that butt” segment where you had to ID the celebrity by his butt :lol:

Westf. No Arab that I see in his bloodlines. But I’m not an expert. German bred. Would be an import for me.

[NaturallyHappy]

Is there any way you can search for siblings/parental pictures to see if anyone else does it?

[Calvincrowe]

My 23 year old paint, who had a long, long career in the hunters and jumpers holds his tall to the left, slightly. Never a lame step, never off, no back pain, happy and ears up every jump for 20 years. PPE was clear, vet unconcerned by his tail carriage at the time. Your experience may be different, but that’s my boy’s story. If you could see photos of parents or siblings, that might help you get a clearer picture.

[Go_Fish]

My best AA hunter does this and he’s sound as a dollar. A fake tail…1/2 pound does it for him. You can go higher if you need to.

[Equkelly]

I’d pass. If the horse doesn’t do it out in the pasture with no rider then it’s pain. Every time I see that people are always quick to go

”oh he just does that, he’s quirky it’s not pain!”

Then I’ll be like well have you X-ray’d for kissing spine?

“…No because it’s not pain”

facepalm

[skydy]

@Equkelly

I’d pass. If the horse doesn’t do it out in the pasture with no rider then it’s pain. Every time I see that people are always quick to go

”oh he just does that, he’s quirky it’s not pain!”

Then I’ll be like well have you X-ray’d for kissing spine?

“…No because it’s not pain”

facepalm

I’m having difficulty understanding your post. Every time you see what, “people are always quick to go oh he just does that, he’s quirky it’s not pain”? The horse having a different tail position undersaddle than in the paddock or the same position?

Vet him for sure.

I’ve had only one horse with a very expressive tail and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. He was a TB that I bought as a weanling. Just a very super attentive and expressive guy. Had an Arabian tail expression for sure.

You will have trouble in the hunters with that tail carriage if your placings matter to you and I wouldn’t count on weighing it’s tail down as a solution.

[Equkelly]

@skydy

I’m having difficulty understanding your post. Every time you see what, “people are always quick to go oh he just does that, he’s quirky it’s not pain”? The horse having a different tail position undersaddle than in the paddock or the same position?

Vet him for sure.

I’ve had only one horse with a very expressive tail and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. He was a TB that I bought as a weanling. Just a very super attentive and expressive guy. Had an Arabian tail expression for sure.

You will have trouble in the hunters with that tail carriage if your placings matter to you and I wouldn’t count on weighing it’s tail down as a solution.

When a horse is constantly flagging and swishing their tail and they don’t do it out in the pasture, it’s IME pain. I don’t buy the excuses that it’s quirkinesses or being expressive, sorry.