I have a 9 yo TB gelding that I took in as a rescue when he was three. We started him under saddle at four, noticed he seemed a bit awkward, but had attributed it to poor conditioning, recovery from malnourishment etc. He was never heavily worked towards a performance goal, just accustomed to very light riding as he learned to cooperate. under saddle.
This year my goal was to start him in some low level dressage activities, just for fun and enjoyment, not as a long term competitive career so I had began working him more routinely. He had been with three trainers and had multiple vet checks over this years and no real issues had been commented upon, but I always noted he could be a bit clumsy under saddle at times and attributed it to just needing more muscle tone.
However I had the kids take some video footage and it was obvious that there was something really odd going on, as about every ten strides he would jerk his head up, yet drop his shoulder down.
After doing TONS of reading and learning about the shoulder, it seems he has what is called sweeney shoulder. I always knew his shoulder looked weirdly dimpled, but didnt know why. He shows distinct atrophy over the scapula and all of the other muscles in the area are larger than normal, likely as he learned to use them to compensate.
Its an interesting study . When watched carefully, the lurch he does comes from the shoulder rotating inwards maybe ten degrees, which throws the elbow out, which turns his whole leg inwards at about a 45 degree angle-then he throws his head up to brace via the humerus via the brachiocephalicus and recover. The root cause is nerve damage and subsequent paralysis of two two muscles on the scapula , likeley due to a shoulder injury when he was very young.
On the lunge he seems a little stiff, but you dont notice this lunging at all only under saddle, so I suspect the extra weight of a rider makes it much harder to compensate.
I was totally bummed at first, as he is so responsive to the most subtle of aids and while totally bored about on the rail work, would become very focused and attentive as we were doing circles, turns etc, relaxed and flicking ears, very thoughtful as I would shift weight, use my seat and encourage him to use his hind legs under him…He seemed to LIKE learning dressage.
Since it isnt an emergency it will be a bit before the vet comes out, but it is planned., however I would appreciate any advice or experiences others have with this condition. I had considered maybe driving would suit him better than riding, or considered maybe continuing to ride at a walk trot,which might help him continue strengthening and learning to help him uses his other parts to compensate.
He is not aimed to a performance career, at all, and is just my sweetheart baby. However he is so clever that Id like to find him a job of some sort. …any thoughts would be appreciated
