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  Discussion on Cross cantering
Author Message
Member:
Rdrj

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2004 - 8:46 am:

I have a 7 year old mare that is not lame, however every once in a while she will cross canter on the long line or will land off a jump cross cantering. I have done lameness test on her back legs and she trotted off sound. I got her a new saddle and had it checked by an expert saddle maker and he said it fit her. She also stands camped out with both back legs under her or with one leg out under her. I will square her up and she will go backed to camped out. What do think is going on? This just started about a month or two ago. She does not act like she is in pain.
Member:
Suzeb

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2004 - 10:17 am:

Hello Rita,
I can't really say what is going on, it could be a lot of things.
You might want to ask yourself some more questions like:
Is she doing this because she is in heat?
Have you had a change in shoeing methods or farrier?
Has she had a change in feed or surroundings?
When you say she stands "Camped Out", do you mean her back legs are underneath her or out behind her?
About the only advice I could offer at this point is to have a lameness evaluation of the front legs as well, starting from the feet up.
Hope this helps getting this sorted out.
Susan B.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Friday, Aug 13, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

Is it possible she could have injured her hip, croup, or pelvic area? A lot of times if a horse does have an injury in one of these areas, the horse will cross canter, and will cock a hip or leave one hind leg out when it stands.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 14, 2004 - 9:11 am:

At this point you should have the horse evaluated by an experienced vet to be sure there are no lameness issues. While I agree with Sara that you might see such postural changes the horse should also exhibit signs of lameness at the trot.
DrO
Member:
Johnsonl

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2004 - 9:58 am:

Rita, I just saw your letter and was wondering if your problem with your mare cross-cantering has been sorted out by now? I became very worried upon reading your letter, because my horse, Buckeye, had always been a beautiful mover when suddenly he started switching leads at the canter for no reason..."chopping up" regardless of which direction I cantered. He also began walking quite stiff legged. My farrier saw no problems, and said he was probably just sore. This went on for a couple of mystifying months. The vet had even come out to update his shots and said he looked fine. The changes were there, though...I know my horse! At no time did he ever limp. Finally, a couple of months after this started I got the dreaded diagnosis of laminitis. It had finally become evident through visible changes in his hooves. He went on to founder, with moderate-to-severe rotation of the coffin bone in both front legs. I was distraught. But, I'm happy to report that since this started on in March of this year, with excellent farrier and vet care, and wearing poured shoes, he has vastly improved. I thought I was going to have to put him down, but he is a walking miracle. If only I'd known that one of the first signs of laminitis is the "walking on eggshells" trait! Also, he was changing leads at the canter because he was trying to get comfortable. Our horses "tell" us in their way before hoof changes can be seen. I could have gotten the special shoes on him early, rested him and prevented further rotation damage, but I didn't know the signs! The camped out position you describe with your mare frightened me. That's a classic laminitis/founder sign. Buckeye never did do that one, but it's a real warning sign. I pray your mare is okay, and that your particular problem with her was not as severe as what I've gone through with Buckeye. Please let me know how you and the mare are. Take care, Lori J.
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