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  Discussion on Interfering...Figuring Out Why
Author Message
Member:
terrilyn

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 1:51 pm:

I have a relatively green, unconditioned 4yo TB that I am just getting out on trails. I've had him for almost a year and a half...he was conditioned to race (got him from the track last summer) but never did so due to back soreness in the lumbar region. Last fall he had chiro work done on two occasions that seemed to make him feel much better. He strided up under himself more deeply and felt normal under saddle where before he was short-strided and ouchy to palpation in the lumbar area. He has been pretty much taking it easy since then with a few rides and a little ringwork here and there, and had one 4-week session of regular trail riding by a friend who was helping me out with him.

This past Sunday we went on an organized trail ride and took it very slowly, staying out for about an hour and a half at a walk. The terrain included a good number of small hills (this is a relative term ...I live in coastal VA and a hill might be a 6-8' incline on a trail!) He did extremely well--crossed bridges, did not spook at mountain bikers, and listened to me. Overall I was very pleased as this was only my second trail ride on this horse.

By the end of about an hour and 20 minutes of riding I began to hear a "swish-swish" as he walked along and asked the rider behind me if he was interfering on both hinds, and she confirmed that he was.

He is not base narrow, but does toe out slightly on the rear, and I do worry about his comfort level because of his history with back problems. His farrier is a barefoot trimmer. He was also interfering a few months ago (August) when my friend was "trail training" him and at that time he was fully shod...she was the one who advised that I keep rear boots on him while riding.

I'm trying to figure out if this might be more conformation-related or condition-related. Any ideas? Anyone have experience with this type of thing happening? I don't want to ask too much of him and don't want to hurt him in any way...
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Nov 8, 2007 - 5:59 pm:

With a history like you describe the answer is likely to be both Teri, there is conformation that predisposes to traveling close behind and it appears as the horse becomes tired the interference starts up. If this is true the horse should be wearing the front of the rear toes someplace medial to the front of the toe. Is this what you are seeing? Rotating that break-over outward may help dampen the inward deviation of the flight of the leg that causes interference.
DrO
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