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  Discussion on Stumbling on the Trail
Author Message
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004 - 2:50 pm:

My quarter horse trips a lot when out on trails. After reading quite a bit about this topic, I discussed solutions with my shoer husband. What we did that worked like a charm and has cured his stumbling is to speed up his front feet by squaring his toes to bring his breakover further back. This horse needs to be kept up to date on his trims and shoeing because if he goes too long, his feet grow to the point where he starts tripping again. This horse will even trip over his own feet but when it really matters, he is agile as a mountain goat.

This might help with your tripping dilemma.

Holly
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 1:38 pm:

Another idea that comes to mind and is along the lines that Holly E mentioned is to create a "trail obstacle course". It doesn't have to be elaborate but enough that he has to think about what he's doing. Dig a ditch for him to negotiate, lay railroad ties for him to step over. Simulate a bridge with a raised wooden platform for him to step on and off. If you can do this in an open field instead of an arena that would be better. A field is usually full of small depressions and hillocks so they would also teach him to watch his footing.

I had a TB that the first time on trails she was such a klutz she fell into a hole. It was big and solid so she wasn't hurt, just embarrassed. She just didn't know how to pick her way. Since then, she has become a great trail horse and loves to go. As I've said before, trail horses are made not born so give your boy time.

Good luck
New Member:
Deedles5

Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 7:22 pm:

My quarter horse gelding is also a klutz. He actually went down and skinned his knees to the bone (ouch!) necessitating a vet call and a drain.

Vet had the shoer reset him with breakover farther back and squared toes also. It helped a lot, but I will always be vigilant, especially on blacktop, which is where he fell.

I think experience is key. My horse doesn't get ridden much. He is pastured 24/7 in a very rocky uneven pasture and scampers around without tripping at all, but my weight (I am on the smaller side btw) seems to make him trip. He is also a bit lazy. He is the sort of horse you can just hop on and ride so he could use more conditioning.
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Apr 15, 2006 - 2:16 pm:

I have seen some horses take bad falls due to the use of drawn reins, martingales and tie downs out on the trail. And riding on asphalt (slippery!) with a shoed horse has caused many a bad wreck for horse and rider.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Saturday, Apr 15, 2006 - 5:16 pm:

My 7 yr old TWH was an unpredictable stumbler/tripper on trail. What he taught me was the critical importance of balance, his and mine. I give him all the rein he needs to negotiate climbs (up or down), small paths etc, so he can balance his head and neck, and too, DrOp his head to see what exactly it is he has to traverse. He has learned that speed can be an impairment on trail so is more modulated. He is light as a feather on the bit, and very sensitive to leg pressure. It has taken going out on trail 3-5 days a week, on progressively rough unpredictable terrain, for him to build his leg strength. I think sometimes when horses tire, because we expect too much with-out conditioning first, they are more liable to stumble. I always try to see a trail ride as the equivalent of running track or a marathon. Would I just go out and run track or the 26 miles, or would I condition myself first. I think often we assume that because they have 4 legs and come from the wild (initially) that they have limitless capacity. I know my own TWH, has, with time,experience, conditioning and balance become a horse I would never ever sell. He is truly a phenomenal companion and ride. Trust me, he did not come that way.
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Apr 15, 2006 - 6:02 pm:

I find that riding through the woods helps alot. They have to pay attention to trees that are down, uneven ground and rocks. As long as your horse will walk calmly, they will learn to pick their way through the terrain. A hyper horse that you have to hold on to the whole way can be dangerous in the trees...you may get your knees skinned or you head hit by a low branch.

And I agree with Ilona, conditioning and balance for both horse and rider are important. Try going over rough ground with a 40 lb kid bouncing all over your back, (piggy back) vs a 40 lb kid who sits there calmly and balances with you.
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Apr 16, 2006 - 10:42 am:

One of my boys will begin to stumble when he grows too much toe. First his back end will begin to fall out from under him usually at a walk only, and if the front toes get too long he begins to drag them more and will then stumble from the front end on unlevel ground. A few horses seem very sensitive to any amount of extra toe.
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