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  Discussion on Picking up feet w/o falling over
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Member:
Carocbr

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 2:01 pm:

We've a 4 year old shire gelding whom we've owned for over 2 years. He just doesn't seem to grasp that its possible to balance on 3 feet when one is held in the air. He literally leans and falls over...(somewhat dangerous as he's over 17hh and 1700lbs). When he leans, he can go in any direction. He's not necessarily pulling back or falling towards the leg he's picked up - its almost random.

We've tried backing him against a wall so he can't fall backwards, but he just sits on the wall and slides...
We've tried shoeing stands for support with no luck..

He's happy to pick up his feet on command - until he has to hold one for more than a few seconds. He's calm and has no other issues, and even stands square when he gives you a foot.

When we got him as a 2 year old, he would not let anyone near his feet and needed to be sedated for trimming for over a year. Now he doesn't need sedation, but we have to put him in shoeing stocks which is still stressful. Even in stocks, he collapses on the restraints and won't/can't balance.

I'd appreciate any suggestions to improve his balance. We've tried all kinds of things and at least have made big improvements, but we just can't get past this balancing stage!
Member:
Sjeys

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 3:34 pm:

What does your vet say? This is amazing that he falls over.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 3:45 pm:

Are you working with him in training at all? If so, how is he on the lounge or in the round pen? Or going in circle under saddle? How about when backing up? I'm just wondering if he has balance problems in general, which some young horses do, and if you need to work with him helping him get a sense of balance in general, or if it's only when you hold up his feet.
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 4:34 pm:

Hi Elizabeth,

Some years back we gave Riding for the Disable therapy and some of the people are quite large and heavy, so we needed a big horse that would not freak out with a screaming kid laying on his back. So off we went to Wales to a place that had been in the business of breeding Shires for generations, and they told us that this big lads really mature at 5 yo, Tony was 17’3”hh although he was a Shire x TB (mum was black shire and dad a bay TB) So it seems to me that when you got him he was just a baby. I may be asking the obvious, but have you checked his background? Did he have a bad experience?

If indeed he has not had a bad experience then it sounds to me like he rather enjoys the game of falling! They are so smart and children like this big lads.

Tony was two when we got him, although he had perfect manners; what we did while he was in the process of Oh my god, I am going to faaaall!! . The good lord gave me four legs for a reason! (those big hooves are rather heavy so they take a while to learn)We just actually got him to bend the hoof backwards a bit like when they are resting, and gradually increase the height until he actually kept it up by himself.

Honestly they are smart but take longer to mature! You have to go back to the beginning rather than gadgets and stuff, he is too big and I guarantee that if he isn’t 5 years old yet he still has got some growing to do!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 6:09 pm:

Elizabeth, though this can be a training issue there is also a medical condition as this is a often reported symptom of a myopathy that effects draft breeds called EPSM. The idea here is that the horse is relatively normal until they must bear all the weight on 3 legs then the muscles hurt to the point they will refuse to stand. For more see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Muscle & Tendon Diseases » Tying Up, Rhabdomyolysis, and Shivers (EPSM).
DrO
Member:
Carocbr

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 9:53 pm:

I'd say Tyrone is not really a baby any more, but still has a few years growing up to do!. But that's not usual for drafts.

He's done basics under saddle, worked in a round pen and ground trained etc but not lunged. I haven't seen any balance issues at any other times though his action is more 'agricultural' than dressagy!

Otherwise, we know he doesn't have EPSM/stringhalt etc (we have an older shire who does) and is otherwise very strong and healthy.
He came from a reputable breeder, and had been started to drive. However, I'd he came with several handling (or lack of) issues.

I just don't know why he can't grasp balancing on 3 legs! I'll certainly try Liliana's suggestion about tipping the hoof back and keeping it low. Haven't tried that and it might trick him into thinking he's not going to fall.
New Member:
Mistyhll

Posted on Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 - 10:34 pm:

Elizabeth, I'm interested in any techniques you may have found to work for your horse. I just got a 5 y.o. TB mare, and she also sinks to the ground when her front foot is lifted. She doesn't struggle, she just acts as if she thinks I want her to lie down!
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jan 14, 2007 - 7:17 pm:

One of my Arabians has exhibited this behavior when he had a very bad case of "scratches" after I had been out of the country for a month and his caretaker had not understood my warnings about the thick scabs that can buildup with a case of scratches (later one of her own had the condition and she wised up). When I picked his feet up, the pain caused by the bending in the joint was enough to send him to his knees.
Member:
Twhgait

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 8:05 pm:

Just to add to the discussion, I have a 10 year old mare who will occasionally do this for the farrier. She's never fallen, but she'll s-l-o-w-l-y start to sink. Usually, I start to freak and snap the leadline and yell at my farrier to GET OUT OF THE WAAAAY!!!! He doesn't move fast enough for my liking, but she does her sinking more towards her hind...so maybe he figures he's safe?! I honestly think she's just bored with the whole trimming session. It's pretty sporatic but she's been doing it for years.
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