horse falling over in canter

[orangepony]

could anyone explain the reason for my mare suddenly falling over, i was riding her in our manege today, all was well until i started to do canter work. I was working her on the right rein in canter, approaching the corner, when suddenly she fell to the right side.She got back up quickly, shaking the sand off her, but seemed a little dazed.Is this because she is unbalanced, or something else, the sand was dry, due to the fine weather we are having at the moment. Any answers appreciated.

[orangepony]

Thankyou for your prompt reply I will of course watch her to see if there is any change, but it is already a lot less swollen, though it still looks sore.  I  had a look at your photos and must say that your horse is really beautiful, he obviously enjoys jumping and he cleared the fences with ease, you can see that he can jump higher too.I will perhaps send some photos of my mare, when I am able to.Once again thankyou for your reply and good luck with your beautiful Hanoverian!

[lindasp62]

Hi!  I am sorry to hear about the mishap with your mare.  You know, if could have happened any way....I had a gelding once who (I think) got spooked in the middle of eating or drinking, and got banged up near his eye.  Sometimes, one never knows how these things happen, but, in your case, it sounds like something that will clear up after the bute and antibiotics.  Just keep an eye on it.  The only thing you might want to think about is her sensitivity to the sunlightl. Since she already had some trauma to that area, you might want to put her out overnight.  This would also mean the flies would be less likely to get at her eye.  Perhaps a fly mask would be recommended.

My Hanoverian was ridden in an Eventing Derby (similar to a 3-Day  Event) on Sunday by my trainer.  Here are some photos :

http://prints.elzora.com/p16354205/      

As you can see, he is WAY over-jumping everything and can actually jump 1-meter jumps or more, but this was his first event, so I entered him in a division with lower jumps.

Keep me posted on how your mare heals from her eye injury.

[orangepony]

Hi Linda its me from England regarding my chestnut mare. I had to call the vet out yesterday as I found my mare in her stable with a badly swollen and grazed right eye. The vet came out and checked her eyeball and said its fine so he prescribed a course of antibiotics and bute. Ive no idea how she did this, she either rolled and hit her head hard against the wall, or worse fell against the wall. She has never done this before and I wish i knew how this occured.  Have you any suggestions.

[orangepony]

Thank you for your comments, I guess she may have just tripped and slipped,as she is fine now.She had her back and her teeth done recently and I have had no problems since.

[mrwjd]

I mentioned your problem to someone who has had several horses she got off the track.  One day when she was sitting on one, the mare just went down under her.  Got up, was fine.  It happened more than once.  She thought the mare was just distractable, not paying attention.  Her guess that first time was that she kind of wrapped a hind leg around the other, and tripped herself--but of course that isn't happening while cantering.

I am sometimes a little skeptical of explanations that aren't really observable.  What I do know, though, is that it never developed into anything, and the mare had a normal, healthy life.

[orangepony]

I have noticed some improvement,she seems more forward in canter to me.I have booked the Chire for another visit in six months time.Good to hear your gelding is doing first level tests.I hope he does well at the competitions for you.We have had a lot of rain latelety,but hopefullly the horses can stay out over night,exept mine and a few others who would get a grass belly

[lindasp62]

Thanks for the report of the Chiro.  How is your mare now?  Do you notice any improvement in her movement when you ride her?  Will you have another appointment?  The joint she mentioned was the Sacroiliac Joint (SI joint).  Adjusting that alone can free up lots of things. Perhaps when she fell over, she just tripped for some reason, and that it was random. It is good you got on it though to have the Chiro. out. My horse has been practicing first level tests, and perhaps the girl riding him sometimes will take him to a show later this summer.  For me, I don;t like competing, but I think it would be good for my horse!  And, good experience for the girl,too! Somehow we seemed to jump to a hot summer already and we are up at +28c during the days.  This is normal August weather, so I wonder what we are in for for August?!?!?!?!

[orangepony]

The Chiro was very good,she spent about an hour manipulating my mares back,said she was sore around her withers and her poll area,also did her Sacro(something joint) and said her right hamstring was tight.Looked a bit painful at times,as my mare jumped a bit.The Chiro said to either give her a couple of dys off,or walk her in-hand for half an hour.As I am not sure why she fell,the Chiro could not explain the reason either,though she did say that it may be why she is a little sore.She did say that her pelvis is perfect though.Your lucky that its spring in Ohio,we seem to have too much rain here at the moment,but hopefullly it will get better soon.Typical British weather im afraid!

[lindasp62]

How was the Chiro. appt?  What did he/she discover  during the exam/adjustment?  Any thoughts on why she went down at the canter that one time?  Do you live in the Kingsbury not far from Coventry?  I stayed in that area for a while a long time ago, then visited London and the south of the UK.  I live in Ohio.  Now it is glorious spring....lots of rain, but everything is GREEN !!!!! Hope your mare is feeling quite relaxed after her adjustment!

[orangepony]

The lady who fell is aching a bit,but the mare was just a bit excited.I have had a couple of accidents myself,a broken wrist through being bucked with and a fractured knee.After the chiro has visited she recommends no riding for two days,but to turn her out is okay.Although the past two days have been apalling it has been raining heavily and so windy I have not ridden her since saturday.I dont think the Chiro does a saddle fitting but it would be a good thing if she did.I will let you know.Hope the weather isnt too bad for you in the US? Though I dont know whereabouts you live in America,never been there myself.

[lindasp62]

Sorry about your friend's fall...... I hope she is okay.  I haven't fallen off too many times in my lifetime (maybe 5 in total), but once my horse (another one.,..an ex-race thoroughbred) put on the brakes at a full gallop through a field and I did a somersault and landed flat on  my back, still holding the reins....result= a LOT of pain in back, groin, and a dislocated shoulder!!! It was not the fault of my horse....there was a large group of geese hiding behind a large bush...and nobody saw each other until it was too late!  The geese flew straight up in the air...while I flew down to the ground!    The transistions you were working on Saturday are good exercises. The walk to canter or even the stop to canter are difficult......you have to make sure your mare is really paying attention!!!  When the Chiro comes to do my horse, he tells me NOT to stall rest my horse afterwards.....I must either turn him out or hand walk him for 30 minutes...this will "set" the adjustment that the Chiro. just did,   otherwise, there is apparently some risk of everything reverting back the way it was before the adjustment.  Then, he can just be ridden as normal whenever the next scheduled ride is. You should ask the Chiro. you are using what he specifically wants you to do, though.  My Chiro. is also able to perform a saddle fitting.....this is a nice thing to have done to make sure the saddle is not causing any discomfort and is a correct fit.  Keep me posted!!!!!!!!!!

[orangepony]

Yes he is a large horse,he makes my mare seem like a shetland pony.its very clever of him to pick up a hoof for you that way,I say to my mare"this one" and she obliges by picking up the hoof that i stand next to.Had a good lesson saturday,we were doing walk to trot,giving direct aids and halt to trot,we tried walk to canter,but this was not easy,as she didnt quite understand.After the lesson I went on a short ride with a friend and suggested we have a canter,but before I knew it,my friend was on the floor,the mare she was riding had bucked her off.I will let you know what the chiropractor says on Wednesday,though she will probably have to have a couple of days off.

[lindasp62]

My Hanoverian gelding is 17hh. A big guy.  Muscular, too....but, with a bit of a hay-belly come summer time!! He is just a big baby, really!  Almost like a dog.  I have even trained him to give me his hooves with a click of my fingers....just like a dog would give you his paw. He knows if I want the right hoof or the left one, too.  He is a character!  He is bay.   My chestut mare was not hot headed or moody, but stubborn when she wanted to be.  Sometimes she would just plant her feet and refuse to go.  One time, I tried to make her go so hard, and tried to even turn her into a circle to get her to move her feet and move off, but she proceeded to start to tip over instead of moving a hoof!!! She was pretty laid back in general, though and not at all mare-like when in season.  I am interested to know the outcome of the chiropractor visit..........

[orangepony]

The saying "Beware the Chestnut mare" is merely something people refer to with a chestnut mare meaining that they can be hot headed and moody, just like a red headed person, I personally do not beleive this,as I have previously owned a chestnut mare that was an honest and genuine horse.The chiro is coming out on Wednesday,this will be interesting to see if she has hurt herself in her back due to the fall.At least you have someone experienced to ride your gelding for you, as you are busy.As for the showjumping in Ireland,this was probably a long time ago and probably not a regular occurance.Was your chestnut mare a good horse? You never said what height your Hanoverian gelding is.

[lindasp62]

With your mare doing showjumping in Ireland, and her age of 13., I am sure she has lots of experience and it seems that with all you do with her, she is well-rounded in her training. My gelding is 13, too.   Due to a busy schedule these days, I am only riding twice per week, but I have a trainer who jumps him, as well as a friend who rides him Dressage once a week. Evry so often he gets out on the trails.  Why "beware the chestnut mare" ??  I have never heard this. I used to have a chestnut mare.  When is the chiropractor coming?  I have the chiro. come every month or so for my horse. Just maintenance at this point, but also helps him move better by keeping things adjusted.

[orangepony]

Thankyou for your response regarding Hunt Seat, now i understand.My mare is around 13 years of age,or there abouts,the equine dentist put her at this age,although they cannot be 100 percent,all that I know is that she is from Ireland,as I have her passport.though I do not know which breed her dam and sire were, I assume she is an Irish cross (maybe some thoroughbred somewhere) she is a chestnut (not typical chestnut as some people say "beware the chestnut mare" here in Britain).I have one lesson every week,I like to hack out in the countryside with her and also school her myself.She may have one day off to relax,but I find she enjoys being ridden every day,if I don't do anything with her,she gets miserable! No I do not jump her,but when she was in Ireland she was in the Irish Showjumping Association,Im sure she would enjoy jumping,as I have popped her over a small jump in the past.How often do you ride yours

[lindasp62]

Hunt Seat is the forward way of riding you do there in the UK..  We just call it Hunt Seat because it is based on the style used for hunting...for going on the flat and also over obstacles.  In our American shows, Hunt Seat Equitation is how it is classified, with various classes where you are judged on position, form over jumps, correct leads, etc.  I did this before Dressage, and it was a bit difficult to learn the Dressage because a lot of the aids are diffferent and I kept reverting back to the Hunter/Jumper aids that I knew, but Dressage is amazing in what it can make your horse do and how you and your horse work together.  It teaches you to have an amazing seat and how you can get your horse to do anything by your seat.  It's a great foundation, but it can be more "work" than basic equitation., IMO . What breed horse is your mare? How old is she? It is good you work with her every day somehow.  How often do you take lessons? Do you jump her?

[orangepony]

I live in the UK.Your horse sounds beautiful and talented.Unfortunately I am not as talented as you and your horse sounds, as I only hack and school her, but I try to do something with her every day, I think that I am a little too old to be too enthusiastic to try Dressage, am aching a little from when she fell the other day.I do not know much of her history prior to owning her,but would love to find out.Could you explain what Hunt Seat equitation involves? This McTimoney Chiropractor is very good for horses,it was recommended to me from a few people where i keep my mare on livery.Thankyou, look forward to your reply.

[lindasp62]

sorry, I meant to say that it is sometimes difficult to have the horse pick up the CORRECT lead !!!!!!!

[lindasp62]

I know from experience that it can be sometimes difficult to have the horse pick up the wrong lead....and it is all about communicaiton and teaching the horse by your aids what you want him to do.  It's important to ask just at the right moment. Just practice, and pretty soon, you will be doing  flying lead changes !!!!  :-)  I have a Hanoverian that I do Dressage with and basic Hunt Seat equitaiton.  He also jumps.  Jane Savoie, the woman who wrote that article, is former US olympic rider and winning medalist. Her training methods are great. What country do you live in? UK ?  We don't have that McTimoney method here in USA.

[orangepony]

thanks for the information regarding cantering on the wrong lead, as far as i know my mare is not a thoroughbred.She is only 148cm and originally from Ireland. The person I use for her back is a McTimoney Chiropractor.I do have a weekly lesson on my mare and during the lesson we always get her going in a nice forward trot and ask for canter in the corner of the manege, if she does strike off on the wrong leg, then i bring her back to trot and ask again until she strikes off on the correct lead.I will read the article that you have supplied and practice on my next lesson.Out of interest,what kind of horse do you own? and what do you do with your horse?

[lindasp62]

Thanks for the update.  Let me know what the (is it a Chiropractor?) looks at her.  Chiropractors can do wonders and I use one regularly on  my horse.  A bit of training will help you to help your mare pick up the correct lead at the canter.  Here is a good article to get you started.  It is by Jane Savoie.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Canter-On-The-Correct-Lead-Everytime!&id=775501

Is your mare a thoroughbred?  Sometimes from racing, they can get used to just the left lead and may be a bit more difficult to train to pick up the right lead. Good Luck.

[orangepony]

thankyou for your comments, regarding my mare falling in canter. i have ridden her since and she seems okay, she has been cantered on both reins, this has never happened before as I have owned her for approx four years now.She does however have a habit of cantering on the wrong leg to start, but i am having lessons to try rectifying this bad habit she has got into.Also an equine back person is visiting  her this month and i will of course tell her of my mares fall.I do not lunge her, but prefer to ride everyday, either schooling or hacking her out.Once again thankyou and i will let you know if the equine back person says once she has looked at my mares back.

[lindasp62]

was this just a one-time occurance? I would try lungeing  her at walk-trot-canter and see how she does without a rider. Is she lame?   Off babalce? ubnable to pick up her lead?  If she is okay, you can try riding her again and see what happens.  If she is still esperiencing this problem, you would want to call the vet...it could very well be anything from a lamness issue to a neurological issue.  Keep us  posted!