Why does my horse trip so much?

A horse that has a tendency to trip or stumble can potentially cause safety concerns for their rider. And tripping in the middle of a dressage test or showjumping round could be disastrous for their competitive chances! While the occasional trip on uneven ground is probably nothing to be concerned about, if it happens with any regularity then it is definitely worth looking into a bit more closely.

Why is my horse tripping all the time?

There are quite a few reasons why your horse might be tripping or stumbling:

• There are several conditions of bones and joints that can cause tripping (along with other symptoms). Additionally, there are some neurological conditions that may be to blame. We will go into these in a bit more detail later.
• The old adage ‘no foot, no horse’ still rings true. Problems with your horse’s feet may result in tripping or falling. If your horse tends to trip when he is due to be trimmed or shod, perhaps his feet are getting overly long or unbalanced, resulting in tripping. In this case the problem may be solved by more frequent attention from your farrier.
• If your horse is unfit (or at least not fit enough for the work that you are asking of him), then his muscles and joints may be struggling to cope with exercise demands. This will result in weakness and stumbling. This may be especially relevant to youngsters which have not yet built up the muscle strength and endurance needed for ridden exercise.
• Issues with tack fit, such as a saddle that pinches, may cause discomfort to your horse, affecting his ability to move freely.
• Sometimes tripping is simply due to a lack of attention on your horse’s part. He may be getting distracted by what’s going on in the environment. Or he may be bored by the same schooling routine! In these cases, different locations or ridden techniques to keep his attention, such as half halts, may make a difference.