Why does my horse trip so much?

How do I investigate why my horse is tripping?

Firstly, it makes sense to think about when the tripping usually happens. Is it towards the end of a long hack or schooling session when your horse is tired? Is it when he is overdue to be shod? Or does it happen anytime? It’s also worth noting where it happens. Is it only when he is ridden or does it happen in the field? Does it happen on uneven ground, on the flat, uphill or downhill, on soft or hard surfaces?

Armed with the above information, the first port of call is to book a visit with your vet. They will discuss how and when the tripping happens. They can then assess your horse on the flat and ideally under saddle to look for any lameness or other signs of pain. Lameness may not always be obvious to the rider but even so can cause the horse discomfort and affect his gait. Your vet will check for any lameness. And if found, will be able to investigate this further to come to a diagnosis of the problem. This will often require techniques such as local anaesthesia (‘nerve blocks’) to more accurately determine the site of the lameness, and imaging such as ultrasound scans and radiographs (x-rays).  

What medical conditions can cause tripping?

One example of a condition that causes tripping is navicular syndrome. This term describes any condition that causes pain in the bones, joints or soft tissues in the rear part of your horse’s feet. It is more common in the front feet and in certain breeds. If your vet diagnoses navicular syndrome, there are various treatment methods that can be used by your vet and farrier to reduce the impact of the disease and improve your horse’s comfort and way of going.