Why does my horse trip so much?

Other causes of discomfort in your horse’s limbs and joints that can result in tripping include arthritis and tendon injuries. Conditions that result in back or neck pain, such as arthritis, could also cause tripping. 

Neurological conditions can manifest as tripping or falling. For example, ‘wobbler syndrome’ (cervical vertebrae stenotic myelopathy to give it its technical name) is a condition where the bony vertebrae of the neck are too narrow, impinging on the spinal cord. This results in a range of problems with movement and balance. It often becomes apparent in young horses once they start ridden work. Unfortunately, this condition often means that a horse is not safe to ride, due to an unacceptably high risk that they might fall and injure themselves or their rider.

All of these conditions will be considered by your vet as part of their assessment.

What about foot issues?

If an issue with your horse’s feet is suspected as the cause of the tripping, your vet may recommend that your farrier assesses your horse’s foot balance. Your vet and your farrier can work together to amend your horse’s trimming regime. This may involve your vet taking foot x-rays to provide more information for the farrier. Remember that a horse’s feet grow slowly, so any changes to trimming or shoeing must be done gradually and it can take some time before you start seeing obvious results.