Why has my horse started falling in through his shoulder?!

[ShadyMeLady]

Bit of background, 7yo cob only broken in last year. I’ve owned him 11 months. Coming on nicely over winter in walk, trot and canter and could do a nice intro dressage. Canter transitions were just starting to be good and we were getting on well.

Had a few issues a few months ago with bolting, bucking and rearing (long story short but it wasn’t pain related... just idiot people I was hacking out with not being respectful and bombing off without prior warning sending him over the edge).

Anyway, due to all this knocking my confidence I gave us both a month off ridden work, he had two weeks in the field then I started a bit of ground work and long reining him etc. Ridden work started again a month ago. But he’s gone completely backwards in the school! He can’t/won’t go in a straight line, he falls in massively on corners and when trying to get the correct bend his head pokes the outside of the school and his shoulders fall in and goes sideways and drifts

It’s driving me insane. I do circles, slowly spiral in and then out, I do lots of 3/4 line stuff, going straight and doing 10 meter circles off the line then join back down the 3/4. Walk is just about ok but trot is so frustrating. He just won’t bend round my inside leg at all. Even on circles he drifts and leads with his shoulders.

He’s very good at lateral work, but he’s almost using this as a get out (if that makes sense)... struggles on a circle so just let yields himself out. Can’t go in a straight line so does his own shoulder in

We have weekly lessons, his back was done last week because of this but there’s not been much improvement, saddle has been checked, teeth are up to date etc.

I do carrot like stretches with him after exercise whilst his muscles are warm.

I generally school 3 times a week, lunge twice and hack once. Or if I’m lazy school twice, lunge twice and hack twice

Help! What can I do to improve this?

I’m on a big yard with a few riders by trade, I asked one to get on him to see if it was me, and he did exactly the same. So whilst it could be me, he does it with someone else on him as well.

I’m starting to get frustrated, what am I doing wrong

Thank you Raffles I’ll look into it.

He’s definitely had a growth spurt, but I’ve got to the bottom of it, it’s his saddle! Yesterday I rode him in the school and he was just awful, I jumped off, took his saddle off and lunged him for a few mins on each rein and he was fine. I jumped on him bareback and he was fine . His saddle was only checked 2/3 months ago, but he’s changed shape and grown and it seems obvious now.

I’ve booked for my saddle fitter to come out so fingers crossed that will solve a few problems! I’m an idiot for not thinking about it before

When I long line him I do serpentines, loops, changing the rein and lots of walk/halt transitions.

Thanks all, let’s hope this is just a little blip. I’ll just stick to light walks out hacking until his saddle is sorted. Then fingers crossed we can get back on it!! Why is there always something?!

Well done for getting to the bottom of it! It’s almost always pain related, isn’t it, but if only they could talk and tell us what is wrong!

Do consider the vet to have a look at his back and advise if he need some a bit of time off and/or physio treatment as well as the saddler.

Thanks boo, yes just think how many issues would be solved if they could talk to us

Yes I will do thanks, he did only have physio 2 weeks ago, but I’ll speak to her again once the saddle is fitted again, and the vet for advice as well.