Amazing! That's what I have been dealing with this
past year with my 18 year old. What is different about mine is that prior
to taking him to the vet, he had occasionally stumbled behind when self-lunging
around me to avoid being haltered. I took him to Davis, we did the whole 9
yards. He has a miniscule bone chip in the left hind leg (the one that
gives way). I have since found out that many horses, especially those who
have raced, have that and it usually does not bother them. He looked like
he had a torn sesamoidian cruciate ligament, but, eventually we ruled that
out.
When he isn't stepping wrong on that leg, he doesn't look
lame.
His Bob Marshall sportsaddle does bridge even though I
have the special bridging Skito pad, but since I have seen him step wrong when
not being ridden, I am not at all sure that's the problem.
I have had him to a neurologist (weak tail pull, but seems
to know where his feet are) and a chiropractor (needed some adjusting, but
nothing major). Bute does not make any appreciable
difference.
This is a horse I would really like to be able to
ride. He is so responsive it's like driving a Mazeratti.
Okay, what do you guys mean by this? I have had a recent thing
start happening in my boy and wonder if this is what you're refering to.
Mostly when going downhill, but sometimes on level, he drags a rear foot and
it catches and he actually "steps" down on his fetlock joint. Big OUCH,
like a sprained ankle and from my perspective in the saddle, his hindquarters
drop like he stepped in a hole, his head flies up to catch himself. I
didn't know what he was doing until someone told me that I was riding
with. Has to hurt! Never lame though.