Training Tips

QUESTION: Hi, I've been reading on your website and I don't know if you'll be able to help me but I think that you can. In the previous October I bought a 9-year-old thoroughbred gelding. He's off the track but has been off for about 4 or 5 years. I've been training him in dressage and hopefully one day jumping, but recently he has begun bucking. Our farrier noticed the problem while shoeing him and he said that his ligament in his hip is stretched and does not contract right. He said that it is catching on the bone and he bucks to get it off. He told us to get Absorbine to put on his leg and when we did that he kicked at us. When I last rode him he bucked every step just walking. I don't know what to do. Our vet is coming out soon, but I would still like a second opinion from a horse trainer. What would you do? A few people have told me to sell him and buy a more capable horse, but I don't want to do that until I know for sure that he won't be able to perform well for me. Also would there be anything I could do to eliminate this problem while I am riding him? Thank you.

REPLY: I would recommend doing exactly what you're doing: calling in a good vet for a real thorough examination and assessment. That's your strongest pro-active route you can take right now. I like to tell people that there are 3 professionals surrounding your horse, all with the goal of keeping your horse sound & healthy & obedient for the long run. Those 3 professionals are: 1) a good farrier (for the hoof care), 2) a good vet (for the overall optimum health & physical care) and 3) a good trainer you can turn to (for training/behavioral issues). And because those three professionals are experts in their own fields, and what they spend their professional lives staying up on individually in their own professional categories, then...a farrier is not necessarily the best one to turn to for advice on medical or health care issues that are out of his realm, nor training issues. And a trainer is not a good one to totally lean on for all medical advice (that's what vets go to vet school to learn!), and a vet is not always as completely knowledgeable about overall hoofcare on the level that a very, very good farrier is or on behavioral issues the way a good trainer is skilled at imparting.

So...all that to say: lean on the proper professional of the three, depending on the category.

In this particular problem category you're having there, don't lean on your farrier for advice; he just flagged for you what he believes might be the problem. He may be right, or he may be wrong, but that is not necessarily his area of expertise. Now turn and lean on your vet, the correct professional of the three, for a proper assessment there and listen to the solutions he recommends. (And don't ever hesitate to get a second vet opinion if you ever feel the need.) Wait and hear what your vet has to say and follow his advice there, if you feel confidence in that vet. I always look at confidence I have in a vet as an "earned thing" over time. I have an awesome vet for my horses, but he's earned my confidence over time, with his excellent expert advice on medical or health issues.

So...keep doing what you're doing there and turning to the vet now. Only he/she can help you decide where to go from here based on the problems they find there.

Also...if you feel you've not found resolution to the problem via the vet route...you might try calling in a really good equine chiropractor, or some of the alternative medicine routes like equine acupuncture, etc., before giving up on this horse. To me, those experts are also in the category of being experts on a horse's health/body like a vet. And many vet schools (including the one here in my region) have incorporated equine acupuncture and equine chiropractor work into their overall horse health program, as options. So...keep turning in that direction and I think you'll get some answers soon!