Why Is That Horse Stumbling?

Your horse stumbles several times while you’re riding him. Does he need his hooves trimmed, or is he just being lazy, or is he showing a sign of a potentially serious neurologic condition?

A veterinarian should examine any horse whose owner is concerned about neurologic disease, but an easy procedure can give an owner a partial answer. From the ground, ask the horse to back up while his head is being held as high as possible. A horse with neurologic trouble may scramble or even sit down, while a healthy horse should be able to move back fairly smoothly.

Another check: again from the ground, pick up each of the horse’s hooves and put it down so that his legs are crossed. Also, place the horse’s feet out away from his midline. Kentucky Equine Research’s staff veterinarian, Bryan Waldridge, D.V.M., M.S., says that healthy horses will have no trouble uncrossing their legs or returning them to a normal position, while a horse with neurologic disease will usually keep its legs in the abnormal position or be slow to make the correction.

Handlers should use extreme caution when working with horses that may be unsteady or likely to lose their balance. If there is any indication that the horse is having significant trouble standing or moving, owners should wait for the veterinarian instead of conducting these tests.