These past few days while riding/lunging Harry i can feel something is off with his stride, especially when he gets trotting. I don't know what is wrong, so maybe you all can help??
Whatever is wrong I can feel it more than i can see it, but i will try to explain both.
First the feel-i can't feel the "hitch" until after we have been working for at least 10 min (excluding warmup) and i can only really feel it at the trot. After we have been trotting and working for at least 10 min. it starts to feel like one of his back legs (i think back right) is dropping, maybe like the back right is spending more time of the ground then the back left?
The look- I think my mom described how it looks the best, it's almost like he isn't fully using (range of motion) his back right, kinda like it is stiff.
So what do you think it could be? I am riding him in a different saddle then he is used to (dressage instead of western) and i think that the saddle is too narrow for him because it sits a good 3-4 fingers off of his withers. Could a saddle problem cause this?
Also he is old (27) could it just be arthritis? If so, how do i help him?
He did have a tendon injury in one of his legs (i don't know which one) from a trail ride, but the vet passed him off as good and he should be ridden so i don't think that could be the problem, but if it is how do i help him get stronger?
He isn't used to being worked with (hasn't been ridden in 3-4 years) and i did canter him last week or the week before, could that have hurt him? Should i more slowly break him into being ridden?
Any other ideas?
Thanks so much for your input!!! :)
<3 horse_girl
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