Help!! how to get a horse to reach out?

Question

ok so my bay gelding has a problem with stretching and reaching with his front legs. he can't get his leads because he uses his back end to much and won't reach forward with his front. the vet farrier, and experienced horse friends says he has beautiful feet and conformation. he sometimes acts like his right shoulder is sore and when i pick it up and stretch it it pops but not painfully. like popping your fingers. so whats the problem!!!??? help!

Answer 1

I don't know how old your horse is, but I would put him on some joint supplements like HA/MSN/Yucca, etc....and put a nose roll on his bridle.  You see a nose roll used on lots of jumpers and racing horses, it makes them look further ahead and reach out with their front feet so they can see them.  It lengthens their stride considerably.  Not getting his leads cannot be blamed on his being "too collected".  I would sooner think that he is just not being set up in the correct position to take his correct lead when asked to do so.  Do you work with him with leg aids, in other words, does he move off of your legs like he should?  If not, he needs work on that, because if he did, you could move his hind end over and ask for his lead and get it every time, EVERY TIME.

Answer 2

I have a horse who is exactly the opposite. She is about 11 years old, and she has been my  barrel horse for the past 5 years.

She moves beautifully, until recently... her back end has been very sore for her for some reason... when she is running barrels, she has slowed down a lot (she used to be UNBEATABLE, but now she is having such a hard time.) she uses her front legs great, but the back legs she kind of "bunny hops" with, if you know what i mean, shes just not running correctly, she was obviously in pain.

the vet looked at her and low and behold.... my mare has arthritis.

we have to give her daily supplements.

i choose not to run barrels with her anymore. (i have arthritis in my fingers, so i can imagine how she may feel.)

So if i were you, i would take my horse to the vet ASAP... because that sounds a lot like arthritis.

Good Luck.

EDIT: about the popping...

have you personally ever popped your neck or fingers? thats one way artritis begins, by popping something all the time. When it comes to a horses leg, the pop it all the time without meaning too. When a horse moves there legs, sometimes they'll pop.

im sure you've heard them pop their legs before.

Answer 3

perhaps he just doesnt have the confirmation  

Answer 4

I would take your horse to a clinic and have some x-rays done on that shoulder. The popping concerns me. Maybe its nothing, but then again maybe not. I dont understand what you mean when you say he is having a problem "stretching" I dont understand why you dont want him using his hind end for impulsion? I would get second opinion on the popping shoulder