Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Older horse stiff at trot

From: Ann

Dear Jessica, I am riding an 18 year old Morgan. Sometimes when I ask him to trot, he holds his head high and tightens his body so that the gait is an uncomfortable jog, instead of moving out. (uncomfortable for both of us.) I'm using a loose ring snaffle and check to make sure that his saddle is on correctly. I thought his back might be sore, so I am using 2 saddle pads and get on him using a stool. After a bit of coaxing he'll eventually move out. I'm guessing he may be stiff or sore and would like to know if you have any advice. Please do not use my real name. Thank you. Ann

Hi Ann (for "anonymous")! You're probably right. It's not unusual for horses in their late teens to be a little stiff, or even very stiff, when they first start out, especially if they've been kept in a stall all night.

Since he gets better as he goes, I expect his saddle fits reasonably well. If the saddle were causing the problem, he would NOT get better the longer you rode, and he would probably get worse.

You are very sensible not to mount from the ground. A mounting block will save his back, your back, and the saddle from unnecessary strains and damage.

Older horses typically have muscle stiffness when they haven't moved freely for a while -- that's why the best place for them is in a field where they can move constantly. They also typically have arthritis somewhere. Older horses need longer warmups, and often find it impossible to trot comfortably or well until they've had a chance to stretch their backs.

What you can do is this: First, start your warmup by doing fifteen or twenty minutes of walk-work on a long rein, so that your horse's muscles can become warm. Then allow the horse to choose whether he would prefer to trot or canter, and do whichever one he prefers, on a LONG rein, for five minutes or so. Many older horses simply cannot manage a good trot until they've stretched out their toplines and engaged their belly muscles by having a canter on a long rein. As long as you do a good, thorough warm-up first at the walk, cantering before trotting shouldn't hurt the horse. Just be sure to DO the walk warm-up for at least fifteen or twenty minutes on a long rein, and then do the initial five minutes or so of trotting or cantering on a long rein as well. After that, you should be able to work on whatever it is that you want to work on -- and your horse should be comfortable enough to be able to pay attention to you.

Jessica

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