TWH

Question
my twh mare is 5yrs old. I just got her today.. She tends to cross her front feet while i am on her walking or if she is in her gait.. she is worse walking than when she is gaiting.. will this not cause her to fall, or cause health issues later on in life?   this is my first twh so I don't know if this is something normal or not.. it don't seem to bother her, i'm just afraid she will trip and fall.. is there something i can do to correct this??

Answer
Dear Tana

If you just got this mare today, I do hope you got her "on approval".  Did you get a veterinary soundness check on her before you bought her.  I hate to tell you this the day AFTER you got her; but it is not a good idea to buy a horse without a requiring soundness exam by a vet you trust.  Horses can have neurological problems, they can have old injuries that cause gait problems.  There are many reasons a horse may stumble or get tangled in their own legs.  Younger horses sometimes take some time to learn to handle their legs. Two and three year olds may have gait issues they mature out of.  I would worry about a 5 yr old. If she is getting her legs tangled or stumbling, she could be dangerous to ride. I would have a vet take a look at her. IF she has a problem that the seller knew about and you discover it quickly, you should have grounds to return her and get your money refunded.

Good luck.


Lynen Curtis Gudes
"Common sense isn't."