cross firing

Question
i have been in training with my children that are in 4-h for about 9 years. But, everytime I learn enough about one problem another one arises. I have had every unusual problem with horses, that my vets have a hard time with treating. This situation involves my 6 year appaloosa mare. I bought her 3 years ago from a green horse family that used her for trail riding very little. They felt she was to much to handle for their small girls. She is vary well bred and will trot all day, which is very smooth. If I lope her on sand she seems to be more willing to stay in the correct hind lead. If had several vets, specialist look at her and they could not tell me with out sending her to New Bolton hospital for more exrays of her hips. her stifle checked out good. I've had a chiropractor adjust her, not recently though, I've tried shoes, I had saddle fitting done on her. Now I have her on anti-flex complete, which is helping my qh gelding alot. she hates to be lunged, and sometimes wants to buck on corners. most definately does not hold correct leads in back on harder surfaces but is not lame. what kind of excercises will improve this? she is in foal at the time and i will be okay with her just doing walk trot and being a brood mare, but if I can help her get it right that would be better.  

Answer
Kathleen,

Welcome to the world of horses!  I swear at times they are bent on self-destruction!  As far as your mare staying on the right lead in the hindquarters I can think of several possible reasons for this.  You said you had her chiropracticked but not for a while.  You didn't say what the chiropractor found when the horse was examined.  That would help me a lot.  Let me know what the chiropractor said was the problem and what was done.  It sort of sounds like either she gets "out" in the sacroiliac joint (where her back joins her pelvis) or gets a hip out.  If her stifles are OK did you check her hocks?  If not get them checked out too.  But let me know what the chiropractor found so I know what sort of thing to suggest.  Just remember that a chiropractor needs to work on a horse regularly.  Yeah, I know, more $$.  But just like a person who needs to see a chiropractor regularly for a problem, many horses need the same thing.  

I look forward to your next email.  

Lyn