Wry tail? Is there help or just something that will always be there?

soccer mom · 08-02-2007, 08:34 AM

On Monday, I let my daughter ride my TWH. I always considered him too much for her to handle but he took very good care of her. Anyway, she and Zeke were leading the way down the trail and I noticed he keeps his tail cocked to the left. I talked to my friend at the barn and she said it is called wry tail. Is this something that I need to call the vet, can it be corrected, is it hurting anything? Is this just the way he is? I never noticed it before since I am usually the one riding him. Thanks for any information.

seerfarm · 08-02-2007, 08:53 AM

Unless you find that he is having back issues or health issues, it shouldn't be a problem. He probably was born with it, or quite possibly had an injury which affected the nerves and muscles.

Orchid · 08-02-2007, 09:05 AM

My TWH filly has wry tail too, and holds hers to the right only when she walks; at rest or at faster gaits it is in the "proper" position. It's not a big deal.

Good thing I don't mind seeing her girly bits, I guess.

Pasogirl · 08-02-2007, 09:28 AM

My daughter's TWH does that too! That's awfully coincidental don't you think? Her tail only goes left only when ridden too. How funny!! We haven't noticed any problems because of it.

Orchid · 08-02-2007, 09:31 AM

Considering the small number of TWHs on this board, three in one thread with wry tail is pretty coincidental...hmmm...

Pasogirl · 08-02-2007, 09:46 AM

I just wonder if any other breeds seem to have this trait. All our other horses are pasos and have never noticed this with any of them or our friends pasos. It makes me laugh. Every time my daughter and I ride I'll tell her the tail is sideways and she'll reach back and touch her tail and it'll go right back into place. I get a kick out of making her adjust her tail the whole way.

Orchid · 08-02-2007, 09:50 AM

I wonder if certain lines are more prone to carry it?

We could compare pedigrees (of our horses, not ourselves

).

soccer mom · 08-02-2007, 09:51 AM

I will have to try touching his tail. LOL! But I may get dumped, sometimes he is very goofy about things! When he is out in the pasture, I do not notice it as much. Maybe he is missing a few brain cells on his left and the vaccuum created by this is pulling his tail sideways! Horses, ya gotta love their quirks!

Eagles Nest · 08-02-2007, 10:01 AM

It is more common in some breeds than others...My lesson mare has a wry tail...but I think it was from a poor cut job. On the other hand, I have a 3-year-old in training who has a wry tail....It's never been cut.

So, the first question is "has your walker's tail been cut?" The second is, does your horse bend to the opposite way his tail bends? I find if it is naturally wry then usually they will bend Better in the direction the tail bends, and it is harder for them to bend in the opposite direction......

ETA. If it really bothers you, you can tie the tail "round". Meaning you take the end of the tail and tie a string into the end, then tie it to the saddle the OPPOSITE way it bends...So if it is naturally to the left, tie it to the right...About 20 minutes a day....

Pasogirl · 08-02-2007, 10:05 AM

Ours is non-registered so I can't really compare her pedigree but I do know that her mother and sister have another funny trait that she shares. All 3 of them make popping noises with their mouths when they have a bit in there. They open and close their lips constantly that makes it sound like balloons being popped. Well, I think this covers from one end of the horse to the other!!

soccer mom · 08-02-2007, 10:06 AM

No his tail is not cut. I will have to check out the flexing / bending. thanks!

Pasogirl · 08-02-2007, 10:08 AM

ours isn't cut either and don't know about the bending.

Orchid · 08-02-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagles Nest

It is more common in some breeds than others...My lesson mare has a wry tail...but I think it was from a poor cut job. On the other hand, I have a 3-year-old in training who has a wry tail....It's never been cut.

So, the first question is "has your walker's tail been cut?" The second is, does your horse bend to the opposite way his tail bends? I find if it is naturally wry then usually they will bend Better in the direction the tail bends, and it is harder for them to bend in the opposite direction......

ETA. If it really bothers you, you can tie the tail "round". Meaning you take the end of the tail and tie a string into the end, then tie it to the saddle the OPPOSITE way it bends...So if it is naturally to the left, tie it to the right...About 20 minutes a day....

Nope, my filly's tail has not been cut; and oddly enough, she bends better to the left than to the right, which is the way her tail goes.

I never claimed she was normal!

She was born windswept though (her barn name for quite some time was Comma) so that may have something to do with it too. I plan to have the chiropractor out to see her a couple of times before she starts her riding career (she is just a yearling now) to make sure she is adjusted as straight as possible; we'll see if that helps with her wry tail or not.

soccer mom · 08-02-2007, 10:08 AM

Mine is not registered either. Now that you mention the mouth noise, he does that too. I went to a hackamore, the clinking was driving me crazy during trail rides.

Pasogirl · 08-02-2007, 10:21 AM

Soccer Mom - too funny! What's up with this breed? I must say that while ours has some funny quirks she's the absolute best horse. We can't get her to stay in gait for anything but she's the last horse we'd get rid of if we had to. This is my daughter's first horse so she canters and runs her mostly. Having fun not worrying about gait but that's ok. She's the best babysitter for our newly weaned baby and she can read our thoughts and help us round other horses up, keep them away if that's what we're trying to do and is constantly with us whenever we're working outside. She's just like a dog - has to be right there with us helping if she can! LOVE HER! Popping bubbles and everything!

Eagles Nest · 08-02-2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchid

Nope, my filly's tail has not been cut; and oddly enough, she bends better to the left than to the right, which is the way her tail goes.

I never claimed she was normal!

If her tail bends to the left, then she should also...This is just my observation as I've had a few, lol. Common trait in ASBs. (walkers, morgans and some arabs too).

I think it happens because the one side of their body (the one the tail bends to) is a little shorter/clenched, and so when you want to bend the opposite way it is harder as they have to strentch and lengthen the side thats normally "short/clenched." Not something you'd see from just looking at them, (other than the tail) but still, you'll feel it when you bend/ride them...

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08-02-2007, 08:34 AM
soccer mom Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Huber Heights OH Posts: 890	Wry tail? Is there help or just something that will always be there? On Monday, I let my daughter ride my TWH. I always considered him too much for her to handle but he took very good care of her. Anyway, she and Zeke were leading the way down the trail and I noticed he keeps his tail cocked to the left. I talked to my friend at the barn and she said it is called wry tail. Is this something that I need to call the vet, can it be corrected, is it hurting anything? Is this just the way he is? I never noticed it before since I am usually the one riding him. Thanks for any information.

08-02-2007, 08:53 AM
seerfarm Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 9,635	Unless you find that he is having back issues or health issues, it shouldn't be a problem. He probably was born with it, or quite possibly had an injury which affected the nerves and muscles. __________________ "One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake".

08-02-2007, 09:05 AM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,071	My TWH filly has wry tail too, and holds hers to the right only when she walks; at rest or at faster gaits it is in the "proper" position. It's not a big deal. Good thing I don't mind seeing her girly bits, I guess. __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing

08-02-2007, 09:28 AM
Pasogirl Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: outside Memphis TN Posts: 286	coincidence? My daughter's TWH does that too! That's awfully coincidental don't you think? Her tail only goes left only when ridden too. How funny!! We haven't noticed any problems because of it.

08-02-2007, 09:31 AM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,071	Considering the small number of TWHs on this board, three in one thread with wry tail is pretty coincidental...hmmm... __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing

08-02-2007, 09:46 AM
Pasogirl Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: outside Memphis TN Posts: 286	I just wonder if any other breeds seem to have this trait. All our other horses are pasos and have never noticed this with any of them or our friends pasos. It makes me laugh. Every time my daughter and I ride I'll tell her the tail is sideways and she'll reach back and touch her tail and it'll go right back into place. I get a kick out of making her adjust her tail the whole way.

08-02-2007, 09:50 AM
Orchid Bombproof Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 11,071	I wonder if certain lines are more prone to carry it? We could compare pedigrees (of our horses, not ourselves ). __________________ Careful what you wish; Careful what you say; Careful what you wish; You may regret it; Careful what you wish; You just might get it. ~ Metallica, King Nothing

08-02-2007, 09:51 AM
soccer mom Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Huber Heights OH Posts: 890	I will have to try touching his tail. LOL! But I may get dumped, sometimes he is very goofy about things! When he is out in the pasture, I do not notice it as much. Maybe he is missing a few brain cells on his left and the vaccuum created by this is pulling his tail sideways! Horses, ya gotta love their quirks!

08-02-2007, 10:01 AM
Eagles Nest Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,018	It is more common in some breeds than others...My lesson mare has a wry tail...but I think it was from a poor cut job. On the other hand, I have a 3-year-old in training who has a wry tail....It's never been cut. So, the first question is "has your walker's tail been cut?" The second is, does your horse bend to the opposite way his tail bends? I find if it is naturally wry then usually they will bend Better in the direction the tail bends, and it is harder for them to bend in the opposite direction...... ETA. If it really bothers you, you can tie the tail "round". Meaning you take the end of the tail and tie a string into the end, then tie it to the saddle the OPPOSITE way it bends...So if it is naturally to the left, tie it to the right...About 20 minutes a day.... __________________ You earn your blue ribbons at home, you just pick them up at shows! Last edited by Eagles Nest : 08-02-2007 at 10:06 AM.

08-02-2007, 10:05 AM
Pasogirl Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: outside Memphis TN Posts: 286	Ours is non-registered so I can't really compare her pedigree but I do know that her mother and sister have another funny trait that she shares. All 3 of them make popping noises with their mouths when they have a bit in there. They open and close their lips constantly that makes it sound like balloons being popped. Well, I think this covers from one end of the horse to the other!!

08-02-2007, 10:06 AM
soccer mom Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Huber Heights OH Posts: 890	No his tail is not cut. I will have to check out the flexing / bending. thanks!

08-02-2007, 10:08 AM
Pasogirl Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: outside Memphis TN Posts: 286	ours isn't cut either and don't know about the bending.

08-02-2007, 10:21 AM
Pasogirl Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: outside Memphis TN Posts: 286	Soccer Mom - too funny! What's up with this breed? I must say that while ours has some funny quirks she's the absolute best horse. We can't get her to stay in gait for anything but she's the last horse we'd get rid of if we had to. This is my daughter's first horse so she canters and runs her mostly. Having fun not worrying about gait but that's ok. She's the best babysitter for our newly weaned baby and she can read our thoughts and help us round other horses up, keep them away if that's what we're trying to do and is constantly with us whenever we're working outside. She's just like a dog - has to be right there with us helping if she can! LOVE HER! Popping bubbles and everything!