Re: RC: Re: Re: club foot

[DESERTRYDR1@aol.com]

I have also heard the "scissoring" theory, but after a fair amount of reading 
and observing (own one club-footed horse, board with a bunch of others) I 
believe the scissoring is one of the effects of the club foot, rather than 
the cause.  IMO the horse has some pain in that foot which is relieved by the 
scissor grazing position, thus exacerbating the problem, but not causing it.  
I know of two Arabian breeders locally that have bred a high percentage of 
club-footed horses, even though the parent stock itself does not have any 
club feet.  In one case, it is probably nutrition/lack of foot care induced.  
He has three 2-yr. olds out of four with club feet, and firmly believes in 
feeding alfalfa on dry lot with no grain or vitamin supplementation, and 
trimming the feet once a year whether they need it or not.  One of the 2-yr 
olds is so bad she probably needs check ligament surgery just to be pasture 
sound, since she won't get it, she is probably going to end up French food.

I'm not aware of the other farm's feeding practices, but they like to keep 
all their horses FAT.  My mare came from that farm.  She had one Anglo filly 
(now 6) who never showed any clubbing.  The first thing we do when we look at 
breeders' stock is look for club feet.  Some farms have none.  jeri