Re: RC: Sidebone

[Bob & Amber Roberts <mlaboure@flash.net>]

Tara and Paul wrote:
>   My husband has just bought (2 weeks ago) a
> seven year old registered
> half-Arab. We were told by the vet that he needed some orthopedic trimming
> or shoes as his hooves seemed to have been uneven for quite a while.
> The
> farrier he suggested told us that the horse had sidebone and
> was unsound.
> The horse has so far not shown any sign of lameness and looks great
> walking
> and at a trot. My husband did however purchase the horse to train
> with me
> for endurance, although not necessarly to compete in a fifty
> or a hundred. A
> different farrier will look at the horse on thursday. Any feed back
> would be
> greatly appreciated. The horse did get tangled in a wire fence a
> few years
> earlier and has a few small scars above his front hooves. 
>        Taramb
I'm sorry to tell you that that is exactly what happened to us!  We
bought a 2 1/2 year old wild Arabian, never handled at all.  (He's
7 yr. now).  He had an old wire cut to the left front foot. 
Local vet said it was cosmetic only.  We used the Parelli/Lyons style
round pen lessons to tame the horse, then sent him to a trainer for actual
breaking/training.  When horse was old enough, we conditioned him
and rode in several LD 25's.  Did one 50 on him.  On his second
50, he was pulled for lame.  At that time, we discovered an equine
vet specialist 1 1/2 hr. away.  Hauled horse there.  Had x-rays
taken.  Horse had sidebone, big time.  Vet said horse could do
ANYTHING EXCEPT endurance!  We sold horse to a pleasure rider, with
full knowledge.  Horse is boarded with us so in a sense we still have
him.  That is why my husband has been looking for a replacement horse. 
According to this equine specialist, your horse will not be sound for endurance
either, but could make a good pleasure horse.

Amber