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RE: [RC] speaking of twh/mft - Tamara Woodcock

I'm very interested in someone explaining the pros and cons of a horse going
wide behind.

I have a boy that goes wide behind when he hits a truly big trot.  This is
observable under saddle and when he's loose in the pasture.  I was really
encouraged initially to see this, thinking he would have this killer trot
and be a great distance mount.  His hind hoof prints were maybe a handspan
outside the front prints.

However, both dressage trainers that have worked with him have said that
horses that go wide like this do so because their backs aren't strong enough
to lift their front ends off correctly.  That it is a sign of the horse
still being on the forehand, and not balanced.  That going wide is a fault
that can be fixed with sufficient back strengthening exercises.

So which is it?  A desirable characteristic or a fault?

-Tamara

-----Original Message-----

I don't know if it's the gait that gives them downhill speed or the
build. Kaboot has always been a very fast downhill horse. Anybody who's
seen him trot out will tell you he's a mile wide in the back. When he
hits a big trot his hind legs are *way* wider than his body...leaves
tracks like a rabbit. When he goes downhill he just drops in the rear and
flies. Not sure what's going on back in the back.  I always have to wait
at the bottom for my traveling buddy. I've had a Walking Horse vet claim
she thought his stifles were bothering him because of how wide he slung
out his rear legs but he flexed clear. He's a bit bowlegged almost like a
Walking Horse looks  from behind sometimes when they spread out for their
running walk. Makes him have almost a wobble look when he walks but he's
never had any problem in the rear end.

Angie


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Replies
[RC] speaking of twh/mft, rides2far