Re: [RC] club foot vs hi/low syndrome, grazer toe - Opal Perry
That is what my horse does too.. but his neck is
plenty long, just his legs are longer LOL. His mother had a club foot (was
told to me by the breeder... not sure if really club or just High/Lo) that was
more extreme than my gelding's.. I think my horse's problem has more to do with
shoddy farrier work for the first couple of years (by the farrier the breeder
used.. and I used him twice after I bought the horse, then switched to a guy
with a brain). The guy was leaving the heel so high on that foot (and the
2 hind feet) that he looked like he was walking on his tiptoes, but the right
front leg was trimmed "normal". When I asked him about it he said "that's
what all saddlebreds look like" (my horse is a half-arab/saddlebred). I
promptly found someone else. It took almost 2 years of trimming to get
that foot somewhat "normal", and I now ride him barefoot all the time (not
starting THAT discussion again.. LOL).
Anytime he eats anything off the ground, he puts
that leg back, never the other one. So he kind of makes the problem worse
on his own. Some things that have happened because of this: 1:
He is slabsidded... big time. Its getting better, but.. still there.
2: He kicks me off that diagonal all the time.. I'm lucky if I get 10
strides in, and its HARD to post him that side. 3: He doesn't like
to use that lead.. so again, HARD to make him use that side. (I do work him in
the indoor arena in surcingle & side reins more on that side than the other,
and it is helping).
As far as speed.. he was walk at 7 mph (I call it
his "mall walking speed" LOL) trotting he has hit 12 to 14 mph (according
to lady with us, she was cantering and told me how fast we were going.. he was
not extended) and I have no idea how fast his canter is. He has huge long
legs and a short coupled body... and is hard to fit saddle wise..
