He had mild clubbing of the front right foot (injury-related, no coffin
bone rotation), and moderately wasted muscles in the right shoulder
and around the right wither. His owner had neglected him (halter had
grown into his face, & he was cooped up in a small turnout paddock).
He was seldom ridden or groomed. He was about 250 lbs overwieght.
Each foot had been trimmed to a different angle about 14 weeks prior
to me seeing him. (The owner was trying to save $)
We have worked on suppling and building muscle using dressage, corrected
his feet over 6 months, and he's dropped the excess weight. He is
almost ready for his 1st 50. Last night I noticed that his chest
muscles are very nearly symmetrical now!!!!! <<However, his withers are
more pronounced on the right than on the left.>> It was the opposite
before we started working him.
What excercise or riding fault may cause overdevelopment of one side
of the withers? Is he compensating for old tissue damage? His gaits
are even, but he has come to prefer the right diagonal at the trot.
(We do change diagonals frequently, but rode 30% more on the right to
build those muscles on that side per vet's suggestion.) His trot is not the
typical Arab's big & floaty gait. (His show owners as a yearling had
planned Western Pleasure for him.) The local vet didn't have anything
constructive to offer. He was simply pleased that Rocket had redeveloped
the chest muscles.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Equestrian Supplies/ Blue Wolf Ranch
Chesapeake, VA
"In case of emergency - Fur side up, steel side down!"