Re: Crabbing

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/28/98 7:21:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
MBlanchrd@aol.com writes:

<<  The thought hits me (ouch) that perhaps crabbing in horses is due to
 conformation?>>

BINGO!  However, I think back faults account for as much of it as hind leg
faults do.  Horses that have difficulty rounding because of long and/or weak
loins will crab to try to relieve back pain, just as horses suffering from
certain hind leg injuries will crab.  And often, it is my experience that poor
hind leg conformation and poor back conformation are frequently present in the
same horses.
 
 <<For years and years, we were taught that the ideal conformation of the
hindleg
 was straight as a die. By this, I mean an imaginary line ran straight and
true
 from the points of the rump, down through the center of the hock, down the
 back of the leg through pastern, fetlock and heel. However, Deb Bennet of
 EQUUS fame wrote several excellant books on the conformation of the horse tht
 taught me a lot different..  >>

Much as I respect Deb and her excellent work, I don't buy into this one.  Have
seen PLENTY of horses that were straight as a die from behind that had PLENTY
of ability to open their stifles, fully flex their hind legs, and efficiently
abduct the rear limbs.  One has to combine the straight legs from the rear
with sufficient angulation when viewed from the side, sufficient length of
femur, proper pelvic conformation, etc.  The horse is a complete package, and
viewing one aspect of conformation alone will not give you the whole picture.
By the same token, a mild toeing out is not, in my observation, a very serious
problem, and certainly not something I would "worry" about in an endurance
horse, provided the rest of the package looks good.

Heidi Smith, DVM--Sagehill Arabians (Oregon)