![]() ![]() If a horse has a condition where the lower leg is not naturally perpendicular to ground, such as carpal valgus, a sole that is square to the leg axis would not meet the ground evenly. Your farrier will pay attention to the hoof’s breakover-the pivot point of the toe as the heels leave the ground-as well as its medial to lateral (outer) balance. “Adult horses that have a mild to moderate degree of the condition cannot be corrected and should only be managed.”įor these horses, management strategies typically involve trimming and shoeing. “These conditions are better managed in foals when the growth plate is still active, because the development of the bone can still be altered-either directly by surgical methods or in a more conservative fashion by using prosthetic applications such as corrective shoeing or splinting,” Zacharias says. Veterinarians and farriers can correct mild cases with hoof care and shoeing, while severe cases require surgery. ![]() Carpus Valgus, aka Knock KneesĬarpus valgus is a turning-outward of the knees that can increase strain on the bones and ligaments on the medial (inner) part of the leg. They picked seven structural deviations here are their suggestions for assessing and managing them. We asked these four sport horse veterinarians which conformation faults they consider most common, most manageable, and most commonly misunderstood. “I do not think you can say that there is one conformation fault that is good or bad across all breeds or all disciplines,” Adair adds. While certain breeds can be prone to specific challenges, our sources caution against making sweeping generalizations about conformation. ACVS, ACVSMR, CERP, director of the Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Knoxville. “I have seen an individual with a severe swayback win a 100-mile endurance race, while a lesser degree swayback in a jumper may lead to significant back pain,” says Steve Adair, MS, DVM, Dipl. Likewise, a horse with straight, posty hind-limb conformation might be prone to stifle issues and unable to perform well in events that require hard stops and turns, but he might be well-suited as a trail horse. A horse that is back at the knees, for instance, might not be a suitable racehorse or show jumper, but he could make a great hunter pleasure mount. Riding discipline can influence a conformation fault’s degree of impact. “Many people think of conformation abnormalities as the worst they can possibly be, and that’s not usually the case.” ACVS, ACVSMR, who practices at Countryside Large Animal Veterinary Services, in Greeley, Colorado. “Many mild deformities are usually manageable, while a severe exhibition of the same deformity may be life-threatening,” says Josh Zacharias, DVM, MS, Dipl. ![]() The severity of a horse’s faults and his age, breed, and discipline all factor into whether his performance is compromised. Rachel Gottlieb, DVM, an associate veterinarian at Northwest Equine Performance, in Mulino, Oregon, a practice that focuses exclusively on lameness and performance horse issues, attests that, indeed, “buying a horse with nearly perfect conformation is not a guarantee that soundness issues will not arise.” ACVSMR, owner of Equine Ultrasound and Rehabilitation, in Aiken, South Carolina. “It’s a mistake to ignore conformational weaknesses, but it’s also a mistake to write off a horse that has one,” says Carol Gillis, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ![]()
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