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  Discussion on Prepurchase examination for gaited horses
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Posted on Monday, Sep 25, 2000 - 8:44 pm:

From Lilo:
Still looking for that horse. I am considering a young Rocky Mountain Horse (similar in gait to Tennessee Walkers). My question: does the vet have to have experience with gaited horses to be able to tell if they are lame? Typically the trot is where lamenesses show up, and many of them do not trot in the traditional sense. Can lameness be spotted in the running walk, or the foxtrot, just as easily?
Thanks for any input or insight you might have.
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 6:31 am:

Hello Liselotte,
I think it requires experience with gaited horses to pick up mild problems. Gaits other than the trot and the pace can be assymetrical and foot fall timing and pattern shifting even with sound horses. On top of this a head bob is normal, confusing what is one of the easiest picked up signs of front limb lameness.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 1:43 pm:

DrO,
Thanks so much for your response. I will talk to my Vet before I set up an appointment, and find out what his experience with gaited horses is. The trainer of the horse seems to feel that she can spot (or feel) when a gaited horse is off.
Since I am just getting started in the world of gaited horses, I probably would not be a good judge.
Lilo

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000 - 2:46 pm:

Hi Liselotte,

While I do not have first-hand experience with gaited horses, a friend of mine jumped with both feet into breeding Rocky Mountain horses without doing much investigating first; finding out - very unfortunately - after the fact that a rather large percentage of them can carry or have symptoms of an incurable genetic eye disease with the abbreviated name of "ASD" (sorry, do not know exactly what this stands for). It apparently is found most frequently in Rocky Mountain horses with the popular "dappled silver/chocolate palomino" coloring, but other colors (and breeds) can carry it as well. According to one vet, the horse eventually goes blind. Unfortunately, a number of vets unfamiliar with the breed are not aware of this, and I do not know if it is determined via an eye exam or a blood test.

Just thought you may wish to mention this to your vet as well. There may also be more about ASD somewhere here or on some other website.

Good luck with your purchase. They really seem to be sweet little horses.

Bonnie
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