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Discussion on Pigeon Toed
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 1:07 pm:
I have a 16 year old TB cross, very large with very large feet who is really pigeon toed. I rescued him from slaughter about a year ago. I have all my horses barefoot but would corrective shoes help or is he too old? Oh, only his front feet..
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Aug 25, 2006 - 6:58 pm:
The problem Patricia is that we have no history so I cannot directly answer your questions, but let me explain how to look at this problem.
When a animal is actively growing the cartilage of the joints is quite malleable and it grows in response to stress to even out load across the joint. Following maturation cartilage growth slows down tremendously and remodeling is over. This ability to remodel can be measured in turn over rate which in species studies is about once every 200 years.
If you come along after a horse has matured and change the conformation by trying to adjust the rotational deformity, stress in redistributed and there will be areas of increased stress. Experience strongly suggests this increases the chance of collateral ligament desmitis and DJD (chronic arthritis).
On the other hand if this conformation is recent do to poor trimming it should be corrected but if this is the way the horse has been, it should be left alone and the hoof trimmed and balanced to accommodate this conformation with a flat landing foot and relieve stress on breakover with a rockererd and rolled toe that reflect this horses natural breakover point.
If you are uncertain radiographs will usually answer the questions: if the bones have adapted to the conformation it should not be changed. Some clues of adaption are even joint spaces because the bones are not bilaterally symmetrical.
DrO
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Monday, Aug 28, 2006 - 2:52 pm:
Thank you. I think I should just leave it alone. I don't want want to do more damage..
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 3:08 pm:
Do you think he's safe to ride? Trail riding to be specific.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Monday, Oct 9, 2006 - 4:28 pm:
Patricia, I can't answer specifically to your horse as I haven't seen what he looks like or how he moves, but I do know of 1 very pigeon toed Paint that has been used successfully in barrel racing, western pleasure, English and as a school horse. I've never seen him take a bad step.
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