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Discussion on Club foot in 5 month old foal
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New Member:
katie3
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 5:57 pm:
I went to look at a 5 month old foal today, a dressage prospect. I liked the foal very much apart from a club foot on one front leg. The club foot toes out more than the other side.
Since if I purchased this foal the club foot would be mentioned in the vetting and excluded from any insurance I took out is there any way to predict whether this amount of clubbing will be treatable with farriery or is it severe enough to need surgery? The foal is currently sound.
Is this something you would take a chance on or would you walk away?
Many thanks for any responses!
[IMG]https://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh71/pirie/DSC03041.jpg[/IMG]
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Member:
katie3
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 5:59 pm:
I forgot to add that the foal is just about to be weaned so will be on a decreased plane of nutrition very, very soon. The foal is not fat and is well grown but not huge.
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 6:49 pm:
Is it possible to see a picture of the foal showing him standing fairly square--a full body shot? I think in general, a club foot is a bigger problem when a farrier tries to match it to the other foot. If this foal has a club foot due to poor trimming, that's different, but it looks as if this is his conformation. Of course, wait and see what Dr. O says, but I'm sure a full body shot would help him evaluate better.
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Member:
katie3
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 7:47 pm:
Julie many thanks for your reply. Its a good idea to ask for a full body photo of the foal but I don't think it would be right to post one since the foal isn't mine and it is for sale. If it were my foal I'd be really upset if someone posted a picture asking about club foot next to it. 
I'm 99% sure this is a DDF contracture that is causing the clubbing but having never dealt with one I don't know what a mild one that will respond to remedial trimming looks like and what a moderate one that needs surgery looks like.
Does this look mild or moderate do you think?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 8:15 pm:
Hello Michelle,
It is hard to say much Michelle without a look at the whole leg with the foal standing square. The angle of the foot in the shots is not horrible but there is a suggestion that the knees may be a bit buckled forward indicating a more severe problem than the feet alone indicate. Even with great shots however I usually do not make a decision without seeing the horse move. Even with great videos though we cannot take in the many factors that you will need to figure in primarily your resources and goals (cost, your willingness to take chances, etc...) to make this decision.
I guess what I am saying is that it is hard staring at a computer screen to make this type judgement with any accuracy.
DrO
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 - 10:17 pm:
Michelle, as someone who looks at many weanling prospects every year--admittedly quarter horse foals--I'll tell you what I think and you can blow it off and I won't be at all offended! If I bred this colt, I would feel responsible for finding out the nature of the club foot and doing what was necessary in terms of surgery, trimming or just being sure the farrier knew not to try to fix it, as the case may be. However, as a buyer, I only consider conformationally correct weanlings. There are so many to choose from why gamble? I agree, I think just looking at the picture, his angles at the knee are off. I would thank the breeder for their time and go on to the next farm. Since I have the option of shopping, I don't take on possible problems. I recently tracked the last 15 weanlings I raised and sold and all of them are sound and with their original buyers, some competing and some used recreationally. My point is, when you can be picky about things like pedigree, mind, and conformation, buy the best and leave the rest! Sounds harsh I know, but as I say, take it for what it's worth. Not trying to be hard nosed, but with horses there can always be issues that come up and cost us money and heartache, so why not start with the best chance by eliminating horses that have "iffy" issues? That's why I don't breed, although I can't honestly say I wouldn't love too! And I know, sometimes an animal just speaks to you and then all good intentions and sense go out the window. Been there too.
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Member:
katie3
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 12, 2010 - 3:38 pm:
Many thanks for your replies. I agree with you Julie and I've passed on this foal. It is a shame as in every other way they were exactly what I'm looking for.
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