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Discussion on Pacing in foal from Trotting Parents
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New Member:
strmswpt
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Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 12:36 am:
Greetings. I am new to the board. I have a 5 week old foal, I own the dam & maternal grand-dam and know the bloodlines on the mare's sire as well as the foal's sire. Both parents and all ancestors known are walk/trot/canter based in gait. The foal is very close coupled/short backed/long legged. He will trot, but at a walk appears to pace, swinging lateral legs in conjunction with one another. Will he outgrow this as he matures do you think? He is in pasture 24/7, well nourished, not obese. Ponies off of his dam and keeps up with her active walk at what looks like a running walk. By all rights he should trot and I'm wondering if anyone has had any similiar experiences with foals. Thank you in advance for any replies. }
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 7:54 am:
Welcome SM,
As described in the article on gaits in horses the flat (relaxed) walk is a "broken" lateral gait with the hind hitting before the front of each side. That said the flat walk is the most variable of all gaits and you see all kinds of differences normally.
DrO
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 9:51 am:
SM i have noticed with some of my leggy foals that in the beginning they will have a lateral walk, Worry, YUP i did .. but it seems the foals were just figureing out how to balance on their long limbs.. NONE have a lateral walk now.. all tho two of em have such a huge over step it is almost 'freakish'
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.
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New Member:
strmswpt
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Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 7:09 pm:
Thanks for the input Dr. O and Ann, I did read the article on gaits which are very helpful, thank you! Its just that I've not seen a non-gaited foal this lateral in the walk and he'll do that lateral walk and keep up with his dam's normal, active walk without breaking into a trot, just quickens the pace of whatever it is he's doing. He is very short backed, great lay back of shoulder and long legs. His dam is close coupled too, and has had to have care taken with her shoeing so as not to overstride and pull shoes at the walk, but she never did this lateral "thing" as a foal. The colt has had no injuries and is not lame or asymmetrical in muscle tone/weight bearing on his legs. Nothing to do but wait it out I guess. Would having a good equine chiropractor go over him be of any benefit? We see our regular DVM soon for vaccinations on the dam, and will ask him to watch the colt move.
Glad to hear you've "been there" with the lateral stuff too Ann and come thru it! }
Thanks everyone, }}}}
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