Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Low heels (was navicular)

The big problem here is the definition of "low heels."  To me, a low heel is 
one that the heel bulbs are almost on the ground, and the heel is actually 
underslung.  In other words, lower than what would be natural for that 
particular horse, the heels having been somewhat crushed by allowing/forcing 
the toe to grow too long.  A heel that is           
            "around 3.5 - 4.0 cm when
            measured vertically from the lateral cartilage to the
            ground directly above the heel bulbs"

in other words, 1.4 to 1.6 inches for those of us that are metrically 
challenged, is not low, it is short as in properly trimmed.  In my 
experience, Arabs in general tend NOT to have low heels, although I have seen 
some ranches where all the horses (Arabs) bred there seem to have lower heels 
than I would like to see.  Maybe the farrier, maybe genetics.  Some people 
still believe that the longer toe and lower heel make for a longer stride.

It's getting more and more on Ridecamp that people are making negative 
statements or taking offense because terms are not defined.  I hope Ridecamp 
is not getting to the point where people can't say anything here without a 
full set of definitions for every word they use.  jeri

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