Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Club Foot

In a message dated 9/29/2002 1:10:20 PM Mountain Standard Time, ridecamp-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> Tami, I don't know if you have a problem there with club foot or not, but=
> your vet or farrier should be able to tell you. I have a horse that at t=
> he age of 2 had surgery for club foot on both front hooves and you can't =
> tell it today. In fact, my vet saw him Friday and said that a very good j=
> ob had been done. My horse is now 6 and strides out nicely. I guess what =
> I am saying is that she isn't too old to have something done to her feet,=
> club foot or not.


I rode and drove a mare with a club foot for the past 12 years. When I got her as a 5 month of filly I thought she was sore from her first trim, then her tendon started to contract and she developed a club foot. My farrier did a terrific job with her and after the first 6 months she was never lame. She did develop chronic back problems as she aged. Her back kept changing and finally I could not find any saddle that fit. She became cinchy and very cranky to the point that I could no longer use her for anything this spring, and at age 14 I put her down. I consulted vets and chiropractors, saddle makers, and anyone else who thought they could help but nothing did. It was very sad. 
Deb