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[RC] "Club Feet" - Heidi Smith

Indeed, activity is a big part of it.  I was intrigued to see that a =
filly that I bred and sold as a young mare and who had LOVELY feet when =
she left my place, came back to me on a breeding lease with a fairly =
extreme so-called "club foot" (really high-low syndrome--the true "club =
foot" is truly a deformed foot).  She was confined her entire life after =
leaving my place in a 12 x 24 run, and fed straight Southern CA alfalfa. =
 I have not trimmed her at all in the two years that she has been =
here--just turned her out in the upper hill pasture.  She is almost =
completely back to normal.  (Her nutrition has also gone back to a more =
natural diet as well.)

Yep, feral horses that are initially normal will also become club-footed =
when kept up in small lots and fed "well."

Heidi

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Mike & Kathy Kelly=20
  To: Ridecamp=20
  Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 8:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [RC] The nutritional guide to lame babies


  My thoughts on this comes from what I have learned in the pro-barefoot =
circles.  Club feet are thought to result from not enough movement and =
soft footing.  Arabs are thought to be especially susceptible because =
they are a hard-hoofed horse and require hard ground for their hooves to =
function and develop properly.

  One researcher (help me out here, anyone!) observed that mustangs did =
not have any club feet when first rounded up and confined, but that with =
confinement they soon developed club feet.

  Just another perspective.

  Kathy Kelly




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