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Re: [RC] horse travels heel-toe - Karen Sullivan

I agree with Karen...they should land slightly heel first.  The frog, digital cushion, and lateral cartlidges are all designed to take the weight and shock (if they are healthy and well formed)  If the hoof is not balanced for the rear structures to work properly then the tendons and ligaments will take undue stress; causing problems down the line....
Karen
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 7:44 PM
Subject: RE: [RC] horse travels heel-toe

Angie, horses who have their hooves correctly balanced should land ever so slightly heel first.  Flat is also ok (heel first is preferred because that is where their priopreceptors are).  Toe first is unhealthy and will develop pathology within the hoof.  
 
I find it a bit distressing that your farrier didn?t know this.  I would highly suggest getting one of the videos from Gene Ovnicek, www.hopeforsoundness.com, which shows the internal workings of the foot that lands toe first.  Your farrier really should study it and make sure they understand the implications.  
 
 
 
 
Referenced Post:
Alright I've got one I don't think I've ever seen discussed here. My new
horse has a heck of a walk. Spent his life trying to walk off and leave
gaited horses. Yesterday Josie videoed me riding him on our gravel
driveway so I downloaded it on the Mac program where I can watch him
frame by frame. I noticed something really weird. He's putting his hind
feet down heel/toe like a person...not the way a foundered horse does it,
just bringing that hind leg so far forward in his stride that he lands
that way. I guess that got him that little extra inch per stride maybe. I
made still shots of both sides doing it if anybody out there wants to
analyze it. Sent them to Jody...farrier/endurance rider, and she said
she'd never noticed that on one before. I believe he also does it at the
trot to some extent. It's harder to catch it on the video but compared to
the video of Josie's horse, it looks like he definately does. Does this
mean I should get him some running shoes?
 
Angie
 

 

Replies
RE: [RC] horse travels heel-toe, Karen Standefer