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[RC] Pidgeon Toes - jpascuHi Mary;
A lot of what we call conformational flaws are actually postural and not "fixed" genetically. The pidgeon toes can be caused by a very slight imbalance in the pectorals. If the horse is tight/small chested this may be an indicator of what I am talking about. It can also be caused by restrictions in the elbow's ligaments.
Since I make a living helping bodies change their posture and see major differences every day in all types of people and horses I am biased against the suggestion that genetics plays any permanent role in conformation. I know its heretic to suggest that. I think we really went astray with the amount of body attributes we attribute to genetics.
There's a video on my website of a horse with severe toeing out that was helped with body work. This horse went on to be a reining horse.
hope this helps
jim
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Jim Pascucci Advanced Rolfer www.JimtheRolfer.com www.equinesi.com Author of Equine Structural Integration: Myofascial Release Manual From: Mary Krauss <lazykfarm@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [RC] breeding pigeon-toed horse for endurance? For a couple of years now I've been contemplating breeding my older mare primarily because I'd like a foal with her kind of courage and attitude. The mare herself was mistreated early-on and has some training issues, but her brain is fundamentally solid--and once we're on the trail she's all business. Salima is eager and strong and brave, yet responsive to the lightest cue--a blast to ride in the dressage arena and on the trail. She was a fabulous mother to her first foal (a half-Andalusian who is doing well in local dressage shows) . Her conformation is fabulous in lots of ways: big-boned legs, strong chest, well-sprung ribs, wide short back, round hind-end, terrific feet. She's CMK I've discovered for what that's worth. (Salima Shoruk is her reg. name if anyone wants to look her up.) Her single greatest fault is that she toes-in in front. Would one resist breeding her for that fault? I don't really know how bad a flaw it is--she's not gotten to put in a lot of miles due to MY life's limits during her best years--and now she has arthritis from an old injury-- so I don't know if being toed-in would have broken her down over lots of miles. I also don't know the likelihood of being able to avoid passing on this conformational problem through careful selection of a stallion. Thank you for your advice :-) (While you're at it, if it DOES seem like a g ood idea, I'll be shopping around for a good love-match for her, so ideas of a smart and steady, athletic stallion would be welcome.) Mary K. (who finally climbed aboard almost-five-year-old Leo yesterday. Yes Nikki and Joanne, if you're reading this, WE DID IT!)
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