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Carla McKenzie
Member
Username: Jivete
Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005 - 10:53 am: |   |
I wasn't sure where to put this topic but I decided to put it here since this is often discussed on barefoot lists.
This website talks about posture and trimming http://www.equethy.com/conform_myths.htm . I've been interested in it because I have noticed that my barefoot, never been shod filly does lean forward and last night(and last week) I noticed that she seems very sore in her chest/shoulder muscles. She's not lame at all just very agitated when I press into these muscles. I'm curious what others think about the heel pain theory and muscle soreness due to the inability to correctly use the "stay apparatus" because of heel pain.
As far as history, she's a big, chest heavy 3.5 year old Percheron/Andalusian cross not currently in work and living 24/7 in a pasture and she's recently had a medial-lateral imbalance corrected in her feet which has improved her standing posture (she was standing very wide on her front end, like trying to balance in a trailer wide.)
And for the barefoot enthusiasts out there, I do believe her heels/bars are a little long and I'm slowly bringing them down (they grow like crazy and keeping them just above the sole in a constant battle). |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14311
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 15, 2005 - 6:40 am: | |
Hmmm I am uncertain what you mean by leans forward Carla. Do you mean the horse is "over at the knees" which means the knees are bucked forward or does the whole horse lean forward? Perhaps a photo would help?
DrO |
Carla McKenzie
Member
Username: Jivete
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 15, 2005 - 11:03 am: | |
It isn't something I ever thought about until I started researching the barefoot movement. Here's a photo from last spring. This is a pretty typical stance for her, she rarely has her front leg underneath her and perpendicular to the ground. I dismissed it mostly as immaturity but now her chest is muscle sore (for no apparent reason) and she never has strided out as much as I think she should. So when I started looking into the barefoot stuff and noticed the equethy website, it made me wonder more.
 |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14317
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 9:42 am: | |
No this stance is not diagnostic for a horse with sore heels or chest muscles and may just be the way the horse likes to stand. However if you feel there is a problem because the chest hurts I would have her evaluated.
DrO |
Carla McKenzie
Member
Username: Jivete
Post Number: 16
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 16, 2005 - 10:35 am: | |
Thank Dr O. This site is great reassurance for us neurotic, "my horse stumbled and now needs ex-rays" types. I plan on having the vet out soon to address my many paranoid horse owner concerns and I'll add chest sore to the list. I'm pretty sure I'll get "the look". |
Karen Copeland
Member
Username: Kasi
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 3, 2006 - 12:20 pm: | |
Just my two cents worth but I have seen numerous changes in posture and way of going improve by natural trim techniques. Balancing the foot and keeping heels low and back where they belong makes a huge difference. Articles here about Gene Ovnicek and his website which emphasize balancing the hoof are invaluable resources. Twisting motion in hind legs disappears, reluctance to canter disappears, back soreness disappears and yes that leaning posture straightens up and the related soreness disappears among a multitude of other anomalies. Seeing is believing.
Karen |
