Help with "twisting" issue with back feet

[StarRidgeAcres]

Hopefully I can explain this such that others can understand what I'm talking about.

Over the years I have seen many minis whose back feet, for lack of a better term, twist when they are planted. So, as the horse steps forward and each back hoof is placed on the ground and weight is put on it, the hoof twists outward (toe in, heel out) as the horse completes the step. Does anyone know what I'm referring to? Personally I've not seen a large horse do this but they may also.

I've been told different things over the years...it's how their feet are being trimmed, it's because they have no weight to them, it's a conformational flaw, it's not a conformational flaw it's just a ligament that needs to be worked/strengthened. I don't know what to believe.

What I do know is that I have a horse that as a baby, yearling, 2yo, etc., didn't display this problem...at least that I ever noticed and I generally am always looking at my horses' conformation even when I'm just out loving on them or watching them play. But now I'm noticing this horse is doing this twisty thing and I personally don't like it. I don't like the way it looks and I certainly wouldn't want to reproduce it if it's genetic. But I've seen SO many minis that do this I'm really starting to wonder what is the root cause and is there something I can do, be it exercise, trimming a certain way, whatever, that may make a difference.

All opinions and experiences welcomed!

 

[Riverrose28]

I think I'm knowing what you are talking about, let me explain and maybe you can get a better picture. We have a 32" black overo mare that we showed, in halter and showmanship, then in mare and foal of current year, no problems until the last show when she wasn't rimmed properly before hand. I didn't notice, but the judge came up to me and said, when she walks she rotates her left hind leg, out, then in. He said that my farrier needs to take the heels down lower to keep her stifle in place. So I watched her leave the ring and sure enough she was doing what he explained to me. So I think it is a hoof trimming issue.

 

[Genie]

Thanks for posting this. I have a yearling that is now doing this and it's new

I think she improved a bit after trimming but it hasn't stopped.

 

[Ashley]

Do you have a good hoof trimmer? It has to do with how the hoof grows and trims. I had a mare that did this as well as one of my moms. The mare I had did it from the time I bought her and my moms developed it over time. I found a good trimmer who taught me how to correct it. It never totally goes away but when kept trimmed right its bearly noticeable.

 

[Marty]

I know exactly what you mean. I've seen it in a couple of Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds that came to my former stable for layups. Removing the shoes and re-setting did not make a difference, nor did the changes of farrier. Also my friend's barrel horse does it too. In all my years of horsemanship I never really found the answer or rather the cause or any rhyme or reason to it. I have a non-breeding mare that also does it; sometimes it is very slight right after a trim, then half way into the trim its going full blast. Swivel, swivel, swivel. Go figure.

 

[midnight star stables]

I'm with Marty, we have/have had several older QH and TB's that do this. One old gal lived into her mid 30's and got around fine. Our current QH does it now that she is in her 20's but never did until the last few years. No help, just my experience.

 

[disneyhorse]

I had a Quarter pony that did this. Not a trimming issue, it was conformational. I personally believe it has something to do with having hind legs that are (I am not sure how to best word this) TOO STRAIGHT. I prefer a very slight cowhocks, that straighten out when set up. Obviously you want straight legs that are not cowhocked or crooked... but very straight legs tend to do this I think. I think it's a conformation issue. You can improve it with trimming, shoeing with trailers, etc. but it all comes down to conformation ultimately.

Andrea

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I had a Quarter pony that did this. Not a trimming issue, it was conformational. I personally believe it has something to do with having hind legs that are (I am not sure how to best word this) TOO STRAIGHT. I prefer a very slight cowhocks, that straighten out when set up. Obviously you want straight legs that are not cowhocked or crooked... but very straight legs tend to do this I think. I think it's a conformation issue. You can improve it with trimming, shoeing with trailers, etc. but it all comes down to conformation ultimately.

Andrea

This is interesting to me Andrea as prior to this I've so often commented that this horse has the absolute naturally straightest legs I've seen. Just naturally tracks, stands, sets up as straight as an arrow - front and back. But I find it so weird that I've had this horse on my property for over 3 years and now I see this. And it actually seems to have gotten worse over the last few weeks.

I have the farrier coming Sunday. I'll see what his thoughts are. But he usually tells me "I'm a farrier, not a miracle worker."

 

[disneyhorse]

This is interesting to me Andrea as prior to this I've so often commented that this horse has the absolute naturally straightest legs I've seen. Just naturally tracks, stands, sets up as straight as an arrow - front and back. But I find it so weird that I've had this horse on my property for over 3 years and now I see this. And it actually seems to have gotten worse over the last few weeks.

I have the farrier coming Sunday. I'll see what his thoughts are. But he usually tells me "I'm a farrier, not a miracle worker."

Hmm. This theory of mine is purely based on observation alone, with horses I've seen. The legs are very straight behind, and when the horse puts the pressure the heel twists outward. In bowlegged horses (opposite of cowhocked) it's even more pronounced.

Andrea

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Interesting topic, can anyone post a video of this? It would be great as a learning tool and to actually 'see' the twist.

 

[shorthorsemom]

Forever ago, I had a full sized appy horse that did this... We said he "walked like a cowboy", after much diagnostics and much money spent it really came down to conformation and what the earlier post said "straight up legs". It was GREATLY affected by how the farrier trimmed him. I found a farrier that trimmed him "as he stood" (whatever that men't) and my horse traveled much better that way, natural trim, bare feet. When I had a farrier try to adjust and correct his feet too much, back came the "cowboy" walk, and at times he would get the upward fixation of the patela. Very noticable going down hill when riding, he would slip often. Hill work helped build up muscle and improved the situation, but how my boy was trimmed was critical. I don't remember if they lowered the heels or not, it was quite some time ago.

 

[stormy]

Unfortunately I have seen this very often and in many breeds, used to call them post hole diggers. As all tracking deviations it can be a bad trim or a growth thing but can also be conformational. In my experiance it is most often seen in horses that toe in in the back or are wide in the hocks. In quarter horses it can be seen on those heavily muscled, thick barreled ones...in my opinion this is part of why slightly turned out or close hocked conformation can be an advantage in a driving horse, allows the leg full range of motion within the stride.

 

[bannerminis]

I think it can be immaturity, conformation or bad farrier work.

I have seen it in ponies and thoroughbreds and for different reasons.

A friend has a filly that was doing and it was really only noticeable in sand or deep ground. It turned out to be a shoulder problem which she had sorted and is perfect again.

If your horses has only started doing this then it could be some sort of muscle issue or farrier issue.

 

[Eagle]

My mare Britt started doing this in the last stages of pregnancy. I am not sure if it was due to her weight or whether it was cos I got behind on trimming their feet. Anyway she is no longer heavy and has had her feet done and she is fine.

Also 1 of the mares that came here yesterday to be covered does it with her near hind, her feet are well over due for a trim. I will try and get a video of it when I go down in an hour

 

[joylee123]

A lot of the time if you square/ roll the toe it will help. Sometimes minis have toes that are too long and have to break to the left or right of the "point" which rotates the hock and the foot.Try blunting the toe to break over easier. Might not totally correct the problem but will help.

Joy

 

[Sandee]

I have one that does this. JMO it's higher up than the toe. My farrier worked on it for 2 years and she still does it. However, she also literally runs her stall in a tight circle the same way all the time. The inside back foot of that turn is the one that is badly worn each 6 to 8 weeks. I've tried for 6 years to correct , stop, etc. - nothing works.

I'll try for a video but it will be at least Sunday before I can get to it.

 

[attwoode]

I have seen this many times when horses hooves are not properly balanced. It can be caused by confrmation that does not fit an even trim, but I'm certain that this can be corrected with a good trim or two if the horse was always correct in previous years.