Conformation - coon footed?

[millyspaniel]

My TB turned 4 in july this year, we had the farrier out to shoe her last week and i asked about her feet as i think her pasterns look too sloped. Been reading up on it here and see that she maybe coon footed - but am not too sure if the angle is that extreme. The farrier seemed pretty confident that it should improve with age but i cant help worrying about it. He didnt mention that she is/could be coon footed -
Does anyone else have any experience/pictures of thier horses with this problem?

 

[millyspaniel]

I have posted some links and a few pics of my mares legs, apologies for the mud!!
theres a link below,
http://www.horseinfo.com/info/faqs/faqconformQ6.html
Basically i just want to know how severe it is/looks compared to the site above. She is only 4 and i was hoping for a long and happy riding life with her

- she is completley 100% sound.
pics of mares legs, (please dont be too harsh!)

she is standing on a sorta hill upwards so thats why the angle in the whole leg looks funny - but the pastern angle is similar to how it is positioned when she is standing square.

 

[Rudey]

I have no experience whatsoever on this subject. I know you said your farrier didn't make much fuss, but I imagine he is the cheapest professional to be able to diagnose something like that, without paying out for a vet. What about if another farrier (if any) at your yard has a look?? xx

 

[millyspaniel]

It wasnt my usual farrier last time, he was away so his apprentice/newly qualified farrier came out, will also be pointing it out to my usual farrier aswell.
Just wondered if anyone had any ideas from the pics?

 

[DuckToller]

It's quite hard to make a definite decision as she is standing at an angle. I think the only way is to take another photo with her standing on a level concrete surface and then it might be possible to see if she is coon footed - although I had never heard the expression before this post!

From these pics I wouldn't throw my hands up in horror at her pasterns though - they look perhaps a little longer than average but not hugely so. Don't panic - wait to see your more experienced farrier and have a chat. He might suggest trying different shoes or he might just say wait and see.

I would have hoped that if he had thought there was a huge problem, he would have already mentioned it and suggested ways to help correct it.

 

[Rudey]

ah right, I guess that is a good thing in a sense, with him only being an apprentice, at least he hasn't tried to diagnose something, perhaps get it wrong and worry you. When's your farrier next out? I did have a look, but admittedly, I couldn't make my mind up! Haven't got a true eye for conformation issues unless it is blatantly obvious like pigeon toe etc.... A TB at our yard has similar looking legs, but ALOT worse, he is dramatically down on his pastern, so much so he was constantly lame from it having effects on his tendons. I wonder if it has anything to do with breeding? I know some breeds are known for shorter cannon bones etc... I wonder if it is in the breeding?? I guess as well, it is tough to judge on photos, seeing something in 'real life' can look alot different. I imagine an experienced showing judge would be able to put you right straight away xx

 

[millyspaniel]

Thanks for your responses, much appreciated. She is sound but i have been reading (perhaps a bit too much) into it and panicking! will have a word with my farrier when he comes out next, the newly trained one did say that she had great feet for a tb and to carry on what am doing diet wise.
So thats reasuring

 

[Echo Bravo]

Sorry but what the hell is coon footed?????

 

[millyspaniel]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry but what the hell is coon footed?????

[/ QUOTE ]

Diagram 2a shows coon footed

http://www.gaitedhorses.net/ConformationLesson/FrontEnds/FrontEndConformationB.html

 

[PapaFrita]

I actually stared at your photos for a while wondering what you were on about

I know of several horses (SJers at my yard) with less than ideal hoof/pastern axis and they do absolutely fine. If your farrier isn't concerned and he says it can be corrected with time, I'd be inclined not to worry.

 

[millyspaniel]

I think i am looking into it too much, shes just everything i want in a horse in every way and i just dont want her long pasterns or any other conformation fault be the cause of lameness in the future.

 

[PapaFrita]

I really don't think you have anything to worry about