Dishing in show jumpers....help please

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Sporthorse123

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I am going to try a horse this week but have noticed from the video that he dishes. It is not too severe looking but I'd like to hear from people who are out jumping 1.20 upwards if they have a horse that dishes....does it affect their jumping? And do they know the long term prospects for show jumpers that dish? The horse is a 4 year old and quite expensive for his experience but has good jumping bloodlines. I would like him to be a horse for life and don't want to retire him from jumping after a few years because he isn't up to it. Any help and experience would be much appreciated!
 
I bought a 5 yr old Irish eventer few years back he dished on a frount foot, but when he matured, he is now rising 8 it was hardly noticeable, the vet will tell you more, some young horses don't have the balance to put their young legs in the right place!! He is now doing novice eventing and 1*
 
You will need to talk to your vet and possibly a farrier. A horse that dishes puts more strain on the front limbs on landing as it may not land with the foot balenced. Not to mention any possible chips etc if the dishing is severe enough to strike the opposing limb. If you are planning on a competion animal for 1.20+ then that is going to make a difference. Even if they grow out of it in time I would wonder if the dishing now has already placed sufficient strain on the limb to shorten competative life.

Whether that makes a difference to you will depend on what you want to do with it. if you are going to bring it on and sell it before it gets to 7 then the damage may well not be signfiicant. But if you plan to keep it for the length of its competative life then it may make more of a difference. You will need to take professional advice - especially if this is an expensive single horse rather than one of a number of youngsters bought to produce and sell on - you can afford less of a gamble with a single!
 
My old competition horse dished, he competed BE novice, BSJA, BD, then had a second career as a show and working hunter, despite the dishing he did very well, I had no unsoundness issues I cannot remember him ever being lame, he retired with extremely good legs but sadly had breathing problems.
If you like the horse and get him vetted the vet is best placed to give advice although they will not have the ability to see into the future they will be able to look at foot balance and see if it is affecting the joints in any way.
 
YO bought a 4 year old to produce on who dished slightly. However, with corrective shoeing and time he actually straightened out completely and is going great guns eventing, so jumping at 1m 20. She has a other 5 year old in that the yard she buys from asked her to take and bring on. Mare is and out and out SJer and again dishes but much more than no 1 horse. She was brilliant at hr first unaffiliated event (90) but to give you and idea, she would be a 6 or 7k horse if straight, it is up for £3450 as dishes.
 
Its a difficult one but personally if I was spending alot of money on my horse of a life time I wouldnt want to be starting off wth a problem...would be interesting to hear what the vet has to say
 
I bought a very green and unbalanced 4 year old in March who quite noticeably dished, however he passed his 5 stage vetting with flying colours and the vet commented that he would eventually strengthen up and stop dishing, and now 8 months later it is barely even noticeable.
 
They often stop with work as they muscle up .
But it's a pet hate of mine , have said that my first was a terrible disher and worked till she was 23 and I have had rotten luck soundness wise with some of the correct horses I have bought.
But I would pay a premium for correct every time but if the horse was great in every other way I would seriously consider it if the vet was happy.
 
Thank you very much everyone for taking the time to reply. I will have a serious think about it as I don't want the horse to be putting any more strain than is necessary on his forelimbs every time he jumps. If he doesn't look as bad as the video and is otherwise straight limbed then I will have the vet out to assess and take it from there.
 
I bought one horse with a slight dish that resolved completly after the physio sorted some tension in the wither and neck.
The other thing to look at is the medio/lateral foot balance from the front be also from the back of the foot holding the leg and looking down on it is how I find it easiest look for the heel and digital cushions looking the same on both sides if not you have a foot balance issue and resolving that may reduce the dish.
 
Thank you Goldenstar, I will have a thorough look at foot balance, etc. when I am there. I have just watched the video again and it loos like he throws his leg outwards from the knee down then flicks his hooves round to where they should be as he plants them down. The more I watch it, the more I am worried!
 
Sporthorse123 said:
I am going to try a horse this week but have noticed from the video that he dishes. It is not too severe looking but I'd like to hear from people who are out jumping 1.20 upwards if they have a horse that dishes....does it affect their jumping? And do they know the long term prospects for show jumpers that dish? The horse is a 4 year old and quite expensive for his experience but has good jumping bloodlines. I would like him to be a horse for life and don't want to retire him from jumping after a few years because he isn't up to it. Any help and experience would be much appreciated!
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Horses that dish in one front leg or both, rarely brush in front it is down to confirmation, and where you can get away with little or no problems when they are young things can turn sour as they get older.

This problem can lead to improper landing on the hoof thus stressing out certain parts of the hoof wall which could lead to concussive laminitis also in conjunction to grain overload laminitis in the effective leg which dishes.

I would speak to your vet and farrier about this horse if you want to make a show jumper out of him. Also try if you can to ride straight towards a mirror which will help you Gage how much he dishes under saddle.

I would think again about this horse, sweet as he maybe the dishing could end up being his downfall later in life (SFPE).

If you do decide to buy him and if your only jumping for fun sort of thing (not competitively), you may or may not be ok but think of the ground when you do jump. Don't jump on uneven or very hard ground. ( even with a normal horse|) this can make problem worst.

I have p'' md you
 
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Sporthorse123 said:
Thank you Goldenstar, I will have a thorough look at foot balance, etc. when I am there. I have just watched the video again and it loos like he throws his leg outwards from the knee down then flicks his hooves round to where they should be as he plants them down. The more I watch it, the more I am worried!
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I think I would leave it if I where you there's lots of horses about for sale which makes me feel mean as my first horse the mega disher had a huge work load and was one of my soundest toughest ever it honestly unless they are very young and weak I tend to leave them.
 
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