Do sound horses actually exist????

A few I should imagine! However I do always point out a horse which is / looks lame to it's rider. However they take it, it's just to inform them if they haven't realised already :)
 
There are plenty of horses that are sound most of the time, but they all pull things from time to time in the field and need a bit of tlc. Older horses can have arthritis so look lame until they ease up, and there are other conditions like locking stifles that are similar - ok with regular work, but stiffen up easily.
 
I imagine no horses are sound.

They're not actually built to have someone sit on their back and force them to work "in an outline". how many wild horses do you see "moving correctly"?

All the best therapy in the world won't change the fact they're not meant to be ridden.

It's like cows. They're not designed to stand in their own poo all day, which is why so many of them are lame.
 
How many owners would be classed as sound . Certainly not me.:D I have taken an objective gamble with my young horse Bob the(not a ) cob ,that his poor feet and faults in conformation, are less significant than my ability to avoid factors that will promote these weaknesses. I have ballanced all his faults against his truely wonderfull nature and willingness in all things (except being groomed with a bodybrush!!!!:mad:). A perfect horse can only become less than perfect with time . My imperfect horse will be what I make of him.
 
Mike007 said:
How many owners would be classed as sound . Certainly not me.:D I have taken an objective gamble with my young horse Bob the(not a ) cob ,that his poor feet and faults in conformation, are less significant than my ability to avoid factors that will promote these weaknesses. I have ballanced all his faults against his truely wonderfull nature and willingness in all things (except being groomed with a bodybrush!!!!:mad:). A perfect horse can only become less than perfect with time . My imperfect horse will be what I make of him.
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Really nicely put!! Hopefully we can all make what we can of our horses, and vice versa :)
 
Hmmm, interesting post. If every horse was x-rayed, no matter what age, the plates would show changes of some sort, somewhere. The question is, how many people actually listen to their horses and how many recognise schooling issues as pain? How many trainers out there say 'ride 'em through it'?

Interesting post.
 
Mike007 said:
How many owners would be classed as sound .
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I think this is such a good point. I'm nowhere near sound - I have arthritis, two bum knees, an old fracture in my foot, one in my back and a screw in one toe. I have a steel plate in my neck. But I'm just fine to work a physical job and to ride and care for my horse.

I guess it depends on your definition of "sound." My daughter's horse has been lame once since I've known him after taking a bad spill and landing on one knee. He had an inflamed tendon for less than a week and then it was fine. He's barefoot, solid as a little tank and just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. Perhaps a full body scan would reveal that he has oddities and issues too but they don't keep him from doing his job.
 
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