heel first landing in shoes???

digitalangel

digitalangel

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Should i be just happy and thankful that my mare has a spectactular feel first landing in shoes or slightly concerned? i thought this was rare in shod horses.

With a 13 year old jockey today - what a good girl regardless!

1469748_999686883394313_2462736024385233402_n.jpg
 
It is possible that a landing so spectacularly heel first, especially in shoes, suggests that there may be toe pain. I would keep a watch on the digital pulse, a flat landing is far more normal in shoes.



PS get the 13 year old to pick up her hands :)
 
Thanks guys

@cptrayes - yes good call - nothing yet, she seems sound, her feet were neglected ( shoes left on for 3 months! ) taken the back ones off, fronts might come off soon too, no heat but wondered about toe pain. just happened to snap this pic and had another look and noticed the landing.

13 year old has just stepped off a 12.2 so quite a jump and this girl is forward going - 2nd time ever ridden her so still lots of work to do! but given weather and the jockey slightly overhorsed, i am happy so far :)
 
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Is it that unusual or do i have a good farrier? Gone through a few pics and both the shod and unshod horses all do it when they are truly going forward.

Genuine question!
 
TheHairyOne said:
Is it that unusual or do i have a good farrier? Gone through a few pics and both the shod and unshod horses all do it when they are truly going forward.

Genuine question!
Click to expand...

There is a theory, published by a farrier, that if the horse does that on a hard surface, the level of concussion on the back of the foot will be damaging, so you wouldn't want to see it in a normal trot on a hard road, you'd ideally want more flat. Also in that photo, it's difficult to see how far of the floor the foot really is, and they often change to level as they actually meet the ground. And lastly, excessive heel first landing can be a sign of toe pain, which would usually be laminitic.

What's for sure is that you never want to see toe first landing on a hard, level surface. I remember five years ago having an argument with a farrier who insisted it was correct. At least we all know better than that now :)
 
I do think there is a difference between a trot vid on a surface (IMO more likely to be heel first) and a walk vid on a tarmac so I wouldn't read too much into the above picture.
 
I think the riders hands in this instance is key. If a horse is blocked in front, the horse has no option but to retract the leg before it lands, causing the toe to flip up. :)
 
Lyle said:
I think the riders hands in this instance is key. If a horse is blocked in front, the horse has no option but to retract the leg before it lands, causing the toe to flip up. :)
Click to expand...

I'm with you there, Lyle. A pretty looking picture of an anchored horse.
 
as i said guys the rider is 13 and second time riding the horse. Shes very new to this horse and horses in general. Shes not a bad rider but is definitely being challenged at the minute, as i said slightly overhorsed given this is a very forward mare and much bigger than shes used to. Ive not seen it before even with much more blocked riders with straight arms so i thought i would ask.

Interesting theory though now going off to have a look at videos of me riding the mare so i can see if shes doing it with me too.
 
So i just checked ( im bored and in bed since ive had my wisdom teeth taken out ) and she does it with me too, though only sometimes, sometimes its flat and sometimes its heel first but no toe first thank goodness. Sometimes she will flick it just before landing but land flat, and sometimes its heel first.

Bad pic but you get the idea..

10731025_10152380311786246_3604603704257305540_n.jpg
 
Wow that's interesting I've never heard of toe flipping before! How do you tell the difference between that and a nice heel first landing? Surely if the front leg is 'held back' so to speak it wouldn't extend fully and would land toe first? :)
 
digitalangel said:
Thanks guys

@cptrayes - yes good call - nothing yet, she seems sound, her feet were neglected ( shoes left on for 3 months! ) taken the back ones off, fronts might come off soon too, no heat but wondered about toe pain. just happened to snap this pic and had another look and noticed the landing.

13 year old has just stepped off a 12.2 so quite a jump and this girl is forward going - 2nd time ever ridden her so still lots of work to do! but given weather and the jockey slightly overhorsed, i am happy so far :)
Click to expand...

I used to work at a landau yard and one of the horses landed heel first and it always sounded like he had loose shoes. The farrier said it was just his way of movement. I'm having a guess that due to her feet being neglected could her tendons have stretched due to over grown feet?
 
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