Hind Chestnuts.....

Mine!! I've never seen another horse without though!! I've always wondered if its linked to a specific breed or just chance. I've no idea of my horse's breeding!
 
I always assumed (quite possibly wrongly!) that they are disappearing through evolution. I thought they were a vestigial toe from when equids were five toed - same as ergots. I used to look after a connemara cross who had the tiniest chestnuts I've ever seen.
 
Mine has none .. he is more TB than native pony. Evolutionary factors wont kick in when us humans interfere with wild breeding, also they are not a lethal or life limiting feature.
Evolution of horses has taken millions of year, passing though several eras, some traits are linked by their genes, and confer no advantage. Evolution can lead to some extreme traits, which can be species threatening, for example, the Dodo died out because it had stopped flying, which was OK until man decided to kill them off for some selfish reason.
We can alter breed characteristics in about fifty years, as evidenced by the change from Clydesdales changing from plough horses pre 1950, to farmers' show horses with sickle hocks 1960 to 1990, now they are being bred as riding horses, with stronger conformation behind.
This is a good example because there is a small gene pool in a rare breed., so breeding tends to be more selective, and the limited gene pool leads to quicker and more evident results.
No one will breed for lack of hind chestnuts, per se, but it could occur if the gene was linked to a desirable characteristic, or found in a popular stallion, for example all those seeking Donnerhall bloodlines for dressage. The Welsh Section D has a lot more black horses than nature would have led to, due to Nebo and other studs having some very good show results with black horses in the 1960's
 
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Very interesting......

Has anyone never even noticed before??? I mean had their horse for a while and just not bothered to look or it has just never occured to them to check???

Its not something I bother with as farrier trims my guys chestnuts when they are shod :)
 
I had a welsh A pony on loan a few years ago that had none on the back, and yet the following welsh pony did have them, so was curious. I was told something along the lines of 'mountain ponies have them because years ago they need their extra 'toe' to help balance on the rugged landscape'.
Maybe those horses who don't have them are not as directly linked to the mountain ponies as those that do have them.???

Either way, makes no difference really, hardly a life changing 'problem'! - Luckily!!!
 
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