Mithras
Well-Known Member
I've been comparing my two horses and while my mare has really flexible, mobile fetlock joints, the other has really stiff ones that you can't move or rotate by hand nearly as well. You can push them back so far and then they kind of stick. Also, in photographs of them jumping, my mare has knees and fetlocks totally tucked up so as to avoid hitting the pole, my boy has done so as well but not nearly so tightly. Both of them are really sound horses and never been lame, and I jump them 3 times per fortnight maximum. Theres no difference in my gelding whether he's turned out 24/7 (as he is just now) or stabled. He's 13 and my mare is 12, and he has no swelling and not even windgalls (my mare has huge windgalls, maybe he would be better if he did have them!)
Before I explore the options of supplements, boots, etc I just wondered what other people found most effective? I've tried manipulating and loosening up his fetlocks by hand but just can't get them to move that much, although he seems to quite like it! He's a really powerful horse and loves jumping but I think he could do better and not have to jump so high if I could get his fetlocks more mobile.
Before I explore the options of supplements, boots, etc I just wondered what other people found most effective? I've tried manipulating and loosening up his fetlocks by hand but just can't get them to move that much, although he seems to quite like it! He's a really powerful horse and loves jumping but I think he could do better and not have to jump so high if I could get his fetlocks more mobile.