Upright front legs in foal

[eika]

How do people deal with foals that go a bit upright? I have a foal (different one to other thread) that was born quite upright, she was box rested for a week and they improved massively, she is now about 10 weeks old and I feel she has gone slightly upright again. The mare is on nothing but grass as she is doing the foal very well, has anyone had any experience with foal assist or anything like that?
I was advised by the vet at the futurity last year to consider putting my foal on it as she felt she was slightly upright - I didnt as i felt she was being ultra critical and the now yearling has perfect conformation.

What do others do in this situation?

 

[TBB]

The only one I had that was upright needed the farrier keeping a close eye to make sure that his heels were kept open and level. Like your mare mine was on grass only as she was inclined to overdo him, he turned out fine but wasn't a severe case to start with.

 

[Truly]

Hi,
If your mare is doing her foal too well basically the foal is growing quicker than it tendons are allowing resulting in contracted tendons pulling the legs and looking upright.

You'll need your farrier to regularly trim the heels down...maybe every 2 or 3 weeks. Box rest is also the best as when the foal is out running about the muscles are used too much and pull the tendons tighter...so box rest relaxes the muscles and helps the tendons stretch.

I have one mare that does her foal too well and have had to do the same.

Mare is just on hay while they are in on box rest and just on grass when they are out. I bring them in 24/7 when foal starts to look a bit upright for about a week and then turn them out 24/7...play it by ear but bring in asap if foal looks upright.

Hope that helps

 

[chrissie1]

As above, we have even rasped the heels, literally two or three passes with rasp, every 4 or 5 days on vet and farriers say-so. When stabled feed from a haynet, foals often graze with one favoured leg stretched out, which stretches that leg beautifully, but not the other, this can also be an issue. When eating at head height they tend to weight both legs evenly. No deep bedding either as they can dig toes into that.

Fola Assist is brilliant stuff.