Posted by Phil Armitage on February 01, 2003 at 20:37:28:
In Reply to: Re: Hind Feet toe first landing posted by Stephen E O'Grady on January 31, 2003 at 18:19:25:
: : : : : I recently read an article that stated the front feet should land flat and the hind should land slightly toe first, does this sound right to anyone? I am shoeing horses that do land toe first in the hind at a trot and canter.
: : : : : Phil
: : : : This seems to come up periodically, usually without supporting evidence. When moving slowly, at the walk, the feet, fore and hind, land flat. As the speed increases both impact more and more heel first; then toe. Toe first impact is not usual nor normal except when landing from a jump when the fore feet will routinely impact toe first. I say that is usual and normal landing from a jump and is-according to my studies- a major factor in the high incidence of navicular disease in jumping horses. I discuss this at length in The Lame Horse and on my web site here in horseshoes.com.
: : : Thank you for your response. I am currently shoeing a dressage horse that the hind feet tend to jab into the ground while in a slow controlled trot and trotting in place. When he is at an extended trot he seems to land a little flatter. The other thing the rider and I notice is that when he is in a turn the jabbing is more noticeable especilly on his right hind. I have tried increasing breakover, decreasing breakover and it does not seem to make any difference. I am wondering if it is more related to the tendons or is this common in dressage horses due to the type of work they do.
: : : Phil
: : Phil, I am no authority on the peculiarities of dressage horses. I do think a thorough neurological examination (physical) would be in order. I have seen this sort of thing in other horses with definite, but not so obvious, neurological disease. jrooney
: Phil
: I would concur with what Dr Rooney has stated. Another option would be to have a veterinarian block (local anesthesia) this horse's foot and the observe his landing pattern. May be surprised.
: Stephen O'Grady, DVM
Thanks guys I am going to discuss this with his owner. I also notice on the same horse that his right hind is very tense when I lift it onto my thigh for shoeing his range of motion seems limited and he pulls his leg into me very hard before he relaxes, does it every time. I have always attributed this to hard work. He is worked daily. Could this be a sign of a problem higher up the limb like the stifle or hip? Could this also be the reason he jabs his toe into the ground a working gate? I reshod him yesterday and added 2 deg bar wedges to his hind feet to see if they land flat and we trotted him up and down a hard surface and he does land better. The owner is going to let me know if the wedges make a difference when she works him. One theory I have is he sore in the heel area and this may be causing him to land toe first and the toe first landing is stressing bone colomb, navicular area and DFT. I am thinking that the bar wedge will make him land heel first, protect the heel area and relieve stress in the DFT and navicular bone. Trying to make him comfortable and see if he will land heel first after awhile with the wedge. I will still recommend that she has a vet check him out, but what to you think of what I am currently doing?
Thanks
Phil