blackeyes
09-13-2005, 03:41 PM
I'm new to this; please forgive me if these questions have been previously asked. About two months ago I bought a 2 and a half-year-old paint gelding. He had been owned by a person who didn't bother to feed him, and to avoid having him and his pasture mates taken, ultimately sent them all to the auction yards. When I picked him up he was horribly malnourished, and his hooves had been cut down to nothing. My farrier initially told me that it looked as though someone had taken a hacksaw to them, and that would need to grow out before anything could be done for him. Since then he has filled out wonderfully, however as he recovers his front feet seem to be becoming more and more pigeon toed. I've looked into his bloodlines and have been fortunate enough to find his sire, dam, and full sister all of which have straight legs. Is it possible that the malnutrition has caused his now being pigeon toed? Since he's been getting fed he's been growing rather quickly, in the last month he has grown three inches, but is still a whole hand smaller than his sire and dam. If he continues growing will his legs get worse? Is there anything that can be done to either correct this or stop it from getting worse? Will this limit what he can do as a horse? You cannot tell he's pigeon toed when he moves. He does not paddle. I'm going to try to attach a few photos of his legs and hooves. They were taken less that a week after we were finally able to trim him. I would greatly appreciate any insight on this subject. I've never dealt with this issue, but feel as though this horse has been through enough. If there's anything I could do for him I would like to be able to.