Laterally base narrow in front in piaffe?

[sascha]

My mare is narrow in front. She was so narrow in front when I got her that it was a squeeze to put the width of a hand between her front legs at her chest. That has improved a ton with muscling. However, it seems that it’s back to haunt us in the piaffe work where she beats the crap out of her bandages/boots by almost landing her front feet in the same spot. If we were moving forward in a working or collected trot and she was doing it, you’d say she was plaiting or walking a line.

In terms of what is going on behind - it is all good, she is happy to carry a ton of weight, has plenty of sit, and is very active.

A bit of history - last winter she had an injury which led to a founder. Before the founder we were just starting the piaffe under saddle and I don’t recall ever doing it facing a mirror so I can’t say for sure that she wasn’t “plaiting” then. However, I don’t think she was suddenly beating up boots and bandages either, so maybe she wasn’t. She is super comfortable now in her ugly feet and has been brought back slowly and very carefully. That said, we still have about 2-3 trims to go before all the ugly is grown out and looking at her feet won’t bring pangs of guilt and shame.

My first thought is I need to have my farrier take a look at her moving and piaffing to see if there is a slight balance issue due to growing out the rotten parts of her feet. Second thought (duh, after I noticed that she was beating up her boots and took a look head on in the mirrors) was to back off on the number of steps and to also allow more forward motion in those few steps. That will save her from beating up her boots and bandages and from getting frustrated, but it’s not a long term solution.

Has anybody else had this type of issue or have any suggestion, ideas, etc.? She always throws a wrench in the works and keeps me humble. To look at her, with her wide arse and her initial tendency to go wide behind before she got strong, I thought I’d have hind end troubles in the piaffe, or that she’d pedestal or something, not give me front leg nonsense while being picture perfect behind. lol

[alibi_18]

@sascha

My mare is narrow in front. She was so narrow in front when I got her that it was a squeeze to put the width of a hand between her front legs at her chest. That has improved a ton with muscling. However, it seems that it’s back to haunt us in the piaffe work where she beats the crap out of her bandages/boots by almost landing her front feet in the same spot. If we were moving forward in a working or collected trot and she was doing it, you’d say she was plaiting or walking a line.

Muscling will still help, and when the work won’t be as new, she’ll know where to put her feet.

But, since she is narrow, it could be her own personal way of piaffing.

A bit of history - last winter she had an injury which led to a founder. Before the founder we were just starting the piaffe under saddle (…) That said, we still have about 2-3 trims to go before all the ugly is grown out and looking at her feet won’t bring pangs of guilt and shame.

What do you mean « the ugly »?!

It’s been a year, shouldn’t the shape of her hooves be back to « normal » since then? What does your vet says about this?

Was there rotation? If so, it might have affect her way of moving.

My first thought is I need to have my farrier take a look at her moving and piaffing to see if there is a slight balance issue due to growing out the rotten parts of her feet.

You need to have you vet look at it. From riding and from X-rays. Then adjust trimming and shoeing job.

She might need more support on the either side.

Second thought (duh, after I noticed that she was beating up her boots and took a look head on in the mirrors) was to back off on the number of steps and to also allow more forward motion in those few steps. That will save her from beating up her boots and bandages and from getting frustrated, but it’s not a long term solution.

You are starting back training something your mare was new to, obviously you need to take it slowly and quietly.

Which mean a few half steps and forward.
Piaffe on the spot will come way, way later.
Like way later. And a few steps at a time, with forward motion as well. Realized you are allowed forward steps up to 1 meter in GP. Are you ready for GP? I doubt it.

Piaffe needs strength. Not just from behind. Take your time to muscling your mare properly.

Has anybody else had this type of issue or have any suggestion, ideas, etc.? She always throws a wrench in the works and keeps me humble. To look at her, with her wide arse and her initial tendency to go wide behind before she got strong, I thought I’d have hind end troubles in the piaffe, or that she’d pedestal or something, not give me front leg nonsense while being picture perfect behind. lol

I’m not sure what you mean by that, but make sure you aren’t asking to much. Your horse must enjoy her work.

Lot’s of anxiety makes their legs goes all over the place.
I would see my mares hooves on each sides… So quiet, quiet, quiet.
If she isn’t ready to stay on the spot, as I believe she isn’t, then half steps forward. There really is no rush.

If your mare is sitting too much and getting too high,
in front, lower her neck and make her reach forward in a more « level » balance position. You don’t want the « climbing » effect. This can cause legs to interfere.

On the rail, adopt a clear shoulder fore. It will force her to « open » in front and might prevent the legs from knocking together.

Piaffe 2 steps and out followed by a leg yield or a half pass. She’ll need to balance herself properly.

Have a vet check.

[sascha]

@alibi_18

Muscling will still help, and when the work won’t be as new, she’ll know where to put her feet.

But, since she is narrow, it could be her own personal way of piaffing.

What do you mean « the ugly »?!

It’s been a year, shouldn’t the shape of her hooves be back to « normal » since then? What does your vet says about this?

Was there rotation? If so, it might have affect her way of moving.

You need to have you vet look at it. From riding and from X-rays. Then adjust trimming and shoeing job.

She might need more support on the either side.

You are starting back training something your mare was new to, obviously you need to take it slowly and quietly.

Which mean a few half steps and forward.
Piaffe on the spot will come way, way later.
Like way later. And a few steps at a time, with forward motion as well. Realized you are allowed forward steps up to 1 meter in GP. Are you ready for GP? I doubt it.

Piaffe needs strength. Not just from behind. Take your time to muscling your mare properly.

I’m not sure what you mean by that, but make sure you aren’t asking to much. Your horse must enjoy her work.

Lot’s of anxiety makes their legs goes all over the place.
I would see my mares hooves on each sides… So quiet, quiet, quiet.
If she isn’t ready to stay on the spot, as I believe she isn’t, then half steps forward. There really is no rush.

If your mare is sitting too much and getting too high,
in front, lower her neck and make her reach forward in a more « level » balance position. You don’t want the « climbing » effect. This can cause legs to interfere.

On the rail, adopt a clear shoulder fore. It will force her to « open » in front and might prevent the legs from knocking together.

Piaffe 2 steps and out followed by a leg yield or a half pass. She’ll need to balance herself properly.

Have a vet check.

Thanks for the shoulder-fore reminder!

Her feet have not yet had a year to grow out. She foundered late winter. It is now only early autumn. Even another 3 trims/resets will not have us back to one year from her founder date, so she is doing well and has been brought back slowly and appropriately for her both her body and her brain.

[CanteringCarrot]

Do you have hoof x-rays from her founder?

[sascha]

@CanteringCarrot

Do you have hoof x-rays from her founder?

Yes. Rotation was minimal. She is back on track in regards to the internal structure of her feet.

[CanteringCarrot]

@sascha

Yes. Rotation was minimal. She is back on track in regards to the internal structure of her feet.

Ah, okay. That is good. I agree with what Alibi said as well. I did have a gelding that was coming down quite narrow and would hit himself/his boots. Months later and it wasn’t an issue due to a proper job done by a farrier that addressed his hoof angles.

Perhaps see if you could get someone to video the horse at all gaits in a variety of movements from the front and side (or all angles) then take a look. Sometimes I watch something in a video and suddenly it becomes quite clear as to what is going on. Whether it’s balance, strength, pace, or proper set up.

[sascha]

@CanteringCarrot

Ah, okay. That is good. I agree with what Alibi said as well. I did have a gelding that was coming down quite narrow and would hit himself/his boots. Months later and it wasn’t an issue due to a proper job done by a farrier that addressed his hoof angles.

Perhaps see if you could get someone to video the horse at all gaits in a variety of movements from the front and side (or all angles) then take a look. Sometimes I watch something in a video and suddenly it becomes quite clear as to what is going on. Whether it’s balance, strength, pace, or proper set up.

I am planning to send video to farrier before next visit and have sent a message to him asking if he also wants to see her go under saddle in person. If he is stumped, her vets (yes, plural, sigh) will also get the videos.

It’s quite comforting to know someone else has had a similar problem. Thank you!

[sascha]

An update for anyone interested. Farrier came out mid-cycle to re-set her in front. That made a slight improvement. Tiny further adjustments were made on regularly scheduled visit and we’re getting somewhere. Oh, for that last bit of damaged foot to finish growing out. Basically, it is a mechanical unsoundness due to the way the last of the damage is growing out, and correction has to be made in increments as there is sufficient foot to work with.