Limb deformities

[HorseKrazy]

I don’t want to highjack deltawave’s thread about her foal, but I have some questions about limb deformities. Mostly what I have seen have been ‘down in the pasterns’ (laxicity?) ‘over at the knee’ and ‘knock knees’ I realize there are other more subtle deformities. As a breeder, how do you know what the foal will grow out of, versus what needs intervention? Are there varying degrees of deformities that you are ‘comfortable’ with? How often do you see hind limb deformities? If the vet has been out and didn’t see anything of note/concern would you be less concerned?

my colt is two weeks old tomorrow and he is slightly cow hocked. In your experience, is this something they can grow out of? I have tried to research this, but I only found vague mentions of this issue, most of what I found said that this was from tall foals trying to nurse and they grew out of it. Has this been anyone else’s experience? I’ll edit this post to add photos

[IrishHunter]

I am definitely not a breeder, just bought my first baby (a 2 month old) back in July. She did have cow hocks (bad enough that her hocks were touching when you tried to stand her square) as well as having her hind legs a bit contracted at one point. She is now a year old and is not cow hocked anymore. We did nothing really special for it besides her routine farrier work and we did give her Progressive Rejuvenaide for the contracted tendons but it probably helped with the hocks too?

[siegi_b]

HorseKrazy - your foal looks perfectly normal for his age. Quit worrying and enjoy him!

[Libera]

Their hocks always look like that, it’s normal! As they get wider and grow, they get straighter

[ewells]

I agree his hocks look normal for his age. He’s a Cuty!!

[HorseKrazy]

Thanks, sorry I’m a first timer… I kinda figured he would grow and widen out of it, but I wanted to check! Ummm what about interference when he walks? He bonks his hocks together. Normal too?

On a side note, he sure is a mouthy lil sucker! I’m doing my best right now to not be a chew toy, but I swear he is fearless and walks right up to me with his mouth aimed at me first! I don’t pet his nose. I tell my husband not to pet his nose, or let the colt put his mouth anywhere on him-it’s NOT CUTE! He doesn’t come at me with any type of aggressive posturing but, it’s like he wants to play-and I AM NOT HIS TOY! How long does this phase last? Lol, he’s such a pistol!

[khall]

I have two that are mouthy suckers as well, it is in their bloodlines, full siblings and they have yet to out grow chewing on things! Lead ropes especially.

As for hind limb deformities I have seen windswept hind legs in a foal, farrier put on glue on shoes and filly straightened up just fine. I have seen glue on shoes work wonders for correcting angular limb deformities in foals. (I was an equine vet tech at a breeding facility) and have used glue ons when one of my personal foals showed signs of developing a club foot from her grazing stance. I have a feeling that with my this years foal I will be revisiting glue ons as well. Long legged foal and has split legged grazing stance already.

[ise]

I agree with fellow long time breeders who commented on here. He’s fine - let him alone and stop worrying!! As far as being mouthy - that is also normal. If they go too far I just pinch their lip.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Looks normal…when you geld him, that will help with the mouthiness to a point. But my current 2 year still hasn’t gotten the memo.

[Kyzteke]

Like others have said he looks normal to me. And if he is going to be cow-hocked, there really isn’t much you can do about it.

Colts tend to more mouthy that fillies IME. That being said, like most baby creatures, foals are using their mouth to “explore” their new world. Different trainers have different ideas about how to react: some say they slap them or bust them really bad if they even OPEN their mouths at a person.

Over the years I’ve gotten more relaxed about it…they are allowed to nuzzle and mouth…just no teeth. With babies I’ll rub their gums and play with their lips or rub the flat of my hand up & down their lips/gums.

To me it’s all about limits…not absolutes. I have (grown) horses that I’ve raised from babies and some lick like dogs :eek: or will grab the hood of my coat or hoodie and sort of pull.

Afew will “groom” me if I scratch them…gently nibbling me while I scratch them…just like horses in a field.

If the movement is aggressive w/teeth towards a vulnerable body part they get corrected…otherwise it’s ok by me.

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

His back legs look fine but just make sure the farrier is trimming them regularly so the don’t grow uneven and he should straighten up just fine.

As far as the nibbing I don’t smack (unless they truly did try to bite!) but I just gently push their nose/mouth away until they get the hint. Then I find they “groom” their mom while I scratch them or the air and they learn pretty quick I don’t want their nose on me unless invited.

[rodawn]

With colts, I’m the same as Cindy. When they’re nosing about, nibbling… I just control their head by putting my hand under their jaw. If you never present an opportunity to be nibbled, it is something that they soon understand that you are not a chew toy.

Now if they really became a smart alec and attempted to take a chunk off your arm, then yes, I show them in no uncertain terms any good mare’s reaction would be to being bitten. This is usually something they only need to experience once. I think I have only needed to do that once in… hmmmm… 10 or 15 years of foals?? My foals, colts or fillies, just do not chew on me. But then again, I never present myself as a potential play buddy. I’m always in a position of authority/leadership, actually. I’m friendly, but not playful. There is a difference.

I don’t play with the foals. When I’m touching their head, I’m there for a reason (grooming) and the other hand is firmly attached under the jaw to control roving lips. As a foal is a blank slate when it comes to social skills, it takes time, trial and error, for them to figure out what “my space” is all about.

[HorseKrazy]

Yes, I am definitely not playing with him, or encouraging the nosiness. He tested his boundaries early on in the mouthy department and got a quick lesson-I don’t think he will forget. All business When I handle him, it’s to stroke his ears and neck and handle his body and legs, I try and be comforting and business like at the same time, if that makes sense. He has not really treid to chew on me in the last few days, so I think it was just a phase of his development.