I’ve purchased a rising four year old. They passed a pre purchase exam, however tad been noticed that they plait quite badly in front in walk, and also a bit in trot. Their feet aren’t wonderful and could do with a trim, but this was all that was picked up on the vetting. Is this likely to improve with correct shoeing/muscle? Intending on doing mainly dressage
I had a mare who started plaitting. She had a bruise on her girth. Check to see if the plaitting is there without a saddle on.
They do it without a saddle on too.
My trainer had a horse that raced, then evented through Intermediate who did it. I would not count on it going away. Otoh it never really bothered him I guess.
All things being equal, the horse is sound. It is what it is. It’s the way the horse walks, uses himself.
It is and isn’t a conformation fault. I don’t know of and I doubt there is any kind of “corrective shoeing”, conditioning etc that will change the horse’s natural way of “walking”.
I’ve seen ones that were total “tight rope” walkers but didn’t seem to exhibit at a trot or canter. Depends on the horse I suppose.
As he is not yet four, I may guess that with proper muscling he will widen up through the chest. Is he otherwise well muscled? My concern is he may clip himself and need boots to protect him.
There is a horse in our barn that from the side is magnificent - from the front very narrow. Wins all the ribbons tho.
They are quite weedy allround really. I’m hoping that they will get a bit chunkier, but I don’t think they are going to be a tank! Could bodily tension and a new way of working from being broken be a contributing factor? The vet made no comment and I would have thought if it had been that obvious they would have said something?
Sport does this. He always works in a boot or wrap to protect his ankles if he brushes. I discussed it with his farrier. He watched him work and felt it was just the way he went. If he tried to do anything with his feet he felt it would cause issues elsewhere as then something else would be out of its natural position.
He is a hunter, so may not apply to dressage, but it has never impacted his scores even in the under saddle classes.
My 20 year old, still competing, jumper rope walks in front at the walk and trot. Hasn’t ever caused any other issues for him–no tripping, jumps clean and well. Sound as a button!
I used to board a horse that would do this on occasion. We had the vet out to look, but never really found a cause. I assumed a minor hoof soreness was the culprit based on the pattern of the issue, but it was never confirmed, and was just a gut feeling.
