How To Tell If Your Horse is at Risk for Lameness

Most horses are at risk of lameness. Here's how to recognize one of the risks.

Pigeon toed horses are very common. It's estimated that approximately 98% of all horses are afflicted with the condition. Until this condition is fixed or corrected the horse will remain at risk of lameness and possibly permanent lameness.

The first step to understanding the problem is recognizing it, which can be tricky. Even if the horse's feet point straight ahead (as textbooks will imply is perfect conformation), the horse can still be pigeon toed. In fact the statistic still holds true that nearly 98% of horses are pigeon toed. Here's how to tell if your horse is suffering from the condition.

1. Stand directly in front of your horse about 4 feet away. Make sure to tie your horse so you can have a good look at things.
2. Visually scan up and down the front legs of your horse. Start above the knee somewhat and follow the legs down, noticing everything. Look at how the knees point especially and which way the feet point as well.
3. Focus on the direction the horse's knees are pointing. In 98% of cases the knees will be pointing outward and not straight ahead. Now you've established point number one. Take that into consideration and remember clearly how the knees point - focus all your attention on both knees annd where they point. Don't forget.
4. Holding the visual memory of where the knees point, quickly glance to the horse's feet. Now look back to the knees, remembering how the knees point. Now glance back down to the feet noticing where the feet point in relation to the knees. Now glance back up to the knees and back down to the feet again, looking back and forth until you establish the clear connection between where the knees point and how the feet point in comparison to the knees. You'll most likely notice the feet and the knees do not point in the same direction.

   You've just discovered your horse is at risk of lameness. Sometimes permanent lameness can result from the above condition. Remember, even if your horse's feet are pointing straight ahead, he can still be pigeon toed if his knees do not line up with his feet.

   Your horse's feet will break over in the direction that the knees point - "Period". Wherever the knees point is where the foot will break over. You can verify this fact by looking at the wear pattern on the shoes - you'll see a diagonal wear pattern exactly where the knees point irregardless of where the foot points. The knee dictates where the foot breaks over.

5. Learn how to correct this problem. Be aware that the textbook methods and the methods taught in the Farrier schools are outdated - do not work - and will absolutely cause lameness. Do not practice forcing foot rotation by shortening one side of the foot over the other (as taught conventionally).