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Club Feet

Articles ( = TheHorse.com members only )	Date Posted
Study Shows Uneven Feet in Sport Horses is Related to Other Conformation Traits A research team from The Netherlands analyzed the conformation, genetic, and performance records of 44,840 Dutch Warmbloods competing at the top levels of dressage and show jumping to determine if uneven feet (one forefoot that is differently shaped than the other) affect a horse's performance career, and if this trait is related to other conformation ... Read full story	5/29/2009
Inside the Club Foot Most horses have mismatched feet--is yours one of them? A large majority of horses, regardless of breed, have a high-low foot syndrome where one front foot has a higher angle and different shape than the other. A close look at the characteristics of the high foot qualifies it as a club foot. Club feet are not all born equal. Most are mild grades ... Read full story	5/1/2008
Upright Foals Q: A friend of mine has a new stallion, and his first crop of foals was just born. When they were born, all seemed fine. As they have been brought in to be weaned, we have started to notice that the foals all have the worst-shaped feet we have ever seen. They are all walking on their tiptoes, and their feet are very upright. One foal has been put down, ... Read full story	3/1/2007
Book Excerpt: Club Foot Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Breeder's Guide to Mare, Foal, and Stallion Care by Christine Schweizer, DVM; Christina Cable, DVM; E.L. Squires, PhD. This book is available from www.ExclusivelyEquine.com. Acquired flexural deformity of the coffin joint is often referred to as "club foot." The foot's appearance can vary from dished with ... Read full story	8/2/2006
Managing Hoof Problems in Horses Just about every horse out there has what we might call a hoof problem on at least one of his four feet. It might be a simple mismatch that might not really be a problem, or it might be much more serious. In any case, hoof problems, regardless of scope, need to be managed properly to maximize the horse's soundness, comfort, and usefulness to you. The ... Read full story	6/1/2004
Cutting-Edge Hoof Education Described by host Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky., as "probably the most harmonious learning event in the world," the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium held annually in Louisville, Ky., is a mecca for farriers and veterinarians interested in expanding their knowledge of the pathological equine foot. ... Read full story	5/1/2003
Club Foot Experience: Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium The first presentation on the agenda of the 16th annual Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, held January 16-18 in Louisville, Ky., was a discussion of the club foot--a problem seen in all places and breeds. While probably all of those present had seen and worked on affected horses before, they were all interested in improving their understanding and treatment ... Read full story	3/5/2003
AAEP 2002 Podiatry Forum “The horse’s foot is so integral to most of what we do in equine practice,” said moderator Gayle Trotter, DVM, MS, professor in clinical sciences at Colorado State University, in the Podiatry forum on Dec. 12 at the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in Orlando, Fla. Topics discussed included the role of imaging in equine podiatry, ... Read full story	12/11/2002
Club Feet in Adult Horses Some women love high heels. Walking in them might take some getting used to, but they provide the perfect look for big-city club-hopping or schmoozing at the latest gallery opening. They're not so great, though, for jogging or other sports. A horse with a club foot is kind of like a horse in high heels: The hoof angle becomes raised and the horse walks ... Read full story	9/1/2002
Which Foot to Pad? Q. I just read your June “Ask the Vet” article about muscle toning and development (article #2775). It describes my horse exactly! Her left shoulder is more developed, and the right shoulder is farther forward and flat. Her left foot has a low heel and the right is slightly clubbed. Because of this, she has a hard time moving to the right, especially ... Read full story	12/1/2001
The Club Foot Q: After seeing the conformation of several weanlings at a sale recently, I noticed that my weanling had a strange-looking foot. On closer examination of his leg, his foot seemed a bit boxy. Will I still be able to sell him at the sales next year, and will he be able to perform as an athlete? My veterinarian said it sounds like he has a club foot. ... Read full story	6/1/2001
Club Foot Concerns Club feet might be one of the most common growth problems in young horses. Affecting youngsters primarily between birth and 6 months of age, the club foot actually is a flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint (coffin joint) caused by a shortening of the musculotendinous unit of the deep digital flexor tendon. As a result, the hoof capsule ... Read full story	4/1/2001
Club Feet in Horses A foal born with club feet or a young, growing horse which develops the condition can be both a mystery and a problem for the owner and the veterinarian in charge of treatment. The condition can be mysterious because many factors might be involved in its onset. It is a serious problem because unless the mystery of origin is at least partially solved, ... Read full story	6/1/1998
DOD: Developmental Orthopedic Disorders Ask six veterinarians what causes developmental orthopedic disorders in foals and you might get six different answers. According to Tina Kemper, DVM, there could very well be six causes, and possibly more. Kemper specializes in equine internal medicine and recently shared her knowledge, research, and experiences during the bi-annual meeting of the ... Read full story	9/1/1996