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pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:26 am
by Anne
The below photos are of a 2 yr old trakehner cross colt. Please share your opinion on whether his pasterns are too long? Stills from video of his canter seem to show a large (too much?) amount of flexion - is this normal or abnormal? It may be relevant to note that his feet have *never* been trimmed (yeah, I know, not good), and they appear fairly long. I've not been able to look at them closely as he is unhandled.

Any comments on general conformation also welcome. I'm looking at him as a dressage and general riding horse, maybe some low level jumping. I have more pics, but only seem to be allowed to attach three. Will try a few more in next post.

theodore-4-pasterns.jpg
theodore-4-pasterns.jpg (188.96 KiB) Viewed 7620 times


t-canter-pastern1.png
t-canter-pastern1.png (231.45 KiB) Viewed 7620 times


t-canter-pastern2.png
t-canter-pastern2.png (245.64 KiB) Viewed 7620 times

Re: pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:33 am
by Anne
And some more photos:
t-canter-pastern3.png
t-canter-pastern3.png (221.41 KiB) Viewed 7619 times

theodore-1-front-small.jpg
theodore-1-front-small.jpg (182.47 KiB) Viewed 7619 times

theodore-conf-sml.png
theodore-conf-sml.png (206.35 KiB) Viewed 7619 times

Re: pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 7:11 am
by Kyra's Mom
They do appear to be on the long-ish side. Looks like he could use some consistent hoof trimming which may alter angles a bit. His feet look long. I would x-ray for sure to look at joint alignment--fetlock-->pastern-->coffin bone.

He looks well balanced. His under neck is a bit heavy and ties in to the chest kind of low but he appears pretty level. In a 2 y.o. WB, I am not sure if that is good or bad? The one WB I bought as a 2 y.o. did not turn out well. She looked pretty balance and compact as a 2 y.o. but she never got a lot taller...just longer. I affectionately called her my weiner horse :).

Susan

Re: pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 2:36 pm
by Ponichiwa
The hinds in particular would worry me. I've seen that type of conformation ultimately cause too much stress to the hind suspensories and then you're in a cycle of constant rehab (if he's got the wrong disposition for stall rest and hand walking).

Re: pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:58 pm
by Chisamba
I would worry about how much they flex in canter.

Re: pasterns - normal or too long?

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:34 am
by Anne
Thanks for your comments S, P and C. Yes, his hooves are awful. Never been trimmed, which makes me worry, like you suggest Susan, about the bony alignment within.