Can being pigeon toed affect a horse?
Pigeon toe is considered an undesirable conformation. This conformation and way of going loads the lower joints of the limb in a very uneven way. Depending on severity and use of the horse it may increase the likelihood of arthritis and ligament injury of the lower joints.
Is pigeon toed in horses genetic?
Nope, its genetic!
How do you treat pigeon-toed horses?
Recommendations for adjusting the pastern alignment consist of removing toe and/or leaving heel. For base narrow or pigeon toed horses, specific instructions call for trimming more from the medial toe and leaving more on the lateral heel.
What kind of problems do pigeon toed horses have?
Horses that are pigeon-toed and/or base narrow are frequently seen to have lameness and gait fault issues. Ring bone, coffin joint disease, and collateral ligament lesions, as well as tripping and stumbling are common with these horses.
When to take a pigeon toed horse to the vet?
Horses with severe pigeon toe may not be suitable for performance use. For foals under 3 months of age, involve your vet immediately. Work with your vet and farrier to shoe or trim hooves to minimize consequences of this conformation. Your vet can help evaluate a horse that is pigeon toed and provide you with your treatment options.
Why are my toes pigeon toed in this picture?
The inside toes have been lowered to initiate the correction. As a result, the hairlines are sloping down on the insides (medial side). The thick wall on the left side of the picture on the left (before), is the primary factor causing the pigeon-toed stance.
Can a lame horse be a pigeon toed horse?
A survey of 20 skilled farriers who commonly treat lame horses have reported that horses that that are base narrow or pigeon-toed suffer from what is becoming branded by them as a predictable lameness. The following is a general list of evaluations gathered on lame base narrow or pigeon-toed horses.
