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Express Heir,
aka “Harley” is a Saddlebred show gelding that we bought for
our daughter Laura to show Saddleseat on the Pacific
Northwest Saddlebred “A” circuit. |
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Harley has
negative plane P3 on both hinds. This has resulted in
tension on the deep digital flexor tendons, which transfers
to sore hocks, stifles, hips and back. He was landing toe
first on both hinds.
Conformationally, Harley is already at odds, being
post-legged behind, that is, little to no angle of the
stifle and hock, with long low pasterns. This has
already pre-disposed him to suspensory injuries and
issues, and will no doubt continue to present challenges
in his health and level of soundness.
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Harley was an angry horse when he first came to live with
us, with an unwillingness to work and a sour attitude,
probably due to pain.
We have seen a number of Saddlebreds with negative plane
hinds and the resulting suspensory and DDFT issues, which
may be due to breeding for a perceived desirable way of
going. It doesn’t have to be that way.
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We have used
these same Natural Balance principles to help our Saddlebred
achieve a heel first landing, easing the strain over the
hocks, hips and top line, and while Harley still grows to a
negative plane, we can manage this condition by being
diligent about minimizing the distortion of the toe, and
supporting the back of the foot.
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single shoe with a clip
Clipped shoe and the Natural Balance Shoe side by side.
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When he is not
performing, Harley is shod in reverse shoes, on his hind
feet, set back to achieve appropriate breakover. On his
fronts, he wears a steel Natural Balance shoe while in
training. During show season, we hand forge a flat show
shoe with breakover built way back into the toe, much like
a steel Natural Balance shoe, only more so.
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In this
Radiograph, you can easily see that Harley’s breakover is set
appropriately near the distal boarder of P3. |
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Natural Balance science works well when applied to gaited
horses, as it frees up forward movement, which is what these
breeds are all about. You can see that Harley’s knees break
level, even when shod in a flat shoe. |
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Harley and
Laura have just finished a very successful year, claiming
Highpoint in Saddleseat Equitation, and Reserve Highpoint in
Country Pleasure and Reserve Highpoint in the Overall, on the
Saddlebred A Circuit. This coming year (2006), she has bumped
him up to the Show Pleasure Division.
When Harley is not in the show ring, he and my wife Karen
have developed a partnership learning to work cows.
Surprisingly this is an activity that Harley has really
come to enjoy.
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Harley has also
benefited from regular chiropractic visits by Dr. Mark
DePaolo. This combination of chiropractic and appropriate
shoeing using Natural Balance farrier science, has eased the
strain on the deep digital flexor tendon, freeing up his
hocks and stifles, reducing pain along his topline, and has
not only made a huge difference in Harley’s way of going, but
also in his attitude.
We should note that Natural Balance farrier science can not
“cure”, negative plane hinds, post-leggedness, or an
at-risk suspensory apparatus, but it can help the horse be
as good as he can be, given the conformational challenges.
Natural Balance
farrier science is just good, sound, horseshoeing, even in
the aristocracy of the horse show world of the American
Saddlebred. |
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