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one leg shorter

3K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  drafts4ever 
#1 ·
So I was watching one of my students walk Sampson up and down the driveway for me because he looked a little off trotting up to the gate the other day and felt a little off when I jumped on him bareback for a quick walk trot around the arena. After watching him both ways from both directions she squared him up for me and I noticed his left front is a tad shorter than his right front. He's even in the back from what I could tell.
My trainer said her standardbred has the same issue only her right is shorter and they have a raised shoe on that leg? She and I both think it's from his feet being bad and his tendons possibly compensating in that leg. Since I don't know how long his feet were like that before we fixed them I'm going to guess it's going to be irreversible even with loads of stretching and massage. He gets chiro work done every 3 months when my big girl gets done so maybe I should up that if he's uneven?

So from my observations and personal experience riding him. He's slightly uneven going around corners where his leading leg is his left front. He gets along fine out in the pasture and doesn't appear to be in any sort of pain or discomfort.

So my question. Since I'm not planning on showing him in any important shows other than silly little play days, would it be worth it to put a raised show to even him out even though it doesn't seem to be effecting him at all? Would it have any ill effects in the long run if I didn't do a raised shoe?
 
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#3 ·
I would wait until the next farrier visit or give your vet a call before disregarding it. I'd be worried that ignoring it may end up causing more problems down the road. Of course, it may not. Most people don't have even legs. =P I'd just want to make sure. Sorry I'm not much help, lol.
 
#4 ·
Well so far the vet and the massage therapist have both said it rarely causes lameness issues in the long run but they didn't address if it would benefit him to have a special shoes for that leg either. I'll ask my farrier or the vet next time whoever shows up first. I know here's an appointment on the 11th and one on the 14th of August but I forget which day is which one.
 
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