Pigeon Toed Horses Information

Anything other than ideal conformation in horses has the potential to adversely affect movement, soundness, performance quality and its overall health. One significant variation of a horses incorrect foot conformation is called "pigeon-toed," which is when the front toes point inward. Although many variables affect the correct movement of horses, limb conformation is a significant contributing factor. Owners of pigeon-toed horses must ensure that the condition doesn't lead to lameness issues.

  1. Pigeon-Toed Movement

    • Horses that are pigeon-toed stand and move crooked, meaning they have gait fault issues. Pigeon-toed horses move forward in wide, outward arcs, called "winging" or "paddling." It is a deviation in the horse's outward movement as the feet move forward. Paddling is most noticeable in high-going horses.

    Soundness and Genetics

    • Pigeon-toed horses are predisposed to soundness and lameness issues. It's common for them to trip and stumble when moving. But most importantly, they are predisposed to collateral ligament lesions, ringbone and coffin joint disease. According to Melvin Bradley of the University of Missouri's Department of Animals Sciences, some issues of physical defects can be a direct result of an incorrect diet or injury, however; in most cases, they are due to having a genetic predisposition.

    Trimming for Correction

    • If the horse's feet are kept long, the risk of lameness increases. A pigeon-toed horse's feet grow in the same way they move. They grow long on the inside and short on the outside. Ensure both toe lengths are the same and that the foot is as symmetrical as possible without compromising the integrity of the hoof wall. That will alleviate the horse's break-over and enable it to move forward without tripping. Since pigeon-toed horses typically wear down the outside hoof wall, which makes them even more pigeon-toed, the hooves should be trimmed flat and even. Pigeon-toed horses should be kept shod, especially if wear on the hoof wall is significant.

    Begin with Foals

    • By the time foals reach one year of age, any changes made to their joints are limited. By the time they reach two years of age, it's too late to straighten deformed legs. All foals are born crooked. Before birth, they are wrapped up in a ball, and movement after birth is imperative for proper development. Do not confine foals to stalls unless directed by a veterinarian. Birth defects happen, but they are rare. More commonly, foals do not receive the proper nutrition or exercise, which distorts the hoof's balance, their joints, ligaments and tendons. Consequently, muscles grow and form disproportionately and the hooves grow crooked. Eventually they mature and the condition becomes permanent.

    Diet

    • Although the majority of pigeon-toed horses are genetically predisposed to the condition, ensuring that the mare and foal receive the proper diet and balance of essential minerals is vital. Too many carbohydrates and excess amounts of calcium can be more harmful than not enough. Excess calcium can deplete phosphorus levels, causing the body to take what it needs from the horse's bones. That leads to bone loss in mature horses and angular deformities in foals.