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- Path: sparky!uunet!munnari.oz.au!bruce.cs.monash.edu.au!monu6!vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au!china
- From: china@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au
- Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
- Subject: Re: paddling
- Message-ID: <1993Jan22.123556.91057@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>
- Date: 22 Jan 93 12:35:56 +1100
- References: <1jl55sINN2vc@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
- Distribution: world
- Organization: Computer Centre, Monash University, Australia
- Lines: 33
-
- In article <1jl55sINN2vc@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>, cindyp@wilkins.iaims.bcm.tmc.edu (Cindy Petermann) writes:
- >
- > I'm a beginner looking at a 10 yr old mare to buy for hunter/jumper.
- > She paddles with her left front leg.
- >
- > Should I be concerned about this?
- >
- > Any info/comments appreciated!
-
- > Cindy
-
- paddling itself is usually not a problem, provided the horse does not
- knock itslf on the inswing. However, the paddling may indicate a problem
- with the back or left shoulder. A horse may paddle for several reasons such
- as unbalanced in front, uncoordinated (these horses are prone to stumbling
- too), discomfort in the shoulder and/or back etc. Most horses will paddle when
- trotting down a steep hill because there is less jolt than when they throw
- their leg straight out. Paddling can generally be cured as long as it isn't
- due to a conformation fault. One of my horses has always paddled because when
- he was younger I never gave him the exercises to overcome it. Therefore, he
- keeps doing it because it feels most comfortable to him. It has never been a
- problem to him and he was an A-grade showjumper. IMHO, paddling would not
- stop me buying a horse except under the following conditions:
- 1. it was due to poor conformation
- 2. a vet or chiropracter suggested it was due to a recurring problem with its
- back or shoulder etc.
- 3. the horse knocked its other leg
- 4. I wanted to do competitive dressage with the horse.
-
- Good luck
-
- - Ross
-
-