Diagrams 2 & 3
When making the assessment , apart from taking into account its age , one must also consider many important factors : 1 ) Foals almost never stand up symmetrically ; neither do they keep still , so that a “ photo ” is not enough . One must observe it until you are certain that it has been truly evaluated . Limb by limb ; taking all the time it may require to do it right . 2 ) The ground where they are is never ideal for line assessment . 3 ) The state of the foal ’ s hoof . Because if it has been pared “ naturally ”, this is a problem to consider ; if it is long ; if a piece of the hoof wall has broken off which makes it look “ crooked ”, and not because of the bone shaft itself , etc . 4 ) If only one defect appears in the limb or if it has several . To the unaware observer , one defect could hide another .
5 ) The growth history is a factor that indicates that a foal raised in the open field must not be evaluated in the same way that one that has lived for weeks in a pen : their growth is different as is its potential for correction .
Growth Control is Key As they grow , progressive change is due to the “ growth process ”. Bones grow in length at certain specific places known as “ growth plates ”, and the soft tissue ( muscles , tendons ligaments , etc ) increase their volume and strength as the foal grows . This is a dynamic , changing process which responds to two groups of factors which are : the environment ( feed ; production of milk ; “ bolting ” dam ; size of field where they live , etc .) and the foal ( growth rate ; weight increase ; body structure ; genetics , etc .). The growth plates are extremely sen-
274