sitive to any changes in these forces which regulate them , and the changes occur very quickly . For example : a correct foal , whose hooves are long as a result of “ natural ” paring and which , for some reason , gets a portion of the hoof wall broken , turns from being a correct foal to a bandy legged one in only 10 to 15 days .
Active Growth Plate Every bone of the body grows up to a point in which the growth plate stops working . That is the time in which it is important to work on alignment , since many of the treatments focus on “ guiding ” the growth plate in the direction in which the vet wishes it to go ( bandages ; plaster ; splints ; surgery , etc .). For this reason it is important that it be active when treating alignment defects , and that is closely linked to age . In daily veterinary practice , consultations regarding alignment problems are very usual , together with the wish to correct them when the horse is two years old . Particularly in cases of bowleggedness , because it is the moment in
which it is observed with greater clarity . My answer is always the same : “ You are only a year and ten months too late with your consultation ”. In short : there is nothing to be done once the growth phase has ended ; when the plate has closed its cycle . Each specific defect has a time in which it appears ; a specific moment in which it may be resolved and its emergency ( or not ) for treatment . Not taking this into account leads to defects that were easily treatable becoming fixed in adult life ; during break-in , training or competitions , as well as the occurrence of disabling injuries a few weeks after or later on .
Classification of Defects Defects observed from the side ( known as “ flexural alignment deviations ”) occur mainly at birth and must be resolved during the first weeks ( Figures 3 to 5 with some examples ). Those observed from the front or from behind ( known as “ angular misalignments ”) are more varied when they appear . Knee ( carpus ) and hock
Figure 3 : Retraction ( Age : 2 days ) Figure 4 : Corvo ( Age : 8 days )
Figure 5 : Relaxation ( Age : 3 days )
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