the affected limb it overloads the others . Thus , the forces that modulate growth ( both of growth plates and soft tissues ) become distorted and the growth of limbs not affected by the injury end up becoming notably and rapidly deviated .
Control and Diagnosis Controls and diagnosis go hand in hand . There are many deviations that are obvious to the breeder , as for example : a knee bent inward ; a retraction and a bent knee . The greater the angle the easier to detect . There are other defects that require acute observation in order to be diagnosed because of what we mentioned before about the distinctive features of each foal and its environment . Examples of these are : an offset and a bow leg . The slighter the angle of these , the more difficult it is for the breeder to detect . The time / age factor intervenes together with the “ plasticity ” of foals during growth . Those that at one moment are well and whose lines appear cor- rect , could change in fifteen days . Therefore , one cannot be at ease until those growth plates stop working . The solution to this is very simple : one must accompany that growth with regular examinations in order to detect individuals that are abnormal , and treat them . The first months after birth they must be examined more regularly ; later on , less . But the key to success is to examine the foals rigorously , meticulously , regularly and in an orderly manner . And one must start on the very day they are born . The following is an observation plan for foals that makes it possible to keep alignment and its changes under control : at birth ; at 15 days old ; a month old ; month and a half , and after that , every 20 to 30 days until the foal is one year old . Thus , the most severe defects shall be discovered and treated in time , before outstanding angulations cause irreversible trauma or bones become molded in response to that defect . Then , defects that show medium to slight angles and which occur along the way may be treated before the growth plates are no longer functional . With this observation plan there will be no surprises , and any alignment defect that occurs shall be observed in time for treatment to be applied . But mind you , not from the truck ! Foals must be caught , tethered and observed as described above ( Figure 11 ). That is to say , it is a clinical diagnosis of a patient which , I may add , is already a horse .
Figure 11
NOTE : Although this last comment may sound ridiculous , many breeders don ’ t think so . There is a belief that a foal is “ something ” that is “ to be left around somewhere ” until at the age of two it turns into a horse . This could be valid for certain aspects of breeding , but regarding alignment conformation it is very bad . Almost all alignments of an adult horse are formed before they are 5 to 6 months old .
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