I've been staring at Amigo's conformation "issues" a bit more recently (during and after the vet visit) and of course have found a few.
The vet said Amigo is somewhat straight-legged (post-legged?) through the lower leg, and I have noted that he has a natural conformation of somewhat coon-footed in the hind (pastern angle is somewhat more sloping than the natural hoof angle which is steeper) - not the degenerative type of coon-footed, just how he is built and it has been about the same the two years that I have known him. His pastern is actually somewhat short, whereas you might expect it to be short and more upright given his clydes in him - but it is short but sloping. The sloping is not great, as it could affect the ligaments but perhaps being shorter will limit the strain a bit rather than if it reaaaallllllly long and too sloping. I suppose that not every horse has perfect conformation - at least for the price range and temperament I was after. Temperament was so important to me, and Amigo is one of a kind - so very safe and being a cautious rider this was beyond important as I leased him for a year so knew he was as safe in the arena as they come (and a sweetie).
The farrier is doing the right things for his back hooves, but I am beginning to wonder if I should provide Amigo some extra support in the hind when riding with some hind bandaging/boots or something like that - help give that fetlock a bit of extra support??? I have no knowledge about such things, never having used them.
Thoughts? I am not one who is particularly into bandaging or booting, so would only do this if it could actually do something and not just be decorative.
