Limb Length Disparity: The disorder of unequal limbs or lack of similarity. There are 2 types of LLD: Structural LLD and Functional LLD, with Functional LLD being the most common. LLD can originate in the hind end and transfer to the front end and vice versa. LLD is common and can be seen in about 70% of horses to the trained eye. LLD is considered a lameness (Any alteration in a horsess gait. In addition, lameness can be manifest in such ways as a change in attitude or performance). Symptoms as noticed by the rider(but not limited too): Sore withers. Good side/bad side (a horse will turn better or be more relaxed/supple one way and be more stiff/rigid the other way). One side of the horse will not pick up its lead, be resistant to picking up that lead and/or swaps off that lead. Riders will report that theyre always falling off to one shoulder and that a hind leg swaps out or the horse collapses in one hip. Resisting bending. Causes of LLD: Environmental, Injuries, Congenital, Sublaxations. Environmental can include but is not limited too: unbalanced rider, poor riding, steep terrain pastures causing horses to only walk in one manner, exercising and training in one direction more than another, overly deep footings, ill fitted equipment, poor hoofcare and imbalanced feet, racing in one direction, training methods, foal grazing behaviors, too heavy of a rider. Injuries: such as falling down onto side or hip, muscular damage from kicking or fencing injuries, incorrect warm-up before demanding performance, hitting a barrel when taking a turn, fractures, arthritis issues, suspensory strains, muscle pulls, fractured and/or fused spinal vertebrae, knee injuries, long toes, bowed tendon, fetlockinjuries, ringbone, palmer-heel injuries, fractured and/or neck vertebrae. Congenital: birthing problems creating sublaxation of the sacrum. For front end sublaxations of the atlas, neck and spine. Sublaxations: In the sacrum for all of the above reasons, will cause the animal to compensate in movement and posture. Hind end postural imbalance and Limb Length Disparities can and/or are created due to sublaxations in the sacrum area, followed by hock and stifle injuries. In the front end: in the atlas, tmj (temporomandibular joint), neck, and withers area for all of the above reasons, will cause the animalto compensate in movement and posture. Can LLD cause issues with the feet and can improper hoofcare cause LLD issues? Yes If you are interested in learning more, or have concerns, feel free to contact me.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:13:44 +0000
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