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Common question about the lope...
I have a question that I'm sure several other amateur-type people would
like to know about also. My 3 year old western pleasure filly has a very
smooth, slow and flat-kneed lope on her left lead, but when we slow her down
on the right lead, she has some slight (but noticeable) knee action. Is it
ever possible to condition or train a horse in order to correct this trait?
Of course, she has been long trotted and counter cantered to death, but with
little or no change to the knee action problem. What exercises do you
suggest?
thanks,
Mary
Knee action in one direction, by Steve Heckaman"
 Mary to question your question...
you said "she
has a smooth, slow, flat lope to the left, but when we slow her down to the
right", do you mean she naturally goes slower to the left and has to be rated
back more to the right? For me, whenever a horse lopes really good one
direction and not as good the other direction, especially where having a flat
knee is concerned, I start looking at three things:
- Physical-Many times a horse is not as flat one direction as they
are the other direction because they are likely sore somewhere. In your case
of more "knee" to the right, I would investigate the left rear leg. Many
times a subtle lameness may not show up definable at the jog, but may can be
diagnosed by the horse not bringing its off rear leg up properly and pushing
off at the lope. A veterinarian should be consulted if you suspect this to be
the cause. They can perform a joint block to further aide in diagnosis, to
see if there is an improvement in performance. A radiograph or fluoroscopy
may reveal slight or major imperfections in bone or cartilage changes. Many
times treatment ranges from inter-articular joint therapy (Hylartin V), to
muscular (Adequan) and IV injections (Legend) and feed additives (Cosaquin ?)
to rest.
- Shoeing-Once soreness is ruled out, the next thing I look at is how
the horse is shod. Does it have a higher angle on the right than left? Lower?
More toe, etc. Often times differences in feet on one side vs. the other can
result in a difference in a foots break over and a legs arc path. A very good
qualified farrier can help eliminate this as being a possibility as well.
Changing angle, adding support, backing up the foot, adding a wedge shoe, can
all make a difference in how the leg stays on the ground, what it does in the
air, and how it lands on the ground.
- When these two things are ruled out, your horse just may be more left
handed than right handed, so to speak. So make her weakness her strength.
Concentrate on her right lead more than her left, in fact somedays do not
even lope her to the left. Lope more short distances. When she does not
balance and extend her front leg, stop her. Do an indirect turn with her head
tipped at about a 50 degree angle to the left, pushing her shoulder to the
right with your left leg. Make her turn 11/2 to 2 turns right. Pick a point
in advance where you plan to ask for a lope depart, and as she is coming
around in that turn where her right front leg is still crossed over her left
front leg, ask her to lope off. She will have to really extend that right
front to get herself untangled. Lope 30 ft, stop, and do it again. Lope 30/40
ft another direction, stop, do it again, etc. After much repetition on
exercises that encourage front leg extension and making sure of the physical
and shoeing aspects, sometimes the end result is they are a 10 one direction
and a 7 the other direction. Just make sure she is as solid, pleasant and
comfortable a 7 as that judge sees all day and do not forget, her 10 side is
the left, and that's the first side the judge sees!
Steve Heckaman
Steve Heckaman Quarter Horses is located near Pilot Point, Texas. Ph:
940-686-2700. Photo of Steve and Troy Compton, was taken in
October 1999, by Lisa Wilson, on the PleasureHorse.com team.
Thanks Steve!
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