TRAINING EVALUATION

GROUND HANDLING

4- Head bobs when walking ( 10 )

For an example of why the previous entry is important, five items that follow deal with gross lamenesses that show up when a horse is made to walk, turn, back, stand.

Lameness in the forelimbs is often indicated by an un-even nodding of the horse's head up-and-down when walking. As the sound leg strikes the ground, the head will drop when the touchy limb comes down, the head will rise.

Although this entry is rated a (10), which is an automatic unsoundness — "do not buy" — the cause may only be temporary. However, a veterinarian is required to make this determination.

5- Hip drops when trotting ( 10 )

Lameness in the hindquarters can be detected by watching the rhythm of the hip movement as viewed from behind the horse at a trot. As with the head for the forelimbs, the drop of the hip signifys a sound leg: a rise, the affected limb.

6- Hind leg, kick toward belly ( 10 ) [88]

A nervous disorder called Stringhalt shows itself by a jerking movement of one or both of the hind legs kicking towards the belly when the horse is walked. In severe cases the hoof actually strikes the abdomen. This condition is most noticeable when the horse is turned in a sharp circle.

7- Shivering ( 10 ) [88]

Related to Stringhalt, the effects of this disease only occur at irregular intervals. The test here is to back the horse a number of times before and after riding. Symptoms include the tail raising, a hind leg jerked off the ground, and shivering.

A normal horse will sometimes shake himself all over for a second or two to "stretch," or wake himself up. This is not the same thing as Shivering.

8- Stiff, jerky movement overall ( 10 )

There are a number of conditions where all the above symptoms apply. There is no point mentioning, or calling a vet to pinpoint the problem. The end result is that the horse plainly has a hard time moving from point A to B. The only thing to watch out for is the horse that has been warmed up to make a temporary improvement.

9- Shifts weight in fore when standing ( 10 ) [99]

After the walk, have the horse ''lockeyed." back and forword to end up standing square. Both front feet should carry the weight equally. If he stands rocking from foot to foot, it might be on account of a lameness, or a vice from being stabled for long periods without exercise. A Weaver is "stir crazy," and though some feel it is nothing to worry about, I look on it as one of the few indicators of a horse's mental health, and a definite unsoundness.

Please note that it is quite normal for a horse to stand with one hind foot cocked, or resting against the opposite leg.