club foot

[NewHorseMom]

What exactly is a club foot? My friends horse has this, why is it bad? Does it make them lame? I see nothing wrong with her horse, but she says she will have a hard time selling him because of his "club foot." How do you tell if you horse has one?

[peppysan]

A club foot is when one foot is a higher angle and shape then the other. A club foot is usually a result of a problem in that limb, the upright, boxy hoof shape is a product of the unrelenting pull of the abnormal muscle contraction. Some horses can be ok and somewhat sound with it if managed, it just depends on how mild or severe the grade is. Your friend's horse probably has a grade 2 club. It's the most common grade and with a good trim job it can look similar to the other feet. (But this does not mean that the foot is being corrected)

[horse99]

Yeah I would be very leary of purchasing a horse with a club foot. The ones I have encountered in my life are off and on sound at best and it's always a struggle with that foot. I feel for your friend.

[SamanthaSky]

I would not touch a horse with a clubbed foot with a ten foot pole. Like someone said above- the foot can "look" normal, but it's very misleading. The horse will always have problems with it.