This message is from: "Tom Hans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
---------- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: dry legs > Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 1:23 AM > > Good job again Dr. Jacobson. I agree strongly! Another veterinary opinion > and I could not agree more or have said it any better. Dr. Tom Hans > ---------- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: dry legs > > Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 10:07 PM > > > > This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > I'd like to make a point of clarification. I'm afraid that Carol's > > definition of "good" legs on a Fjord may be confusing or misleading for > > some people. Whether Fjords have "dry, clean legs" or not does depend > > somewhat on parentage and conformation, but it has more to do with the > > horse's physical condition (i.e. body fat percent) and body type. If a > > horse is in lean condition, his tendons are going to be more defined, > > making one more likely to say he has "dry, clean legs". On the other > > hand, if that horse is slightly overweight, fat is going to fill in > > around those tendons and joints, and they will not be as defined, leading > > someone to say the legs are not as dry and clean. Believe me, there are > > 16 starved horses at our county fairgrounds right now that have the > > driest, cleanest legs you have ever seen! Also, when have you heard a > > big draft horse described as having dry legs? You may hear it > > occasionally, but not very often. And what are many Fjords? Small > > drafts. > > > > As an equine veterinarian, I palpate many horse's tendons, and I can tell > > you that, for the most part, a tendon is a tendon. The most superficial > > of the flexor tendons that you can feel does have sharp edges, while the > > slightly deeper one has rounded edges. If we could judge 20 horses' > > legs, and then see all 20 horses' tendons laid out on a table, there's > > not a single one of us who could accurately pick which tendons belonged > > to which horse, no matter whether we had thought their legs were dry and > > clean, or spongy. > > > > Like Carol, I have seen many Fjords, and I feel very comfortable saying > > that, in general, the lighter bodied, slightly finer-boned Fjords would > > be classified by many as having drier, cleaner legs than would the > > intermediate body style or draft type Fjords. But do the lighter Fjords > > have stronger, sounder legs? No, not at all. In fact, it's more likely > > the other way around. To give an example with some of the horses that > > Carol mentioned, in the pictures I have seen of BDF Torolf, he is very > > lean and seems to be what most people would consider more the > > finer-boned, riding type Fjord. Gjest, on the other hand, seems to be > > more of the intermediate or all-purpose body type. In the pictures I > > have seen, one would not call Gjest's legs as dry and clean as Torolf's. > > Does this mean Torolf's legs are any better or stronger or sounder than > > Gjest's? Not a bit. > > > > So here's why I'm writing and making this distinction. Fjords in this > > country for the most part were historically the intermediate or draft > > type. More recently, the slightly finer body-type Fjord is gaining in > > popularity, but I believe are still a minority as far as total Fjord > > numbers go. Also, many Fjords tend to be kept in slightly overweight > > body condition. So most Fjords will not fit Carol's definition of good > > legs because their tendons and joints will not be sharply defined and > > delineated. Does this mean they have bad legs? No. On the other hand, > > does this mean I think "spongy" legs with no definition are better? No. > > As with many things, I believe moderation is the key; Somewhere in > > between is best. No one would argue that good, clean legs are desirable, > > but "dry"? I'm not sure we need to go too far in that direction. > > > > Brian Jacobsen, DVM > > Norwegian Fjordhest Ranch > > Salisbury, North Carolina > > > > > > > > >...To me describing a horse's legs as dry and hard means - not soft and > > spongy, which, unfortunately, can be a characteristic of the Fjordhorse. > > A characteristic good breeders everywhere are trying to eliminate. > > > > > When you feel a horse's legs and the tendon is really well defined, and > > feels a bit sharp, rather than soft and rounded. . . this is very good! > > You should immediately be able to feel all the very distinct parts of the > > leg, rather than the tendon and canon melding into each other. The leg > > shouldn't feel fleshy. Definitely not fleshy.-- That's what dry legs > > are. If the tendon is strong and "sharp", tight, and distinct, the leg > > is > > considered "clean." If you make a habit of feeling the legs of as many > > horses as you come across, you'll begin to distinguish between the good, > > bad, and inbetween legs. > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. > > Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html > > or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
