APRIL 2006 • VOLUME 8 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Have you ever taken the time and evaluated the length to the two different diagonals on the trot of our horse?

When you observe and try to evaluate the straightness of your horse, have you ever taken into account the straightness within the horse, that is expressed in the diagonals?

One diagonal the right fore and left hind and the second diagonal the left fore and the right hind.

As of course a horse that is completely straight should be even between both diagonals. At least one would think so.

This particular evaluation seems one that is rarely taken into account by either instructors or riders.

It can be extremely helpful to check if your horse is shorter on one diagonal then the other. This is one more manifestation of being crooked and horses having problems with straightness.

When we see horse's with one diagonal obviously shorter then another, this is often today referred to as bridle lameness.

But few horses have truly even diagonals. When evaluation is done of horses in movement when we compare one diagonal to another when we do in-depth analysis of video clip of horses, frame by frame, instead we tend to see that most horses are consistently shorter on one diagonal. Not to the extent that they appear lame, but visible differences are seen when we measure different frames.

When this analysis is done, it is important to measure the .....


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to HORSES For LIFE™ Online Magazine for full access to the exclusive and educational monthly articles in every Issue.
YOUR SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES ACCESS TO ALL PAST ISSUES!

For the Instructor, For the rider, For the Horse. Horses For LIFE
Your Magazine for Life.

Register FREE and
Have Fun Reading the Two Free Articles in This and Every Issue!