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GGT Western
Footing Blend |
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Footing unique to the needs of the Western
Proformance Horse
| The
influence of footing on the movement of the horse
As
soon as a horse moves on the ground different forces impact the
hoof. Shock is caused during the stance phase (Impact, loading and
break over phase); shear force (propulsion) is caused during the
swing phase. The strength of these forces depends on the weight and
course of motion and the speed of the horses well as on the
capabilities of the rider. The harder the ground the less it is able
to absorb the impact phase and therefore the horses body has to
absorb the concussion itself. If the ground is too soft, it'll
strain his soft tissues - tendons, ligaments, and muscles. The
desired footing is able to absorb shock and gives your horse's feet
a reliable solid platform from which to push off. The base anchors a
top layer that absorbs much of his footfalls' concussion and
provides traction he can depend on when changing direction or
jumping, whereby the base also contributes to the buffering. Damage
to the coffin and pastern joints as well as the ligaments and joints
of the lower leg regions (carpal joint) to up to the shoulder joint
often appear in connection with bad footing conditions. Pulled
ligaments are often caused by uneven, soft or slippery surfaces.
Especially turns are very straining for the horse’s joints. The
height of the footing should be between 2 ½ and 5 inches, depending
on requirements and riding discipline. A
good footing only really works with the right base layer.
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