Congenital deformities.

This catagory included ALD - angular limb deformities. The contracted tendons, off set knees, slack pasterns. Those sort of things. These are the acceptable ones. The ones we know we have a good chance of fixing and the foal will be ok.

Then ther are others that are not compatable to life.

Sometimes you come across a wierd one that does not affect the foal at all.

This season I had all of them.

DISCLAIMER: There were deformities that were incompatable with life. This is a sad topic of loss of a foal or mare. They are not my horses but one that are in my care. I love them like my own and feel the loss as muchas thie owners do. No I am not going to share images of these sad moments. I will describe them in a respectful way so you can understand, and learn what I did.

Most ALD are fixable through corrective farrier work, time, or surgery. Some of these ALD will cause foaling difficulies, expecially contracted tendons where foal can't strech out properly during labour. That is where a night foaling attendant is gold. We recognise the issue early and help or get help.

One unusual ALD I witnessed, was one dear sweet boy born with one very contracted hind hoof. Thank goodness Dr Vet was with me during this morning foaling and we both recognised this was not good. The foaling was text book. Quick and easy. he was a good size, healthy in everyway, but that leg.

Not only was the fetlock severly contracted, but somehow in utero, the bone had twisted as he grew. Was it from a kick to mum, was he laying on it and rolling ( like someone stuck in the blankets) while the bones were calicifying? we will never know. The decision and discussion with his owner was promptly done, and he never got the chance to even try to stand.

As sad as this was, it was the best and only option for him. Next lifetime, Buddy, it will be better.

I have another incompatable to life story. That one I will post soon.

The next unusual congenital deformity was a tail to tell.

This one I will share an image. Its not gross.

This is Fifi's tale of her tail.

Fifi got her name after one co-workers rabbit. Fifi has a short tail.

What happened? Was it just a incomplete growth? Was it an injury in utero?

The positive thing, is it is cosmetic. I was concerned there may be other nurological problems as the tail is the back end, but it is the spine.

Fifi has sass. eveyone (humans) laughed at her tail. No wonder she has sass. Shes sticking up her finger to them!

Nothing wrong with her attitiude or how she moves and runs. It does cover her reproductive area and can keep the pestering bugs away.

Fifiis' rabbit tail. All the bones are there, the last few just haven't grown properly.

I have heard of foals being born like this, I just have never seen one myself.

At the writing of this post, she is a yearling and healthy. No nurological problems relating to this. She just doesn't have a fluffly yearling tail, like her paddock mates. She still has sass!