Reply #23: Horses carry about 75% of their body weight on their front legs.

[petersjo02]

There is absolutely no way in the world that horse could survive having to shift all her weight to her back legs long enough to get any healing in those front ankles. I had a mare about six years ago who got an infection in her right front foot. While we were treating the foot and trying to keep her comfortable, given she had to assume the burden of extra weight on her other front foot and hind feet, her other front foot broke down, too, and finally she went down and could no longer get herself up, to say nothing of the horrendous pain she endured for far too long. We had to let her go and still mourn her loss. A horses' hind legs are built to drive the horse forward at speed, not for weight bearing much above 15% for each hind leg. Unfortunately it is just the physics of a horse's anatomy. A horse is built to stand on four legs--anything less is a disaster 99.99% of the time. Same thing with Barbaro a couple years ago. That was one damaged leg, but in the end it took the other three legs down, too, slings and pulleys not withstanding. There was no, zero, zilch chance to save that mare. If there were, you can bet the owners would have tried. Second place in the Derby. Belle could run with the big boys, and she proved it magnificently. May she rest in piece.