Manchester was one of the many cases where the shoeing alone could not fix the problem. Manchester was given to us due to a chronicle lameness of the right hind fetlock. Manchester has been lame for eight years, and the reason is that everyone focused on the outward rotation of the hoof and pastern, and no one addressed the spine dysfunction that oriented the right hind leg inward with an outward rotation.

Look at the picture. Yes, the outward rotation of the fetlock was dramatic, and so was the stress on the hoof capsule. But look higher in the hind leg. The whole limb is oriented laterally, the hock, the stifle, and higher.

In line with actual rhetoric pretending to coordinate the horse’s whole physique from the hoof balance, they corrected the hoof but did not address the thoracolumbar spine dysfunction that twisted the hind limb.

Gravity and the direction of the whole hind limb counteracted the hoof corrections, damaging the fetlock.

Manchester was barefoot when he was delivered to the Science o Motion. According to the belief of the successive farriers who try to resolve the problem during his eight years of chronic lameness, Manchester went with shoes and barefoot.

The late Mike Gallagher looked at Manchester, look at me with a question mark in his eyes. I reassured him, saying, of course, you will further damage the fetlock if you correct the hoof, but look at his whole leg. Maybe I can correct the whole orientation of his hind limb, addressing the dysfunction of his thoracolumbar spine, starting with a severe inverted rotation in the thoracic area. If we work together, you can use your skill and “feel’ how much you can work on the hoof, considering the progress that I hope to make correcting his limb orientation. Mike agreed.

We worked together very closely and carefully, and we restored Manchester’s soundness in about one year.  Mike is no longer with us, but his skill, mastery, ethic, kindness, and loud laugh remain strong in Helyn and my heart. We used each other expertness for the good of the horse.

Manchester won the heart of many students teaching with great patience the work in hand and riding in the light of actual knowledge.

His thoracolumbar spine regained proper function, and his right fetlock returned to normal size.  He was the best schoolmaster I ever had.

Jean Luc