Hi Kim Good description of rope walking. We have found that there are exercises you can do to help with this. IME these horses are very tight in the shoulders and so leg exercises can be very beneficial, the same goes for horses that are cow hocked. Often the tendency is exacerbated by tension in the hindquarters and when that is release the hocks are not so drawn together. With the rope walking horse I would also do exercises from the ground to improve balance - slow exercises so the horse is really mindful of where his feet are. And finally I believe that a tight fitting saddle can contribute to the problem. The horse contracts through the shoulders because of the saddle and it sets up a holding pattern. I have seen many of these horses change dramatically.
Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
