Horse Symmetry.

[Tom K.]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2093019840_c1eebf11af_o.jpg

[leaforte]

May I? I like the lines of of the manes, the contrast of one up and one down.

I like the capture of the sand on the shoulders and neck of the forefront fellow who recently rolled.

What are those cuffs on his/her front hooves? I've never seen them, before.

Horsey one looks a bit gaunt.

This is a dramatic photo for me.

Thanks for sharing.

[dbaker1221]

i think it is a gorgeous capture:ivar

[Harryb]

Very nice capture. I would have stepped down my aperture setting to get both horses in focus but I don't know if that would have improved the shot.

[Phyxius]

What are those cuffs on his/her front hooves? I've never seen them, before.



They're called bell boots. Generally used when riding if your horse overreaches (they're called overreach boots too) or forges. Forging is what happens when the toe of the hind foot strikes the heel or bottom of the front foot on the same side when the front foot is starting to leave the ground. Overreaching is a more severe form of forging where the toe of the hind foot lands on the heel bulb of the front foot on the same side before the foot leaves the ground. This will result in a shoe being pulled and/or the heel bulb being scraped or even sliced open.

Some horses naturally walk that way, it's considered a gait abnormality. Some horses get easily excited and will run around the field and may overreach then.

Basically though, they're there for protection.