22/05/2024
What an excellent post. And heart-breaking pictures - I cannot imagine the pain this horse must have endured being ridden and worked. We don't know the detailed history of this horse but starting your horse too early is certainly one factor that can increase the likelihood of such bone deformations.
Horses are best started under saddle at age 5 and later. Many horse owners don't like to hear this but it's important for the well-being of the horse. And there is a lot of other things you can do with your horse earlier - ground training is an important part of a horse's education and so beneficial for good communication and bonding between human and horse.
