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hurlinghampolo.com
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S A V I N G G R A C E
Prior to Dr Agustin Almanza’s pioneering work, deformed or injured foals
and horses had few options for recovery. Here, he discusses how his invention
has helped shape the future of this area of equine medicine
Every year thousands of foals are born with
flexural and angular limb deformities,
preventing them from reaching their top
performance level in sports or at the sales.
This occurs most commonly at the fetlock or
knee joints, due to contracted tendons or
bent bones. There is not a well-defined
cause, and foals born with this condition
are referred to as ‘crooked’. Many can’t even
stand up to nurse and sadly end up being
euthanised. However, most of their problems
could be solved if they were addressed
correctly at an early age. Casts and
homemade devices using PVC pipes are
sometimes used, but they are difficult to
apply and can leave marks on the foal’s legs.
In a quest to improve the assistance
available to foals, I have designed a line of
orthopaedic devices that help to manage
these problems much better.
I grew up among horses on a family farm
in Argentina. After working with polo horses
in several parts of the world, I became
a veterinarian and took my first job with
