What experience have you all had on clubbed hooved horses staying sound for work? What is your common support system, if any? Hanoverian Gelding Mustang Before Mustang After
They are all a bit different. Trim the hoof down to solid sole, shoe the foot as it needs. Keep the center of the coffin joint in the center of the shoe or a bit forward, with plenty of steel behind. Some do well with a wedge, some with a thick flat pad, some with just the shoe.
It's a long term, high maintenance horse. It will take some experimenting, to dial in exactly, what this horse needs and/or likes on its feet. The most important question really is, how talented the rider is? It's very difficult to keep these asymmetrical horses moving balanced and even.
Which horse? Both are sound for their current jobs barefoot. Of course both the owners and I will be monitoring them to ensure they get the support they need if it's needed in the future. My original questions were, what experience do you guys have with clubs being sound enough for work/competition? And what type of support do you all offer for your equine clients that have mix matched hooves?
What experience do you have with clubs being sound enough for work/ competition? And what type of support do you offer your clients that have club feet.?
In my experience, it has to do with the severity of the club and the health of all of the hooves on effected horse. Generally the opposing hoof needs more attention when I get a call, because it has been over compensating. And while in work/competition the opposing hoof generally needs just as much, sometimes more support. Individual hoof weaknesses call for different support approaches, I realize that and I apologize for the broad question. Although I have experience, I acknowledge that I am still new to this profession compared to many others, particularly here, therefore I was/is interested in your feedback/experience/comments/etc. Thanks.
How are you defining support, I see you use it to refer to clients and feet? Try and explain what you are saying without using that word. Do you feel the contra foot is compensating or just effected by different forces?
No, but a similar assessment on support should be done in some cases. I think whether acquired or congenital, a club hoof is more solidified AFTER a certain amount of time-if not dealt with appropriately right away. Asymmetry is always there (not usually noticeably) and can of course develop for a number of reasons, some can be helped to a degree.
Ok here is the deal, never use the word support, not here or in your truck! I have been a farrier for a long time and studied farriery science for 6 years and I have no idea of its meaning in farriery. I heard a vet use the phrase at least a dozen times about different pathologies on a horse today!!!!! There are more correct ways to describe rationales for a course of action.
I appreciate your clarifying questions, and again I apologize for such a broad topic. I'm not sure if your asking me to list different ways to offer support? That list could be endless.. Other hooves would be impacted by compensating if balance or support,etc was not ideal with the 1st hoof, causing discomfort. Other hooves would be effected by different forces (more commonly I find) because of poor balance or poor management.
I agree 100%. In my above response, even if the hoof was suffering because of overcompensating; it's still a result of more force.
Haha, okay. Poorly managed hoof care basically. Tall heels on club throwing hoof axis out of balance and resulting in toe jabbing and discomfort. Very poor quality/diseased frog , I think maybe tadpole would be a better descriptive word. The other hoof had excessive flaring, long toe and slightly weak heel from additional forces. He is now sound, big foot has tighter wall connection and much more upright growth - rather then bending forward from excess growth forces. Club hoof frog is much healthier, and heel has widened, but is still atleast 2.5/3 inches narrower (a few sizes smaller) then opposing hoof.
Did you read Bill's post #3? They are all different. Depending on how much tension is in the DDFT will depend on how high the heel must be. Some need to stand normal, some need a little higher. Some need a shoe, some don't. In the famous words of a great farrier, "It Depends". It's a horse who will be high maintence.
