Some Fools can't even tell the difference from run forward heels & false heels. The latter being genetic & normal for that horse. due to the length of its pastern. In which case cutting them down low . Results in being the most detrimental crippling thing you can do to that type of horses feet.
Jac have you fixed under run heels... As in you have corrected the horn tube growth as in change growth...because I always feel I'm just managing a issue of such ..never really correct it.. in my area when I see run forward heels it seems to be from many things but long toes being the most as I feel to much toe becomes leverage at some point..but we both know everyone seems to do things and see things a bit diff ...imo its a good topic and happy to see you posting decent info that's not intended to ruff feathers..
Karen I am trying my best to keep it simple as possible . The answer to your question is more complex then yes or no. To explain thoroughly in detail would require more time & typing then I care for. My participation on the forum being a form of relaxation for me . Not more unpaid work & please don't take this the wrong way . But I don't think you would understand the answer if I went to the trouble spending a few hours writing it. Even though you are a RN.
Also jac imho if a horse is in work..let's just say susans horse is in work..and his angle is at a negative or broke back so to speak.. are we to leave the heels and put on a flat shoe in hopes it corrects ..and take that chance of working the horse that is putting stress on things due to the negative angles or would we be better of fixing or should I say managing this issue so the horse can do his job right now....and how much does genetics play into the under run heels..
You have to look a cause. If its a simple case of just a hoof left a little to long & the heels have migrated forward with the toe. A trim or two will rectify it. If it involves endocrine for example hormone imbalance. Then its a lot more complex & becomes an on going struggle that comes down to how competent you are at trimming such feet. Which do have their moments of fluctuations in growth paten month to month.
The horse is sore because the navicular is not getting time out. Wedging & working the horse wont improve that. As I explained earlier it only makes the pastern articulate back creating more pressure not less. If that was going to work it would of. Mel has exhausted ever facet of that option & it hasn't worked. You have to cause change in the tissue inside the capsule & bring about a better relationship with the configuration of the joint.Not simply just articulate it. That solves nothing.
I'm Tied I have work in the morning I have to get some shut eye . Will pick up the discussion hopefully tomorrow night Australian time. Buy
If you have rules that you must fit to the toe and/or only use a wedge pad or shoe then I would agree that you will make matters worse. It's not only about the angle of the heels it also about transferring weight off the heels so the bulbs gather back up.
.... Here is one the angle was low and he was having issues so to keep from using any pad wedges they wanted to not touch the heels..
They ended up having to glue ..put heel springs in..it was really a mess...horse was lame and laid over not showing is how I come about getting to work on him..I guess I went to the Jaye Perry school of cut them down and wedge them back up...btw the horse went right back to work after we got the heels down build up and supported...
Travis your comparing Apples with Oranges .That horses problem from what I can see from your photos is contraction a long with the hoof being over grown.Boxed feet & contracted heels. A good level trim. & plain shoe would of been fine. You have to ask your self at what point do you think the horn length of the heel will catch up with the horn length of the toe. To give the appropriate angle sets for a particular horses bone tendon & joint configuration . Basically when do you think the heels will catch up length wise with the toe. If the growth generating from the coronet generates at the same time & you keep trimming more off the heels then can be taken off from the toe?.
You did not sleep long jac... And I agree with the above for the most part..but I think when heels fold crush and run under the first step to managing them is remove the effected horn to get a fresh go..but my question is when we remove that ...is our choice then to put flat shoe on and put the horse on box rest or no work cause he may be off due to broken back or negative angle..or do we wedge him up to aline the proper joints and pack with impression material to help unload the heels..in effort to keep horse showing and working...my questions will always revolve around a horse in full work..no trainers i work will allow me to pull one out of work when another farrier could keep horse going...it just the way it is..real world everyday stuff..
Impression material may bring other structures to aid in weight sharing but how do you stop the bulbs from flattening out? Lowering the heels and adding a wedge pad in replacement isn't targeting the cause of the crushed heels it's just prolonging the process.
Once the under run is in place are we really fixing or managing..I took it as jac said he fixes ..as in returns the heel back to its normal form.. and I feel I have seen very very young horses that seem to look under run..
Years of getting up early to plate has made me a poor sleeper. If that is what your roll is with theses horses & time constraint to work with, then keep doing what your doing . However don't delude your self your fixing anything of a permanent nature. Your just putting a patch over the problem till such time as the inevitable turns up. Have been guilty of that myself in regards to galloper Trainers & their needs & mine to pay bills . Every owner all most always wants the shortest time quick patched up fix. Never the long term right fix that could of been achieved but the opportunity had been let pass . Must fly: late now to shoe theses horses.
Thanks jac...and yes ur right I feel as all I'm doing is patching them up to get one show at a time..if I felt I could look at them and give the owner a deff garentee that if they allow me to lay up the horse and I could get the horse out of all the bells and whistles..not I don't know that I can tell them that..just looking for a better way to fix or manage if they is one..
