So, is the general consensus of the group that have participated, that that back of the foot is weak, medially (and laterally - though not as extreme) jammed, and ready to blow quarter cracks due to the clips being placed too far forward? Oh, wait.... it could also be caused by something going on (hocks possibly) above the hairline according to Linda. Justin has done a great job illustrating. I made a suggestion to Josh to help the situatiuon (and horse). Smitty followed with some of the same suggestions but comes across as though the shoeing is the cause of the issues.. Josh, I get it if you don't chose to respond to me and only to Smitty. I have done nothing but criticize things you have posted. I'm not going to apologize as I'm not here to gain popularity points.... but rather to help you and the horses you work on. It will be interesting to see how this horse progresses and I do hope you'll share.
I think mother nature give him a challenge to work on, I'd like to see a pic with more of the leg, but it appears like the LH foot is offset medially to the pastern and the RH being the worse foot is offset laterally. So you have the LH fetlock dropping over the lateral heel pushing the foot medially and the RH dropping over the medial heel pushing the foot laterally , look at the suspensory branches, more agravated on the medial side. Then add in the weight of a big horse and the back of the foot is going to be weak.
I saw issue above the hairline...........and also hocks can bother a horse if other issues are going.
It can be done in a gentle, respectful and compassionate way to offer advice to others. Derision is never appropiate. The Golden Rule You could gain popularity points by being helpful and nice.
Thanks, Justin. I agree these are challenging. Just under your arrow, is this area in the quarter. Chicken or egg? I don't know that it matters, but hopefully Josh has a better perspective on what's going on.
So file the flare away until the foot looks perfect, and once your done weakening the hoof capsule make sure you load the frog. I drank that Kool aid in the past and didn't like the flavor. If you file all the wall away without addressing what causing the flare, the hoof capsule will pop right back out there. Once you remove the hoof capsule there's no putting it back on. Eric Russell
Nope. I doubt quarter cracks will pop since the shoe is fit plenty full medically. I've never heard of clips causing quarter cracks. Eric Russell
Medial QRT cracks on both hinds, came that way. Got tired of fighting the cracks so I just eliminated the heels all together. Floated both medial heels and wedged w/#2 and ACS putty for support.
I never said anything about the "flare" or how it should be "dressed" or not. I suggested to use frog support to help the quarters come in tighter. You must've read something I didn't mean.
I thought the trim on the heels could be done better which is why I suggested he look at his trim. I was pointing out that the clips were being mentioned as the reason the back of the foot was falling apart. I don't like them, but don't feel they are the root cause. It's the trim and the lack of support in the back half of the foot, IMO
Address the CAUSE. Then you can file (as necessary, but not completely of course) . You can't leave and fit to distortion without addressing the cause and expect success.
The heels could be trimmed better so your saying an a/p I'm balance is cause a lateral flare and medial wall to roll under? How does a piece of metal on the side of the foot cause the back of the foot to fall apart? Eric Russell
The horse's conformation and limb deviations are driving the distortion. You can either help it or not. The size of the trimmed frog and the lack of laminar attachment say to me the foot needs more support. Obviously you must feel this horse can't be done any better.
Pads. Throughout the horse's career. At one time the horse had 5 cracks; 2 LF, 1 RF and both medial hinds. IMEs' medial hind QRT cracks, those horses go really wide behind.......
I don't have enough information to give much input. If I had something like that I'd make sure I wasn't trimming him low medially. Eric Russell
