Squashed Heels

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Susan Holden, Jun 5, 2012.

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    Eric Russell Active Member

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    I believe most horses trimmed down to the widest part of the frog are trimmed to low and set the foot up to crush heels. Especially when the toe is protected from wear 24/7.
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    Eric Russell Active Member

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    Generally horses who have nailing problems have a vertical sole depth problem which probably can be associated with a low angle problem.
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Susan,

    What do you mean by "nailing problems?"

    Is it that the hoof doesn't hold nails or the horse doesn't like the concussion from nailing on a shoe?

    Also, you haven't given more details on the "navicular" problem.
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    Susan Holden Member

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    He was diagnosed about 5 years ago with crappy xrays. Followed up since then with another two sets of xrays and with a vet that knows what he's looking at
    in a foot. I'll direct link the most recent although they are about 2 years old now. Maybe time for another set. There was also a suggestion of possible pedal osteitis. Should mention also that I think he's a bit sugar sensitive. Hay thats a bit high or to much grass seems to exacerbate things. Keep his diet as even as possible because of this. He does not like nailing up even with slim nails and pre-drilled holes. We also tried screws but he tended to twist them off and no longer seemed happy in the wedge pad package. Was much happier in the boots but now there are issues coming up there to.

    There are 11 of these, see what you think. When we were at Jayes his vet could see what may have been a nav. cyst in the right foot, which has always been slightly worse.

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    Susan Holden Member

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    Susan Holden Member

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    Eric Russell Active Member

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    He needs more than a wedge pad to help the feet. More like 10 degree wedge.
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Alrighty then. I can't help you with that. :(

    So horse doesn't like concussion from nailing - usually a joint problem. Since you can't get a definitive diagnosis, you're sort of stuck with trial and error.

    If the soft support of the boot with pads ain't helping, maybe it's time to try something harder - like a heart bar shoe. They can be glued, but to try it out you could just duct tape the shoe on the foot and see how the horse walks. May have to adjust the frog plate to get the horse comfortable, but you'll pick up a lot of load bearing from the frog - which will take some of the weight off the wall and allow the foot to gain some vertical depth.

    Heart bars either work really well or they suck goobers. The horse will let you know wither way.
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    Travis Morgan Copenhagen. You can see it in my smile!

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    I've never heard of that diagnosis. Can a horse actually die of crappy X rays, or does it just make them lame?
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    If you can find one. ;) That's about an inch of heel lift on a size 1 foot. Tape it to the foot and see how the horse likes it. Yea.
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    Susan Holden Member

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    We have tried that once in the past, he wasn't to happy then but things change. Its a bit of a tough case, he seems to be able to handle frog pressure so maybe its worth another try.

    I'll try and get pics in the next couple of days, maybe that will spark some ideas.
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Travis, haven't you ever seen a horse that glows in the dark? o_O
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    Susan Holden Member

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    lol Travis. Would make him easy to find if he glowed Tom, especially with how short the days are now.;)
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Are you from down under?
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    Eric Russell Active Member

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    Yeah I know. The nailing is obviously an angle and sole depth problem not a frog pressure problem.
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Maybe if the nails were radiated . . .
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    Christos Axis Member

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    Because we have attracted attention from other planets too, you know...:D
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    Tom Bloomer Well-Known Member

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    Well there aren't any other planets with horses that glow in the dark.
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    Kim Turner Master of my own domain

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    Obviously you haven't watched Avatar. Their horses have glowing stripes.
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    Travis Morgan Copenhagen. You can see it in my smile!

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    A glued on bar shoe sounds like a lot better option than that stupid boot.

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