I read the article about Dave Farley and his son in the AFJ this past week. I saw that Dave stated that he hot seats to seal the tubules, I'm paraphrasing the article. I have heard of this for years, "sealing the tubules" by this and similar methods and have often wondered if in fact this happens or is it just something that has been said for so long that we take this "sealing" for granted. I guess I 'm asking if there has been a scientific controlled study of the practice that anyone can direct me to. Regards Ray Steele
William, I m not sure that they wrote the article, pretty sure that it was "reported" by/in the AFJ. I choose to ask what other folks thought of it here, on this forum, Do you have any thoughts about it? Regards Ray Steele
I have not read the article to and I would hate to give my option with out reading it , You have read the article and you must have some ideas on it otherwise you wouldn't be asking others for theirs ...so what is your thoughts on it
William, as I stated, I have heard it said for years that hot seating seals the tubules, I'm just asking if anyone knows in fact that it does ? I don't know! The article was referenced only because it is a place that is recent, you ... do not have to read the AFJ, or the article, to have an opinion or an option. I think my question was straight forward enough. Does anyone know of a scientifically controlled study of this practice? Do you know of any? If so I'd appreciate your sharing with me. Did I answer your question to me as to what are my thoughts on it? If you don't feel that I did , my answer again is I don't know! Regards Ray
I have never read any scientific info on weather hot fitting seals the tubules or not, but it is fact that when we trim the wall, we open them up. So I don't see why hot fitting them wouldn't seal them. I know from my own experience, that hot fitting does make the feet do better. I also believe that it kills any bacteria that may be present. And it looks cool!!!
Ray I don't know of any scientifically controlled study of this practice off hand, but with today's computers and internet I'm sure you can look it up to find the answer !
Lclayton If it is fact that when we trim the hoof we open them up as you have stated, do you know what closes them after, if we don't hot seat them? Say after we/you/anyone else trim and leave barefoot, and do you think they the tubules stay open when barefoot or do they keep getting opened with abrasion? thanks Regards Ray
William, thanks, I did a quick check by typing in "hot seating, seals the tubules" but didn't get much ,and nothing that appeared to be more than anecdotal. I tried it a few times over the years . regards Ray
Ray, I think that a trimmed foot, left barefoot or shod, will seal itself within some amount of time. I just think that I does not hurt for us to hot fit them and seal them faster. I have hot fit horses after trimming and left them barefoot at times, if we where dealing with bacterial issues. I KNOW that it is BETTER for horses in my practice. Whatever you choose to do is up to you, but I will never go back to cold shoeing!
Ray it seems to me that you have a opinion, you stated that you have been looking for a answer over the years . I'm sure that you wouldn't be looking for a answer if you didn't care one way or the other .
Lclayton, This ,at least for me is not a hot shoeing vs cold vs warm or tepid discussion, and was not meant to bring up this (cold vs hot)discussion. Sorry if something that I said would make you think this. May I ask, keeping with the horn tubules as subject matter , makes you say that you feel that they seal? I'm asking, not attempting to bait etc. just attempting discussion. Thanks regards Ray
william, I dont have an opinion on this one, lots of questions,really trying to seperate fact from fiction. One opinion that I have is that there may be alot of historical/hysterical beliefs that have no science to back them up. Some, to me anyway may in fact be true, that's why I ask. I'm sure I've passed on, bs'ed somethings that I took as credible but now that I think of them .. they probably were not. As to if I care one way or another... it really doesn't matter if I care one way or another, ...the tubules either seal or they don't, hot seated or on their own, I just wonder if it happens, that was if "it happens" ......not shit happens. Regards Ray
Ray, Common Sense tells me that when one sticks a hot object to something, it cauderizes it! ........... I don't always need scientific evidence to make decisions for me. Just saying. Like I said earlier, I don't think it hurts and I have seen feet get better with hot fitting....... so why not just do it.
Lclayton, not trying to be funny, common sense says to me that if I put a hot enough object on your hundred dollar bill that you put on a table, I'd burn it! And you'd probably punch my lights out! How do I/know that we are cauterizing/sealing hoof tubules not just burning them(as in charcoal)? I haven't done this but will try it next week, I'll hot seat a horse on one hoof and not hot seat the other hoof ,trim the hind hooves and then look at the floor to see if there is a moisture print from one hoof or both. It will be anecdotal evidence but still something more substantial that what I have asked . I hope others will also. Nothing against common sense, but maybe a discussion of that that could be a start of another thread. Regards Ray
Ray, All I know is that I used to shoe cold and when I started learning to do hot work I started to notice a change in my horses hoofs. I don't know, with scientific evidence, if hot fitting seals the horn tubules or not. All I have is my own experience, and I have seen it work for the BETTER. I am convinced and will never go back with or without science.
Maybe the change was a result of you doing a better job all around. My friend Bill Adams says, "There's only two ways to shoe a horse, hot and wrong."
