Do you always use matching shoes?

Both of these WBs had their off hind pointing south west when it should have been pointing south. On the mare, I couldn't get that foot to quit twisting and she started to have the stiffel locking, so that shoe with the lateral heel thicker, longer, wider, did the trick. Her brother, a year younger, was growing in the same direction so I put a shoe just on the bad leg as he grew up his last year before work, and we have had none of the problems we did with the sister. The sister, by the way, is doing quite well in eventing around the North West out here.
What happens with a leg turned out like these is that the weight of the horse twists that leg as it bares weight, this wears the lateral hoof wall which makes the foundation to bare the weight even worse. Any shoe will help with the uneven wear but thickening the lat heel jacks that foot up and in and gives the leg the proper position to bare weight and push forward.
In the last week or so of their cycle, that off hind will start to twist as they walk. New set and straight like arrow.

Bill, is that orthopedic application based on magnetic north or true north?

Bill,
Great answer - thanks for that. I will keep in in mind, to be sure.

Regards

Tom,
Re-read the post for content. The heel on one shoe is thicker, thus more iron. A faulty compass could give an inaccurate reading, so you just have to shoe 'em so they don't head south.

No one has ever accused me of being book smart , I understand how the thicker heel helps correct the issue , but im a little lost , could you please explain the compass side of this a little more . thanks

What about horses in the Southern Hemisphere?

when mars is in alignment with the moon and all things begin equal, would studs retard limb twisting bill?

The twisting is a symptom of imbalance. Watching thees two horses walk, with their size you get the impression that something would tare inside if you tried to force that twist to stop.

yes good point Bill.

how often do you shoe them Bill ? , how long have they been on your books ?

Six week cycle, Chris. Five years on the mare, four on the gelding. I'm the only one who's worked them since they foaled. The mare wears studs in eventing competition, (and has done quite well) just in the heels on all four evenly, just for traction, not to correct anything. I shod the gelding with the swelled heel shoe on his bad leg (the only foot shod) for a year before he started work, and he has had less trouble than the mare.

Bill is this the same horse when Tejun was with you and you posted a pic?

Yes, we shod the gelding.

I got to thinking about this question today. Those were some really ugly shoes I made that day. The horse did walk off better even though.
I made a pair of 3/8 x 15" bumped down to 14" and showed Shannon, who comes on here, how I do it.
Through out my process I was saying things like; "You know Smitty who posts on the forum? He would be done by now" "His would be much cleaner" etc.
They were nicer than others I've made, the nails fit perfect at a perfect pitch, and the horse liked 'em.
Trying to catch up to you and keep ahead of Shannon at the same time.

Pics would have been nice Bill