Ok, outside of alot of rest ..How do any of y'all go about shoeing for this problem? Horse is a new client I have heard horror stories about it , now I was asked to look at it and see if there was anything I can do...the horse has some really bad feet that have been let go so the heels are so underslung and crushed...one year old xrays show the pastern really out of line between P1 and P2.. they did have some pour in pads but not sure they did any good with that attempt..I have nothing to lose on this horse because they already have over $20,000 in vet bills the past two years.. I have had two horses that are very closely related and have had the same issues except none of them tore the collateral ligament...any ideas out there? Horse was turned out for the better part of a full year...also suffers some bursitis of the navicular, most likely caused by the broken back aliment of P1 and 2?
I don't understand. Why invest $20k in vet bills and let feet go? If the client doesn't have a commitment to regular hoofcare then you really have no chance to get a baseline and track progress.
I am scratchin my head over to either provide relief or to provide full support..the somebuck tears across the pasture like nothing bothers him...?
a collateral shoe......that is a steel or aluminum stock and your are going to have to forge one out. I am trimming one right now; that is better without shoes; Chris was with me, when I trimmed it. had some of the same problems. forget pour in pads. Chris and or Smitty help me!!........you want to take bar stock 1 inch x ?? not sure.... you are going to make heels on both sides first; then you are going to draw out you stock half way up the stock to measurement of the hoof. you are going to thin out the inside branch of the shoe; but leave enough to lightly swell the heels on both sides to give an approx 1* wedge to take pressure of the bursa. the lateral will be the 1 inch wider side and the inside thinner. the inside is slightly trimmed lower to take the pressure off the outside. you can then make the nail holes, ect finish the shoe; leave the heel nails out. If anyone has a pic? and what ever these 2 men say; DO!!! and also I know a few others know what to do to. Eric can build one for you. I have only had 2 so far; and barshoes, pads, or rolled toes don't seem to work.
In general, you would add width of web of stock to the offending side of a ligament pathology or decrease width of web on the opposite side, or both. (Probably be safer to just fit the shoe as wide as possible on the offending side, then just re-punch the nail holes accordingly...can also hammer out a little width on that side of the shoe too) You can also trim a little more off the opposite side, but bear in mind that by doing any of this, you are simultaneously adding stress to the joint space on that side, and probably/possibly stressing the collateral on the other side when doing so. If you go building a 'support' shoe where one side is significantly wider than the other, you have effectively created a side weight shoe that can cause a host of other problems at speed. Most everything we do is a trade-off; easing pressure or tension in one area adds it to another. Before I jumped off the diving board with a shoeing/trimming protocol, I would recommend a regular trimming/shoeing schedule and a whole lot of rest/moderate confinement. Probably get the bursa injected too. Obviously, elevating the heel will help the bursa, but that is usually a trade off too. A heart bar can be a very good application for a bursa pathology...and of course, there are many other options. Time heals ligaments, not trimming or shoes. Get that in the owners head. Preferential adjustments to the shoe/trim can speed the healing process a little, but you must make the owner aware of the compromise to the other side of the limb. Get that in the owners head. More importantly, once you explain the trade off, make them be the ones to make the decision. (Take it upon yourself to trim the lateral side down more, stick a lot of 'support' out on that side, and tear the medial collateral and/or create arthritis on the lateral joint surfaces...you will be famous overnight.) Again, explain the trade off, then make them decide. With these type of owners, you may as well be trying to push a rope.
Y'all have hit the nail I was lookin for!! Great advice and I totally agree...um the owners have FOR the most part for the sake of safety is OFF the horse...I am takin it on as a project ! I will attempt to keep some photos of this process but bear with me on that part? This is what I like about this site..Good advice! Thanks!
Sat morning in Athens, Tabb Pigg is doing a Vettec clinic and I am going.. gonna pick his brain about building up the heels on this horse cuz they are so bad..I wanna cut it all away , engage the frog and get some lateral extension but I have to trim them feet into submission without soreing the poor boy first...T I M E ...
