Posted by Quintin Wiseman on June 09, 2001 at 21:17:18:
A few months ago well about 8mo. now I recieved a call from a lady in serious distress. She said she had a 21 year old mare that was diagnosed laminitic 9 years prior. She told me that she refuses to move from one spot to the other even to eat or drink. When asked about the farrier she had been using it was the typical "well he is a real nice guy and he has done our light shoeing and trimming for years" We arranged a scheduled time to look at the horse and meet with the veterinarian. The vet had a emergency and could not make the appointment but had some radiographs there with a clinical history. When reviewing the radiographs I could not believe the horse still had a pulse for there was 21 deg rotation of p3 on the right with past solar protrusion. The left fore had 19 deg. rotation with multiple old and draining abscesses. Fully aware of my capabilities I prepped the feet for further shoeing and rescheduled for a later date. Knowing what I had learned of the horse I contacted Steve Teichman with Chester County Farrier Assoc. in Penn. He was coming into Atlanta the following week. He and I examined the radiographs together and concluded a plan. We decided to get real aggresive since the horse was severe with that much rotation Steve said he had seen very few living cases this severe. I called some other reputable farriers as well and we all agreed on Steves forementioned advice.
Well here it is I prepped the feet by drastically lowering the heels to the juncture of the bulbs trying to restore the angle of the bottom of p3 with the ground. We were not to worried about the DDFT at this time because the horse was so immobile. We were thinking that maybe a tenotomy may be in store before the next session. Anyway I hot fit a reverse shoe with a roller heel and filled the bottom of the foot with Equithane from the point of the frog to the rear of the foot. I then pulled the foot forward and rasped the laminar wedge completely ou from almost the coronary band to the ground surface of the toe. Sounds kind of severe huh. Well I just was not comfortable applying a heart bar to this horse, so we figured this might at least make it mor comfortable. Would you believe the horse was so comfortable immediately following the shoeing that she actually would walk with a comfortable gait. I have shod the horse about 7 times now and p3 has almost completely realigned in both fores she has a totaly healthy looking foot and sole and is for the most part sound. I think the most important part of this horse is what it taught me and what it should teach everyone reading this bulletin. Know your limitations as a farrier and as a owner, Don't be scared to ask for help or advice about something especially when it comes to the welfare and well being of the horse, We are supposed to be helping these animals to the best of our ability abd when it out of our ability ask someone for help you will be glad you did. I sure am. KEEP YOUR BACKS BENT. If anyone would like a full case history of this mare I will send you xrays and photos demonstrating tech.