Posted by Tom on February 19, 2003 at 09:25:04:
In Reply to: Re: Trimming Mules posted by Patty Stiller on January 04, 2003 at 11:09:44:
: : I have been trimming this mule for a couple years and
: : still having problems with it. The front hooves grow
: : longer on the inside.So this makes a flare and rolls the outside. I've tried trimming the inside shorter on the inside as to take weight off the outside. Also she grows a lot of sole ,so I try to keep it back, thinking if i keep the whole hoof shorter then can get it to grow in the right angle. If any one has some good add. I really do thank you.
: : Tom
: She may be built with crooked pastern bones so there is nothing you can do to straioghten her and if you try to force it may make matters worse.
: I would just find the live sole plane by exfoliating all the loose chalky material JUST down to the shiny smooth layer. Uncover the entire live sole plane especially in the heel area. Stop trimming sole there, do not pare int othe sole any pfurther. The sole will reflect where the bottom of the coffin bone sets medial laterally as it grows to a uniform thickness side to side under the bone almost all the time(there are are exceptions to this in a few pathologies) .
: Then just trim the wall JUST down to the sole plane,or barely above it if you want a little bit of wall left on for extra traction .Clean up any flares on the bottom half of the foot and round the bottom edges and let her go the way she is. Removing sole beyond the live plane is VERY detrimental to the hoof in the long run, as it disconnects the coffin bone in the areas you thinned,lets the bone slip downward in the capsule and then she will continue to rebuild the sole quickly everytime you do that in nature's attampt to re-support the bone. Mules (like feral horses) NEED thick soles because they have less secondary laminae to connect the coffin bone to the wall compared to shod domestic horses.
: Patty
Thanks for the help Patty, I will use your advice. Also would like to say thank for the way you explain things to help folks out. Just wanted thank you!
Tom