Posted by Bill Adams on June 14, 2003 at 23:25:31:
In Reply to: Re: NB Trim observations posted by Gary on June 11, 2003 at 16:42:34:
: : I thought I would share some personal observations about NB trim. I have been applying the trim to every horse I do for the past 3 years, prior to applying this method of trimming, I was trimming the toe a little to short and leaving to much heel and the breakover was not correct. For me there has been so much improvement in balance, shoe loss, the horses movement and hoof quality in almost every horse I do now. Recently I have noticed something that has really stood out and has been an eye opener for me. The toe corners and sole calus are very dense and hard. I notice that when I float the smooth side of the rasp over this area in the toe the rasp will glance over it as if it were the consistancy of stone. It can be removed if you apply to much pressure and if it is removed then the the wall and sole are softer. The reason I am bringing this up is becuase I think many of us farriers tend to want a shorter toe and will remove to much and weaken the foot. I am learning that this is a natural part of the horse and expalains in my mind why horses in the wild can run freely over rough terrain and not wear into sensitive sole and tissue. I am convinced that this is the obvious place to stop trimming for toe length and it is like duplicating how a horse would naturaly wear there foot. Now before anyone starts ridiculing me, just take a moment and think about what I am saying. I am not trying to be a barefoot advocate, just trying to share some observations, that have improved the quality of my work and has made some very happy customers and horses. The high heel deep frog feet are still a challenge for me especially some of the qaurter horses and warm bloods that are too big for there feet. I struggle with these type of feet and still go back and forth on how much heel to trim off and to wedge or not. I am not sure if there is hope for these type of horses or not, they seem to keep going lame. I have listened to clinics different farriers and vets, some feel it is better to leave the heel some feel it is better to trim it down and wedge it back up to gain caudle support, which makes sense, however I do not see much improvement either way and if there is, it seems like it is temporary and all it takes is to much concussion or wrong step and go lame again. Anyways, your comments and opinions are welcome. These boards have been kind of quite lately so I thought I would try and stir up a good discussion.
: : Thanks
: : Phil
: I know what your talking about Phil. Alot of my clients would always say, "stand them up and leave as much heel as you can." I would have sore toed horses and crushed heels to deal with. After explaining to them and having them read alittle about the NB trim they are coming around! Not all ,but the ones worth working for understand and seem to like the new way their horses travel. Good topic! Gary
It's good to hear others who don't seem to be on a soap box, who are having success with NB stuff too. I've noticed the horses going better, and the owners have too.
One fellow, with a 6,000 acer cattle ranch, who wears out heel-toe chalked shoes, all around, on four horses, by him self, was my first real test. I had just learned to be confident with NB principles when I started his horses. I went through the song and dance, shod the horses and got called back. After about a year, he said that he had noticed that when the horses got tired, they didn't knock their feet together or stumble any more and that the shoes stayed on. If I've conned a fourth generation rancher, I've done it for six years.
Plus I bet there aren't many farriers putting heel-toe chalked, NB shaped shoes on all fours.
When I was earlier on in this bussines I would look at other shoer's work and think how much better I could do being so wonderful and all, but now I see other horses and feel bad 'cause the bugger has to walk like that.
My $0.02,
Bill