Posted by TE Couch on June 09, 2004 at 07:46:08:
In Reply to: Re: Strasser Method Question?/ Navicular posted by M. W. Myers, D.V.M. on June 07, 2004 at 21:56:07:
Dr Redden's 30 degree comment was published in The Horse magazine - he has not remarked about why this is correct, perhaps he will explain why. There must be a reason other than that is what it is.
"Specialized" shoeing and the lifestyle that goes with it is harmful, it cannot be anything other than harmful - Your feeling of "exhilaration" does not change the fact that it is harmful - that humans require horses do things that are harmful does not change the fact that it is - we humans seem to be able to accept the harm, but it seems to me that everyone who has the horses best interest at heart would look for ways to diminish the harm done that they accept as much as possible. Acknowledge this - I do. Some humans will not accept the harm done once they know about it some will.
Did you look at the case study I directed you to? How do you know I have no experience with Saddlebreds? I own a Saddlebred former show horse, his feet are contracted beyond the verticle and he has "navicular". The horse I directed you to look at is a Saddlebred that was a successful show horse in the ring, she is from a show barn in my area where the owner has for over 30 years been a full time show trainer / breeder, until recently when she cut back to 28 head for "retirement", she had 90 horses on the farm. The farm owner has only barefooted the 4 horses, the others are shod and shown. We also have a Hackney pony, now that is a cutie, he was a show pony but ended up a founder and was placed with a rescue - he has done well at his adoptive home living out as a horse, he is no different from any other horse or pony in his basic needs -
So please tell me what is/are the "artificial" differences between the ferals, the domestics, and the show Saddlebreds? Physiologically speaking.
Of course the coronet angle is one part of the healthy hoof and it's evolved mechanism, of course the hoof is the basis for what happens to the horse above - but if you do not have this part correct then the rest of it cannot be optimal. Of course few domestic horse have optimally healthy hooves, that does not mean we should stop learning about what is optimal and why. The horse can get by with less than optimal but it does not mean the horse is not being harmed over time at least to some degree, some to a greater degree. I doubt many horses in your practice will have the correct coronet angle. The shape of the hoof is dictated by terrain and movement beginning with the first day of it's life, that does not mean an Arab living on a soft pasture with little movement has an optimal hoof, it is really that simple.
Sincerely, TE
: I think you misunderstand "the hoof itself" total mechanism. The angle of the coronet band is only a very small fraction of the shock absorptive mechanism. It is also impossible to separate the mechanism of the hoof from the upper mechanisms of the limb.
: I told you the "backup of my position" was a seminar delivered on observations of many variations of the "normal" feral horse hoof seen in the wild. How much clearer can that be? I am also going to accurately measure some hairlaine angles and question some colleagues (specifically Ric Redden, D.V.M. and Gene Ovnicek) on this particular issue. They have seen far more feral horses than Dr. Strasser. If they say 30 degrees is correct, I will defer to their expertise and adjudicate you as correct. TE says Dr. Redden has said this 30 degree is in his note archives. I am having difficulty accessing them at the moment, but I will call him in the morning.
: To insinuate that specialized shoeing and specialized use of horses is harmful is a very narrow view. Police horses must be shod to "pound the pavement" for hours. Saddlebreds and Hackneys have been selectively bred to produce the action that is enhanced by specialized shoeing. They are an artificially created animal and have little to do with evolution at this point in their career. They would not survive in the wild and probably do not wish to do so. Since you have never ridden one of these horses in the show ring you have no way to get the feeling of exhiliration that you experience with your horse as you enter the ring. These animals love to perform, they are bred for it and they exist for it. To belittle them by insinuating that their very existence is "harmful" merely shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of desire to obtain any knowledge of the broader scope of the entire equine industry. I don't agree with many of the techniques used on Tennessee Walking horses, but to correctly shoe one and train one for maximal performance is an awesome sight and I can appreciate this occurrence. I even enjoy riding it.
: Please remember this quote - "The mind is like an umbrella, it works best when open". Working with absolutes and refusing to look at anything other that could be helpful or is even just different (even if you don't fully agree with it) will not be beneficial to you in the long run.
: M. W. Myers, D.V.M.