Posted by Phil Armitage on October 04, 2003 at 08:48:54:
In Reply to: Re: Take too much heel??? posted by Patty Stiller on October 03, 2003 at 21:47:20:
: : Hello,
: : I recently moved my 6yo QH Gelding to a private boarding stable in the Bay Area- he is getting great care, but I have one problem with the owner. The lady who lives there has Tennessee Walkers and has her horses heels cut WAY down so they are nearly walking on their hairline and have a TON of toe! There is less than 1/2 inch of heel on them from the ground to the hairline!!!
: : My gelding has been a little clumsy since he was 2 days old, it is just the way he is- Though, this lady swears it is because he has too much heel- he is used for Western Pleasure and to ride on the trail- he has wonderful feet but I feel I am in a constant fight with this lady as she said "Once you take his heel down and get him sitting "BACK" he wouldn't be so clumsy!" I have been riding, showing and training for over 20 years and just met this lady, I know how I like my horse to be shod, and sit and it's definitely not on his heels.
: : Now that it is time for me to get my horse trimmed (I recently moved to the area) she is trying to get me to use her shoer and drop the heel down! I don't have a shoer I have used in the past but my question is this, is there some sort of "rule" that says how much heel should be left on the horse? How can I get her off my back and understand that he is MY horse, I didn't ask her advice.
: : Thanks for any help.
: : Shelly- CA
: Just tell her to butt out, as it IS your horse.
: Every horse has an individual hoof comnformation. Some have low heels, some taller. If the farrier trims the foot using the sole plane as his guide rather than a pre determined measurement he will get the heels close to what is correct for THAT particular horse. The toe also needs to be addressed at the same time, meaning the breaklover point kept at an anatomical place optimal for that particular foot. Heels that are too tall can indeed cause some gait problems as well as other hoof problems, but that does not mean they all can be safely trimmed short. Some are naturally more tall. Another common propblem in clumsiness and stumbling is a breakover point that is too far forward ,even in a seemingly tall heeled hoof. If your horse has naturally higher pasterns and heels and you whack off all that heel and leave the toe long, you could well damage his tendons. So to shoe every horse with short heels and a long toe is more than incorrect....it is dangerous. If you are in a geopgraphically new area, too far from a farrier you trust, I suggest you call a local vet, establish a client vet relationship by phone and and ask for a farrier referral. As I practiced in the SF bay area 21 yearsm I know most of the SF bay area vets and farriers and can help you find a team if you Email me privately. Patty
Totaly agree with Patty. I run into these arguments now and then and I am always stressing how important it is to treat each horse and each foot as an individual. Her horses may be correct for them and your horse correct for who he is. It is very difficult to determine what is right or wrong by just looking at the top side of the foot and alot of people do this and get into trouble. The feet will tell you what to do. Talk to her farrier, and find out how he or she feels about the subject. FYI, you may see some changes in your horses feet over time becuase he is now in a new enviroment, the enviroment has a huge impact on feet, change in moisture wet to dry, hard ground vs. soft ground etc...
Good luck, great subject and questions.
Phil