Posted by Patty Stiller on November 28, 2003 at 16:47:18:
In Reply to: Trimming all heel and leaving long toes? posted by Lynne Shanks on November 28, 2003 at 11:17:16:
: Quick question, is it correct to trim the heels and leave long toes on a horse with an injury to a tendon? Despite spending over £200 on vets fees my blacksmith is still doing this dsespite seeing the x-rays. Is there anywhere that would be ablt to look at my horses feet (photograph) and tell me if they are correct or not? Kind regards Lynne
You can post pics here,m ask the webmaster hor,w oor you can post them on any website where you an create a picture albums and refer folks to thatHowever there is more to ascessing hoof balance ans correct alignment tha one or two photos. It really takes a look inside the foot as well, with radiographs.
In general, It iS correct to trim the heels before applying any kind of shoe. If the heels are left tall in the attempt to align the bones internally, they eventually develop internal bruising and other pathologies which can cause eventual heel pain and lameness. Once the heels are properly trimmed down, then IF needed the farier can apply wedge pads, frog support or whatever combination to raise the foot. However, added wedges are needed far less than many folks think, after the foot(especially the heels)is properly trimmed AND the breakover point is addressed. It has to be a Two part system. Heels AND breakover.
The 'long toe' issue needs some clarification. Often a toe may be trimmed as short as it possibly can from the bottom without invading live sole tissue, but then still appears very long due to distortion which has stretched it forward over time. If that is the case, the point of the shoe needs to be carefuly placed somewhere behind the stretched toe in a spot very specific to the tip of the coffin bone, which is where where it would have been withuot the stretching.
That way the toe is effectively 'shortened', reducing leverage on the tendon without invading vital supportive layers of sole.
However if the toe is stretched forward/elongated, but the farrier fits the shoe out to the forward edge, then he has increased leverage on the tendon, and that is incorrect.
So the answer partly depends on whether you are seeing a toe that is stretched forward but has a thin sole and cannot be trimmed from the bottom any more, or whether the toe really can be trimmed more from the bottom, and where the breakover point of the shoe itself lies in relation to the bones inside. To be most accurate in the treatment, the vet and farrier must be co-operating, should be working with the radiographs .it is helpful the first time or two for the vet to take two "post shoeing" radiograph views of each foot in order to re check the the alignment of the bones, the medial lateral balance of the foot and the placement of the breakover of the shoe itself relative to the tip of the coffin bone.
Films for the purpose of helping the fsrrier need to be done in a manner specific for this, which may be a little different set-up than for looking just for bone pathology. There has been plenty of discussion in this and other websites on how to do " just for the farrier" Xrays.
If the veterinarian has sen the finished shoeign iand is unhappy wit hthe work, he needs ot comtact the farrier directly(which heshould have in the first place) and sdiscuss it. If the farrier is unwilling to follow the specific guidelines provided by the Xrays, then the vet needs to find you another farrier. Patty