Posted by Jack Hammonds on June 08, 2001 at 13:11:11:
In Reply to: Re: hitting knee posted by Jonathan Cohen DVM on June 07, 2001 at 22:26:27:
: : : Five year old pacer hits left knee on the way up at full pace, tried alum shoes last race still hits, but a little lower down. Any more suggetions?
: : Debbie, I don't know anything about shoeing harness racehorses, except that it is a very specialized skill, and I wouldn't use any advice from anyone who has not been very actively involved in that business, and successful also. I am in the flat running horse business, which also has specialized skills, and am amazed at some of the solutions offered by persons not actively involved, even though they are experts in other areas. Good Luck, Jack Hammonds
: Try modifying the aluminum on the right front so that it is slightly diamonded. This means that the shoe is squared off to the inside of the foot. You can also try just grinding down the inside half of the grab. I personally don't like aluminum for knee knockers; I'd rather see the horse is a full diamond full swedge shoe. I think that this is a little easier on them. The old stand by is to lower them on the outside of the foot, this has never made any sense to me since we are doing everything else to make them breakover their inside toe. So, I will usually leave a horse flat or slightly low inside; unless there is some conformational reason to do otherwise. I will usually shoe both feet the same; occassionally you have to shoe the foot that's knee is being beaten the opposite way. i.e. low outside and breakover outside toe; this is rarely though.
Debbie, I think you are very fortunate. Of all the posts I have seen about various problems, you received a response from the person who I would ask for advice about Standardbreds, were I in your position. I know little about harness racing and shoeing, but I know enough about shoeing, to recognize the the quality and depth of the answers given by Dr Cohen in this field. He is generous in sharing that expertise in this very specialized field. Good Luck, Jack Hammonds