Re: Dished feet on very upright yearling, help please!

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Posted by Derin Foor on May 30, 2003 at 21:39:30:

In Reply to: Re: Dished feet on very upright yearling, help please! posted by Gary on May 29, 2003 at 18:25:19:

: : : : I have a tall (15.2) Warmblood/Thoroughbred yearling with very long, upright pasterns. His feet are 56 and 57 degrees. I suspect we have been dropping the heel a little too low, and/or "breaking" the angle between hoof wall and pastern, as the hooves have started to dish alarmingly at the front. What is the correct way to trim this colt? I have some very good close-up pictures available to send also.
: : : : Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.
: : : : Linda

: : : If you've been breaking the angle by dropping his heels you haven't been dressing back the hoof wall, hence you get flares. His boney column needs to be in line even if he's abit too upright, thats the way he is apparently. Good Luck! Gary

: : Thanks for your help, Gary. When we trim this colt to his natural pastern angle, he will be at least 60 degrees or greater. My question is this: as this colt matures and becomes heavier, will his weight naturally bring down those pasterns? Does the fact that his bones are growing so rapidly have any effect on the stretching of his ligaments and tendons? At what point (age, hoof angle) is check ligament surgery an option?
: : I can email pictures if necessary.
: : Thanks very, very much!
: : Linda
: :

: He might have flexor deformity, what we always called contracted tendons. Sometimes growing these horses up too fast with the hot feeds will do it. Best bet is to get a vet out to have a look at him and go from there. Good Luck! Gary

Linda,

Gary has given you good advise. In addition to what he has said, I would suggest a set of x-rays to start with. It sounds like you might be dealing with a bilateral club, probably feed induced.

It might not be too late to wedge this baby up and relieve the tension on the flexor tendons and give him time to "equalize".......during this time he will need lots of exercise and reduced feed intake.....this approach might help you avoid surgery

good luck

Derin

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: : : : : I have a tall (15.2) Warmblood/Thoroughbred yearling with very long, upright pasterns. His feet are 56 and 57 degrees. I suspect we have been dropping the heel a little too low, and/or "breaking" the angle between hoof wall and pastern, as the hooves have started to dish alarmingly at the front. What is the correct way to trim this colt? I have some very good close-up pictures available to send also. : : : : : Thanks in advance for any information you can give me. : : : : : Linda : : : : If you've been breaking the angle by dropping his heels you haven't been dressing back the hoof wall, hence you get flares. His boney column needs to be in line even if he's abit too upright, thats the way he is apparently. Good Luck! Gary : : : Thanks for your help, Gary. When we trim this colt to his natural pastern angle, he will be at least 60 degrees or greater. My question is this: as this colt matures and becomes heavier, will his weight naturally bring down those pasterns? Does the fact that his bones are growing so rapidly have any effect on the stretching of his ligaments and tendons? At what point (age, hoof angle) is check ligament surgery an option? : : : I can email pictures if necessary. : : : Thanks very, very much! : : : Linda : : : : : He might have flexor deformity, what we always called contracted tendons. Sometimes growing these horses up too fast with the hot feeds will do it. Best bet is to get a vet out to have a look at him and go from there. Good Luck! Gary : Linda, : Gary has given you good advise. In addition to what he has said, I would suggest a set of x-rays to start with. It sounds like you might be dealing with a bilateral club, probably feed induced. : It might not be too late to wedge this baby up and relieve the tension on the flexor tendons and give him time to "equalize".......during this time he will need lots of exercise and reduced feed intake.....this approach might help you avoid surgery : good luck : Derin

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