Posted by Phil Armitage on June 16, 2003 at 00:01:32:
In Reply to: Re: Please help our horse!!! posted by Dawn on June 14, 2003 at 09:58:28:
: : : I'll try to be brief, but it's a long and complicated case being driven by much emotion. 9 months ago, we purchased a 10 yr old QH gelding for our 15 y.o. daughter who events. (Her prior horse died VERY suddenly and unexpectedly). He was a western horse, who has changed careers. She has taken the time to teach him to jump, with balance, and they were doing great at 3'3 to 3'6". He developed a sudden lameness, grade 2 evident on a circle on the lt front. We thought abcess. Then he developed grade 2 lameness on front rt on the circle, with progression to grade 3 on the lt. Had xrays done. Vet said no DJD, navicular, founder, ect, but horse is flat footed, thin soled, with *broken pastern angles. Xray did show a dark spot on the coffins, which vet said wasn't "anything significant".Horse had NO heel when purchased, so he has significantly improved over last 9 months with our farrier's help. Did I mention that our farrier is like a God to us, and that we have complete faith in him? Vet said farrier cut horse too short, and recommended bute and 3 degree wedge shoe. The cut too short theory didn't hold because the horse developed the lameness 3 weeks into the shoeing, and it progressed with rest, not improved. Horse rotates out from the knee down, and lands on the outside quarters first when travelling. Farrier took the xrays to a farrier conference, and "they" said that the horse won't stay sound jumping those heights due to the rotation of the cannon outward, and landing on the outside quarters of the hoof. We have put equithane pads, aluminum shoes, 2 weeks of rest and bute twice a day. He is at a zero grade lameness on the right, and back to grade 1 on the left. My question is this....is there corrective shoeing that can help this horse land squarely on his feet instead of the outer quarters, and will this create more stress or alieviate it from the knees. Can we put corrective shock absorbing like pads to the soles to protect them, and will a wedge shoe create more pressure on the distal tip of the coffin bone, or make it more comfortable. If we did ALL THIS, would we be able to jump him at heights over 2'6"...like 3'9" to 4 feet? Thank you ...Dawn
: : Since it appears that this horse has conformation issues that may well preclude him from ever landing flat, the answer is that if in actuality this is so, then there is no trim that will allow him to land flat and remain sound. If the angle is indeed broken back, then a wedge pad with frog support may be indicated at least in the short term. Alternatively, you could use the EDSS approach(www.hopeforsoundness.com).
: : Is the horse still on bute? If so, then you cannot determine if he is truely sound or not.
: : All that said, it sounds as though this horse needs a different job from the one you have in mind for him.
: : Rick
: Thanks Rick, That's what I was afraid of in my heart, but figured it was worth a try to see if there might be some sort of orthopeadic help out there. He has been on 1 bute a day now for a few days, and still seems good. Didn't give him any today so we will see...........
From the sounds of it, your horse does not have the conformation or the feet to be a jumper. With that said, consider yourself lucky that he is getting better and sell him to someone who will just use him for pleasure riding and trails and get your self a horse that can jump. Whats wrong with getting the right horse to do the job you want, you. If this horse keeps on doing something that will hurt him, he is going to turn sour and you and the horse will develop a bad relationship and eventualy your going to get hurt. This may sound silly and totaly not what you want to hear, but you don't know how many times this happens and it can be prevented before it becomes a disaster. People want to hang in there and keep trying things or they feel they have let there horse down, I realy think the horse don't care who ownes them as long as there being treated right. It is us people who get attached, not the horses. Again, your lucky that he is getting better, there are alot that don't and people are stuck with them. Do the right thing and let him do a job that better suits him and find a horse that better suits you that can do what you like to do, all horses need a job to stay happy.
Phil