Posted by Rick Burten on July 10, 2003 at 20:12:47:
In Reply to: Crushed/Underrun Heels - looking for any answers! posted by Patricia Lou on July 10, 2003 at 14:05:10:
: I have a TB mare with problem front feet. (big surprise huh?) When I purchased her, xrays were done and a VERY thorough exam. She had great feet for a TB and passed all clinicals with a gold star. She had heel on both and even though the front feet were slightly different (left one with a little less heal) - in no way were they considered "underrun".
: Over the past year and a half we have been through 3 farriers. The first one did a great job - but he moved out of the country. We had eggbars on the front as she had a tiny hairline fracture in hoof when I bought her (never has been an issue - has healed). These shoes actually improved her feet. She had great heel - better than when I bought her. Second one started the downhill slide. She left the toes too long and angles started to deplete. Called vet, and she verified that her feet were becoming flatter and heel was becoming underrun. She said to change it immediately or we would be looking at lameness issues. 3rd farrier called in to correct problem. We shod every 5 weeks to bring back toe. He uses normal steel shoe with ends that extend to the heels so she has support. As of now, - this mare has a completely crushed heel on left. She is completely flat - heel growing horizontally. If you look at the outside of her hoof it is a triangle with her heels being the base. Farrier says there is not much he can do. She was not like this when I bought her. She had an almost normal heel. Is there ANYTHING we can do? This mare is now flat soled on front left and upright and boxy on opposite foot. She is now experiencing sensitive soles and on our next reset we have to apply equipak (and possibly heart bars for support). This mare is going downhill. I am so upset. I have the best vet in my area and she is helping me - but she is not a farrier. Is it worthwhile to try another farrier? Is there anything we can do? Would eggbars be helpful or another type of shoe? Will equipak and heartbars help with this?
: HELP. This mare used to be very sound and used to have good feet for a TB.
: Thanks in Advance for responses.
I would get a new set of radiographs so that it can be precisely determined what is going on inside the hoof capsule, where the breakover should occur, how much sole depth there is to work with, etc. Also, go to www.hopeforsoundness.com , download, print and read the trimming tutorial, and read all the information about the EDSS approach.
It appears to me that the trimming and shoeing is , currently, incorrect for this horse.
The heart bars and equipak are not a bad idea, but hoof form must first be addressed, and the shoes properly made to provide breakover, sole relief and, here I normally say, heel support, but in this case, it may be the case where there is no heel support, as in, the heels are unloaded and the frog and sulci brought into play to support the rear of the hoof while the heels heal and rejuvinate.
Rick