Mild club- now no dish...??????

[hksuermann]

Horse has had a very small dish (vet said about a .5 club, really quite borderline) in his foot as long as I have known him (almost five years). He spent a few months barefoot (is now shod again), and now his new growth is growing out without the dish. It appears he is not growing quite as much heel as he used to, and is landing heel first and level for the first time in his life. Could this be a sign he is derotating?

[Jeanie Connors]

Whatever else it's a sign of, it sounds like your horse's "club" is becoming a healthy hoof once again :) . When you see the straight growth from coronet to ground, lower heels, and landing heel first in motion, these are all signs that the hoof is healthy and functioning as it should (and typically, no rotation).

[calshoer]

Horse has had a very small dish (vet said about a .5 club, really quite borderline) in his foot as long as I have known him (almost five years). He spent a few months barefoot (is now shod again), and now his new growth is growing out without the dish. It appears he is not growing quite as much heel as he used to, and is landing heel first and level for the first time in his life. Could this be a sign he is derotating?
Is is a sign that the farrier probably has the internal foot mechanics working optimally and with minimal stress on the structures that contributed to the club foot in the first place. .Take very good care of this farrier. ;)
Patty

[hksuermann]

Thanks for your replies. I have to tell you both that this horse used to land toe first, and only on the medial side (which was NOT according to his conformation, he is actually slightly pigeon-toed). He is now landing correctly for his limb conformation and is, for probably the first time in his life, able to travel straight, and his movement has increased TENFOLD. He also used to have forward issues, and now he is the most impulsive horse I have ever run across. He LOVES to work! It is so wonderful to see this horse as I knew he could be if we could just get him comfortable. And YES, this farrier will know how much we appreciate him!