Front feet diff. angles - concerned, need help

[beamerhorse]

Hello! Thank goodness I stumbled across this forum while doing some shoeing research on my own. I purchased a 6 year old Thoroughbred gelding about 7 months ago off the track. When he arrived, he had a wedge on the front right foot ( the angles of his front feet are a little bit off). My trainer and farrier at my barn both decided to take the wedge off immediately b/c they felt it wasn't really necessary and could end up hurting in the long run.
My gelding has great balance and has never had any soundness issues at all. We moved him this past month to a new barn, and the new farrier shod him today and put a wedge back on the foot (without consulting me, btw). I am very concerned about putting a wedge back on the foot. I pretty much have the attitude that ' if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' I noticed today that he was stumbling more on the foot with the wedge also. I wanted some opinions on this topic, because I've heard different things from different people. If my horse was having lameness issues then I would understand it a little bit more, but if he's used to the difference in foot angle, what would be the purpose of putting a wedge back on now if he's having no difficulties? I came back from my barn today a little irritated, so I thought I'd get some more opinions. I just feel anxious about messing with my horse's feet when he was doing fine without a wedge. Thanks! :)

[calshoer]

Well if the track farrier and the new farrier both felt he needed a wedge,then there must be some reason. Although he should have discussed it with you( Before you panic I would ask the new farrier why he did it .(BTW I NEVER shoe a new horse the first time without the owner present for that very reason)
I sometimes wedge one foot for a variety of issues.
There are a lot of reasons to wedge one foot, so ask the farrier. Then if you are not satisfied with his answer, come back here with some good close up pictures maybe I can help more.
The stumbling could also be from somehing in the shoeing that is unrelated to the wedge.Perhaps the length of toe ot the breakover point was changed , (if the horse had the toe worn well off for instance right where he wanted it but now it is freshly shod with a perimeter fit shoe? )or crushed underrun sore heels, or sore over the frogs so he can't tolerate the pad, or something. At any rate there is not enough information yet to help you.
Patty

[beamerhorse]

Hello - thank you for your reply. I actually had no idea the farrier was even coming today or I would've been out there, so that's mainly why I'm a little upset. I'll keep you posted on what the farrier tells me if I'm still confused. I called and left a message earlier this evening just to get some more info. It's funny, but my horse's feet look almost exactly like those in a picture posted in an earlier thread : http://www.horseshoes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1500
Even the colors are the same lol front left white, front right black with the front right a bit smaller and slightly more upright. He doesn't have flat feet or anything, and I've never had problems with him being sore or stumbly after shoeing before. I've had his feet checked by a vet and he vetted out fine. It just makes me nervous that I'm getting such conflicting advice from different farriers. His previous owner also did his shoeing, and when I first went to try him out before I bought him, there was no wedge on his front right. When he arrived, he had the wedge. I just don't really know that much about wedges, so I didn't know if the wedge could actually cause more trouble down the road for him if he is just fine without it. My previous farrier at my old barn has a very good reputation here and I really trusted him when he, my two trainers, and my vet said to leave it off. You're right though - I do just need to talk it over with the current farrier. I wish I would've been there! :confused: Is a wedge more of a temporary or permanent fix for some problems?