Use heel wedges forever?

[Martha Peddicord]

If a given horse needed heel wedges to land heel first, when the horse is re set and the already low heels are taken back again, will the horse continue to need wedges? When the heels are under-run and need alot of taking back won't the heels be too low every time horse is reset?

2nd question about heels; Just where, exactly, is the widest part of the frog, how far back the hoof are you supposed to look? What do you do if the widest part of frog requires trimming into live sole to get the heels back there?

[Rick Burten]

If a given horse needed heel wedges to land heel first, when the horse is re set and the already low heels are taken back again, will the horse continue to need wedges? When the heels are under-run and need alot of taking back won't the heels be too low every time horse is reset?

It will depend on whether the horse has sufficient heel to avoid a broken back hoof-pastern axis. If the heels are under-run, then the objective is to get them moved back to a more normal orientation. This may require an extended use of wedges to attain correct HPA until the heels correct. But it is not the heels alone we must be concerned with. Equally important will be maintaining the shortest practical phalangeal lever which means keeping the toe short and the breakover located correctly. If no attention is paid to this part of the protocol, then the odds are that the horse will not ever recover a more normal heel orientation. Other factors will also affect the heel issues and they include the quality of the frog/digital cushion, overall conformation, exercise, nutrition, and to some degree, the weight of the horse


2nd question about heels; Just where, exactly, is the widest part of the frog, how far back the hoof are you supposed to look? What do you do if the widest part of frog requires trimming into live sole to get the heels back there?

Because the frog is wedge shaped with the apex of the frog being the narrowest portion and the back of the frog being the widest, in a normal, healthy frog, it is easy to see the widest part of the frog. In horses that have some hoof pathology, it can become a bit more difficult to see, but generally speaking the widest part of the frog will be the same as on a healthy hoof. It is important to note that because of some pathologies or confgormational flaws, the heels may not extend to the widest part of the frog, and trying to make them do so can seriously hurt the horse.

I do not trim into true live sole to move the heels back, nor do I recommend anyone else undertake this kind of invasive trimming. I feel that that is always a bad idea. With many horses, the process can be achieved over time with the heels progressively moving back to a more normal orientation.

[calshoer]

Trim to the live sole..that takes you TOWARD the widest part of the frog. The frog is not the guide, the sole is. Gene does not say to trim TO the widest part. Just toward it.
If Gene ever takes heels back aggressively on a badly deformed foot, he is very clear that it is only to be done ONCE, not repeatedly.

In normal front feet if you leave about 1/8" of wall sticking up beyond the live sole in the widest part of the foot ,(where the sole arches up some) that is about right. That usually brings the very back of the heel just level with the live sole . Go to the NB tutorial and look at this part if you haven't in a while)

Does the horse need the wedges? If he still lands toe first, then yes. If he lands heel first, then no.
Some horses have such inherent internal foot weakness or an advanced pathology that they may need the added support and wedges forever, some may not.
It depends on why they were landing toe first before, and if ithe original problem is corrected. Patty