help...

[shamineau ranch]

My name is Jill Kylander. I am the Horsemanship Director of a Kids Horse Camp in Northern Minnesota. We were donated a horse this spring that came from a riding program in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. When she received the horse he was very lame and diagnosed with navicular while there. She said they followed this trimming therory and the horse came sound and was sound when she donated him to camp. He stayed sound throughout the summer but has now come up lame again. There were specific angles and lengths of toe that she said they kept him at to keep him sound but didn't give them to me. She only had this website written on the owner info sheet that I had her fill out. We have tried the "old fashion" wedge pads & shoes with no success. I am wondering if you can shed any light on our situation and share some angle/toe length numbers with us to help him out.

Thank you.

Jill Kylander

[Equine Podiatry]

Do you still have the website address? If yes, visit it and follow the links. I am sure it will lead you practitioners of the method that was used sucessfully on your horse. Good luck.

[J.H. shoeing]

Jill,

Every one of these cases are different. The horse could be deteriorating, thus causing the lameness even if you are having the horse shod the same way. If the foot care has not been kept up you have a couple of choices. You can call the folks that donated the horse and find out who the Farrier was and call them, maybe they will be able to provide details of the shoeing that was successful. Or you can find a competent Farrier in your area and let them work on him until they figure out what will help keep the horse comfortable. If this horse has navicular he probably won't be "sound" but you may be able to keep him comfortable enough not to be noticably lame. The upkeep on this type of horse is labor intensive and costly, because it is a lot of work to keep some of them comfortable. I take care of some that require work every couple of weeks and some that do not need anything other than good shoeing on a regular basis. As far as angle and toe length numbers, those could only competently be given with a Vet work up and being able to look at the horse. Wish I could help more.

Good luck
Jeff Holder

[Rick Burten]

Any time a horse has to be kept at a specific toe length and angle, it is, by definition lame. From the moment a horse is trimmed and/or shod, these parameters begin to change. As others have said, try to get together with those who previously provided the hoof care and find out what and how often things were done.

Rick

[shamineau ranch]

Thank you guys for the insight and help!

Jill