Club Foot elp

[Ben-Sturman]

I have been working on this horse for about 5 to 6 months. He has always had a club foot, but the farrier who worked on him for many years moved. That gentleman kept the foot in good shape and the owners say they had no problems. After the farrier moved, they found a new guy and he worked on the horse three times, the third only on one foot and was sent packing for hitting the horse. In that short time the club foot went from looking good to looking like the horse was standing on the bottom of a two liter pop bottle. The heels were much higher/longer than they are now and the front wall/toe was nearly verticle. The good news is so far this horse has not been lame or shown any sign of lameness. He is ridden once to twice a week, mostly at a walk in soft sand washes and some hard ground. He is landing flat to slightly heel first after this appointment, was toe first to start. I am just wondering if any of you see more that can be done (I know just a picture), have any advice, or think I need to be more aggressive and move quicker. Should have taken pictures of the soles without the shoes but the light came on after the fact. :rolleyes: Now, I'm fairly sensitive so be nice, just kidding, let me know what you see and what I could do or not do to help this horse.

Ben

Pictures:
1. RF Club
2. RF close up
3. Club sole view
4. Front view
5. Close up, foot back in stance and loaded

[Ben-Sturman]

These are the pictures of the left front.

1. Sole view
2. Front view
3. Side view

Just for comparisons sake. :)

Thanks.

Ben

[Ben-Sturman]

The title is suppose to be "Club Foot Help". Just can't type with short fat tired fingers sometimes. :mad:

Ben

[Jaye Perry]

The title is suppose to be "Club Foot Help". Just can't type with short fat tired fingers sometimes. :mad:
Ben


I feel your pain. :cool:

If you can get an X-ray it would help in making some adjustments , if needed. Here's a Rad of one that is close in comparison.

[Ben-Sturman]

Jaye, thanks for the rad to look at. That's the one thing I forgot to mention, x-rays are not going to happen, but I did ask. Got a polite no thanks. As long as he walks without a limp, they are ok with it, guess he will have to go lame before I can get the x-rays to do what is really needed.

Ben

[tbloomer]

Ben,

Nice foot work. I was going to suggest an eventer shoe, then I got to the picture of the bottom of the foot - LOL.

I'm still a rookie, so what i'm going to say is not backed up by decades of experience. It's just an idea that I've been trying out on club footed horses.

Have you tried putting your hoof knife handle or a wedge or something under the toe, then stand the horse square and see if he can still load his heels? Sometimes I have done this as an experiment in order to evaluate whether I can take off more heel. I'm not sure if it's very scientific, but it helps me get a feel for whether or not the horse will be comfortable if I take more heel. AND hey it doesn't take but a few seconds to do it.

I work on this arabian what managed to sever his extensor tendon. Now he's got a club foot - poor guy. Anyway, the last few times I've trimmed him, I stuck the handle of my hoof knife under his toe and watched how he stood with that foot loaded. Like I said, it gives me a feel for how much heel I can take before I pull out my nippers and go too far. For sure this horse's heel don't touch the ground when I wedge up his toe with my knife handle. But, I have managed to drop him down a few degrees over the course of about 3 trims.

I'm sure that somebody else has tried this Idea before, 'cuz I've never invented anything in my life. But if you try it, let me know if it helps you or not.

Either way, that's a nice lookin' shoein' job.

Maybe we'll get lucky and Dr. O'Grady will jump in here and throw in his $2.00 on the situation.

Good luck on you.

Tom Bloomer, CF

[Ben-Sturman]

Thanks Tom, I will give that a try next time and see how it works.

Ben

[Phil Armitage]

Nice job Ben, looks like your doing the best with what the horse has. I would say this horse has a high grade club. The best thing to do is follow the sole plane like you are doing and keep that toe dressed back, use the widest part of the foot and junction of the bars to find breakover. What your doing looks good and balanced. Nice shoe fit and nice nailing. Sometimes these feet can get away from us depending on the enviroment, retained sole and thrush. The frog looks great on that foot, this is a good sign, shows good circulation and that the foot is functioning without pain.


Tom I like your idea with placeing something under the toe, I will have to try that on few horses I do and let you know.