Laminitis or Navicular?

[Ron Barnett]

I have a client that has a pony that the vet diagnosed as laminitis. This past trim as the one before I cut back the toe to decrease the stress and increase the break over. I then noticed the pony as being led off walking on his toes not "rocked back". What is happening and what do I do to correct this?

[THamilton]

Pictures are a great aide.

How are you addressing the heels?

Tony

[Phil Armitage]

The toe first landing with laminitis could be response to pain causeing tightning of the muscle and more pull on the DDFT. I would keep this pony stalled, no grain and no green grass until you get it figured out. Sounds like a possible rotator. Rockering the toe is a goog thing, just be carefull not to remove too much sole in the area of P3. The caudle aspect of the hoof could also be very sore maybe a sinker.

[calshoer]

Pictures would help a lot including the soles. Pain will indeed cause involuntary contraction of the flexor musclesand the "heels high ,feet forward on the toes" stance.
The heels may need trimming too, to get the back of the foot functioning more correctly, but then stacking on wedge pads (taped on , whatever if it is a small pony) enough to support the back of the foot so the muscles can relax. If they continue to contract, a surgical tenotomy may have to be considered, sooner rather than later. I find that if they go up on their toes like that and it isnt corrected quickly, the sometimes never recover.
Patty