Shoe to the breakover right away or split the difference?

[HorseHelper]

I was curious as to how you all would shoe a horse with an extremely crooked back foot. I was told he cut up his hoof pretty bad when he was younger. Looks to have damaged the bulbs and part of the coronary band, changed the hoof growth and was just left like this till now. He is to be a barrel horse but twists his back ankle on occasion due to the imbalance of the hoof, which sores him up for a week or two at a time. Looks like he has a false quarter also.

I don't want to bring him too far too quickly so am planning on finding his breakover and splitting the difference this time, and working to get to that breakover point in the next few shoeings.

This horse is 10 years old and I was told he damaged his foot in his younger years. I don't want to over correct this as I am assuming this injury happened while he was still developing.

Any input?

[Gary Pfeiffer]

In my opinion you will not change much on a horse that is that old.

Look at the wear on the foot and it should tell you where the horse is most comfortable. Use that as your guide to balance the foot.
Break-over can be brought back to where the horse should be at in one step.
It can only make him more comfortable but take into account the damage that has been done when he was young.
Was the damage only soft tissue. X-rays and consultation with the vet may tell you more about weather the foot can handle much change.
Pictures here would be of help.

Gary

[T.N. Trosin]

He is to be a barrel horse but twists his back ankle on occasion due to the imbalance of the hoof, which sores him up for a week or two at a time.

Any input?

Sure, don't shoe this horse of they are heck bent on it being a barrel horse, you'll only end up being the bad guy.

I need to know a couple of things before I give you a serrious answer
1. whcih way does the ankle twist?
2. does the hock twist and if it does which way?

[HorseHelper]

Thank you for the replies. Sorry, no pictures as I don't have a digital camera.

The foot points to the outside slightly. The hock is square and doesn't turn. There is scar tissue around the bulbs, and a small amount near the fetlock.

This horse is sound 95% of the time but has come up lame twice, not after riding, I was told he has come up from the pasture lame on the back twice. They assumed it's due to a wrong step with that foot pointing out, and twisting the ankle. After he is lame they hosed his leg twice a day for a week and gave him another week off after he appeared sound.

I was wondering if maybe his scar tissue is getting aggrivated, and that may be why he gets sored up. They say he walks on his toe after he is sore and won't step flat on his heel. I am not sure on whether or not to pad this foot because of the damage caused to it.

If I can get a camera borrowed I will get pictures of it. I am going to shoe this horse next week, so hopefully I can get a camera.

[Tom Stovall, CJF]

HorseHelper in gray, deletia

The foot points to the outside slightly. The hock is square and doesn't turn. There is scar tissue around the bulbs, and a small amount near the fetlock.

This horse is sound 95% of the time but has come up lame twice, not after riding, I was told he has come up from the pasture lame on the back twice. They assumed it's due to a wrong step with that foot pointing out, and twisting the ankle. After he is lame they hosed his leg twice a day for a week and gave him another week off after he appeared sound.

I was wondering if maybe his scar tissue is getting aggrivated, and that may be why he gets sored up. They say he walks on his toe after he is sore and won't step flat on his heel. I am not sure on whether or not to pad this foot because of the damage caused to it.

Mr. Trosin gave you some exceptionally good advice, but if your client insists on using the beast as a barrel horse, you might find the essay at <http://www.katyforge.com/box.htm> to be useful.

[Andrew Grimm]

<http://www.katyforge.com/box.htm> to be useful.


Great essay Tom. I'll have to read some other info on your site.


Andrew Grimm

[HorseHelper]

Thanks for the replies and the article. This client is a professional barrel racer and I will do everything in my power to get this horse right. I've done business with this gal for a long time and she understands that sometimes things don't work out exactly how we plan, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

I've talked it over with the owner and we both agree that we won't be putting shoes on this horse right away. With regular trimming the foot will become more balanced (his feet weren't taken care of regularly for the past few years). She doesn't plan on using him hard until next spring, and with winter approaching she'd rather not shoe him until early spring.

Thanks again for the replies!