shetland walking on pastern.

[hppyappy]

I just received a pony that has severe hoof problems. He is standing on his fetlock on one real leg, both rear hooves are flattened out like slippers (6-8 inches) One more so then the other. One front hoof was very flaired out, his other front was just overgrown.

I had a ferrier come and work on him today. The fronts were trimmed. Rt rear hoof had the foof-wall totally rolled under and overgrown . lft rear hoof was flattend and overgrown. He was not able to take much off the rear hooves because 'the soles were flattened' and the toes severly overgrown. I was told to rasp the toe a little each week and retrim in a month. The pony has calussuss (sp?) on his fetlocks from them hitting the ground when he moves.

This pony is very active and bounces around like nothing is a problem. He is about 6 years old
I was wondering if there was anything I could do to further correct this little guys 'problems'. Mt shoer is great but does not have any 'special' training in corrective trimming (there isnt a lot of ferriers choices around here) I can take some pictures if anyone is interested.
Thank you for your time.

judy

[TE Couch]

Photos would be helpful
TE

[hppyappy]

Hello all,
Here are some pictures of the pony I already posted about. These pictures are taken after a local ferrier "worked" on him. I would like to know if there is anything more/different I can do for this little guy.
Judy

[hppyappy]

opps... I didnt get all the right pics posted... here goes again....
I added pic of close-up of left hind and different pic of him trotting with left hind totally bearing weight.

His feet dont really seem to slow him down, I guess he must be 'used' to them but I would like to try to make him as comfortable as possible.

judy

[Ronald Aalders]

Hi Judy,

The pony has adapted itself pretty well! And given the fact he's 6 already, just shows how tough he is.

I can't tell from here what exactly is wrong with the horse other than that for some reason the tendons holding the pastern up don't do what they are supposed to do.

I was wondering if the pony ever picks up it's pastern? From the pics it looks like he really uses the pastern for a foot. The thing is, you need to find out whether someting really broke as in tendons being torn off, or that the pony for some reason is just very flacid in that area, a situation corrective shoeing might help improve.

The first step would be to get a vet look at the pony and maybe have X rays made. If the problem is not permanent, there are corrective shoeing techniques that may help the pony.

If the damage is permanent and from here it looks that way, probably the best you can do is keep the foot trimmed, and maybe wrapped up to protect it as much as possible. (I was thinking about a skid boot reiners use. But the size maybe a problem)



Ronald Aalders

[hppyappy]

Hello all!
I have the Vet coming out next month (the soonest I could get one here). I have been looking at the way this pony walks and it appears to me that he does use his fetlock joint. He does seem to push off the ground with his foot when he lifts his leg as he is walking/trotting etc. It does not look as thought his foot is just flopping along as he is walking.

I have also found out he is older then I first was told. He is between 10-15 years old. I now know he has been this way since birth. Actually he was 'down' in both hind legs and the owner had both his legs splinted, but one splint kept coming off so the owners stopped trying to keep it on. He has never had anything else done to try to correct his problem sence then. In fact, he hasnt had much at all done with his feet the last few years. (which is very obvious).

He is still a stallion. He has bred several mares but none have ever foaled. (at least he hasnt passed on leg condition)(if this is heredatory which I think it could be?)

You should see his float around his paddock! Even with his feet in such condition and walking on his fetlock he gets around really well!

I was wondering ...do you think he adapted so well and gets around so well because he is a stallion and has all those hormones raging, which in turn keeps him moving. He paces the fenceline all the time and loves to "show" off to anyone or anything that will look at him!. If I casterate him, do you think he will become an equine couch potatoe, slow down to the point he will loose his ability to keep the movement in his hind leg? I mean, doesnt all this movement he does actually help keep him from being totally lame?

Anyone else out there have any ideas?
thank you!
Judy :)

[calshoer]

What I see from the limited close up views of the feet is the farrier is completely misunderstanding what really needs to be trimmed. It is not the toes that need so much work, it is the *heels*.
The heels have grown so long and run forward under the foot so far that they have ceated a 'rocking chair' effect.
The foot literally tips backward over the rolled heel and cannot support the leg. On these kind I trim HEEL back, to lengthen and flatten the base of support, so the foot stops flipping over backward. Then the stretched elongated toe can be chopped off (from the FRONT, NOT the bottom).Here is some pictures of a mini I am currently working on. He has a long way to go but you can see how the heels are being trimmed.

[Ronald Aalders]

That 'before' picture is great Patty! Somebody clearly misunderstood the banana trim here!


Ronald Aalders