clubfoot radiograph and pix... suggestions?

[snoopydog]

http://members.cruzio.com/~kerrin/

Here's a radiograph and a few pictures of my 10 year old TB gelding's club foot. Notice the size difference, typical of club foot companions? He had balance and soundness issues as well as difficulty in keeping shoes on his club foot (3 shoes in 3 months which totally ripped apart his hoof wall). At times I thought I would have to give up and put a boot on.

He gets a work out every day-- ridden 4-5 times per week (arena and trails) and a couple of days of ground work and turn out so he's really only lightly worked (when he's sound).

One day my farrier did some research and suggested that we try a the sigafoos glue on and see what happens. After one "experiment" we figured out the process and he's been up and running ever since, completely sound! Though the shoes are expensive, the cost evens out because of the number of times I had to call my farrier out to help me with my horse between regular shoeings.

The x-ray was taken in July '05 (the cloudiness is left over apoxy and sorry about the mud!!) and the pictues were taken January 4th '06 -- actually the day my farrier came out and trimmed and reshod him (after the pictures were taken). My vet and farrier often work together and would like to see if we can eventually get a shoe nailed in if it makes sense to do so or we can stick to this plan since it's working for now although I am concerned about the long term effects...

The vet says that we need to take as much heel off as possible and shorten the toe and that he sees some chronic degrading on the front top of the coffin bone. My farrier says that she sees the bone reforming and that she couldn't belive that the x-ray and the foot she was looking at were one in the same! Notice the bevel in the front of his club. He also develops a flare by the end of his shoeing cycle (every 6 weeks). Any suggestions?

[calshoer]

Your website seems to have a virus!
Norton intercepted it , luckily but it jammed up my computer tempoirarily. Patty

[Rick Burten]

did the same thing to mine.

That said, In the brief time I had to look at your photos, I saw one foot that still had way too much heel, and another foot that looked long in the toe. And you say that the photos were taken the day the horse was trimmed and shod?

Just looking at the photo of the high heels, one can see that the pastern is begging for the heels to be lowered. Leaving the hoof in this state, it is no wonder that your horse routinely removed the shoe from that hoof.

[Forgewizard]

Snoopydog,

Look into Photo bucket or picture trail for posting photos. The flowers trickling through your website may be what some antivirus programs interpret as viruses or pop ups and will prevent some people from viewing your photos.

I agree with Rick, your horses hooves are definitely needing better footwork - especially if those photos are of hooves that were JUST tended to!

Lateral photos would help immensely too! But aren't necessary. ANybody that can see the photos can see the huge differences and problems in those hooves. Regardless of the club foot the other foot has tremendous issues too!

While I don't agree that both hooves should be trimmed or shod to become identical in appearance, to better suit your horse, they should be shod in a manner that creates similar movement and timing.

Regards,
Kim

[Ronald Aalders]

Originally Posted by Rick Burten

Leaving the hoof in this state, it is no wonder that your horse routinely removed the shoe from that hoof.

Shouldn't that be "removed it's hoof from that shoe"?


Ronald Aalders

[Rick Burten]

[quote=Ronald Aalders]Shouldn't that be "removed it's hoof from that shoe"? /QUOTE]

Is this a case of which came first,the chicken or the egg?

[quote=Rick Burten]

Originally Posted by Ronald Aalders

Shouldn't that be "removed it's hoof from that shoe"? /QUOTE]

Is this a case of which came first,the chicken or the egg?

I think the Rooster has been left out of the equation long enough! Gary

[snoopydog]

ooops!!! Sorry about the virus! Yikes. It was a quicky yahoo site I put together because I can't seem to attach photos for some reason. Clarification... these were taken before my farrier worked on him. I'll try again to attach pictures.

[snoopydog]

I have now solved the posting pictures issue.... Please offer any advice besed on your experience and expertise! Thank you...