Dances with Hooves wrote:
owen charles wrote:
If you like George I could start a thead on NB shoeing.Your input will be much appreciated.
I think NB shoeing would be a fine topic for discussion although we have indeed discussed it a lot here if you use the search function. I sure don't want to side track this thread anymore which is about negative palamer angles so if you wish feel free to start another thread and I will contribute there.
Back to topic I feel failure to adaquately address retained sole at the toe over repeated shoeings leads to the collapse of the digital cushion at the heels. The heels failing and excess toe drive the negative angles. Methods to keep on track at the toe could involve getting good at identifiying the sole plane, use of hoof testers at the toe to embolden one to remove toe or simply a basic tape measure to evaluate toe leagnth.
Hi George, that is very interesting, do you think that long toes are a result of not enough toe length removed ? as always it depends i know

But im thinking of those horses who live in stalls and have suffcient foot growth through the cycle

obviously not trimming the toe enough will be a factor in negative palmar angle, but dont we all trim the toe ? i know for myself i tend to be conservative with my sole trimming at the toe .
how do you use a testers to decide how much more you can trim?
If i can make the sole move with moderate pressure how much sole depth do i have, 10 mm ? Obviously it depends on moisture content, or no ? just wondering how you decide when to stop ?
I have always thought that npa was soft tissue failure in the back of the foot and it came first, then the long toe, not the other way around. im learning
maybe im splitting hairs sorry if i am

but in the south here most feet are too wet, so if the digital cushion is weak the heels wont hold up on their own most of the time .
Im not sure what type of horses you shoe, but i shoe mostly quarter horses and many are less that 1000 pounds most probably 800-900 with mostly 00 and 0 shoes how long a toe length would this type horse generaly end up at in your area ?

Most i trim end up just a bit longer than 3" but on some that dense compacted sole has me stopping with the toe still alittle long
Your input is greatly appreciated !