Fairly simple today: in the picture above, there is one main thing. What do you think it is?More pictures and what not tomorrow.
As to how we bring heels back where they belong, and how toes are brought back as well:
First, we trim heel. (And balance it.) Every trim. As we do that, the entire hoof capsule begins the journey back under the horse.
Bringing toes back: as the heel comes back, so do the toes.
Take only what the hoof will give.... Applying a roll of any sort depends on several things: terrain, job, and hoof condition. In Finn's case, in about two more trims we'll see a vastly different hoof under him.
Heater A- white hooves are made of the same exact substance as colored hooves. I have to wonder if that old wives tale came about because incidents of bruising etc are more visible on a hoof that does not have pigmentation. You've seen for yourself how thick Finn's hoof walls are! I wouldn't let the words of the old iron hanger worry you. Finn will show you what he needs!
Mikey- the NB shoes I've seen used have been by really, really good craftsmen. The owners did not wish to pursue bare hooves, so they went with NB shoes. They look weird, but I like the way horses move with them compared to standard keg shoes.
Now I have a question for pondering: this is JUST a question *I* have- no pop quiz, no argument, no looking to pick a fight (cause I'd tell you if I was...) One of the arguments we hear about shoes V bare is:
- The application of a shoe locks the hoof into one shape, disallowing the required movement/ distortion of the hoof capsule to properly dissipate energy.
- For which the returning argument is:
But look at the heel portion on the shoe! Where it is in contact with the heels, you can see wear marks! The hoof is too able to move when shod!
My Question:
OK- the hoof needs to move in just more than the heels. Are the quarters moving in a shod hoof? It takes the entire hoof capsule to move--- not just the heels. So have any of you ever noticed wear marks in the quarter area of the shoes?
Happy Friday all....
13 comments:
I don't think that's normal sloughing off of the sole in that first picture. Ouch. It appears as if the frog was ripped in half somehow. Injury?
Great post as always!
~Lisa
Giant gash across the frog and part of the sole - looks like it may be growing out. Heel on the right side (in the picture) is distorted, too.
I use NB shoes on my big mare - I like how she moves in them.
Wow! Where's the rest of the foot? I see a really long, narrow hoof wall and can't even imagine what happened to the rest! I'm used to big round feet that leave a peace sign mark-from the V of the frog-when we are on soft ground. Could this horse walk?
Juanita
It looks uggleeee. I'm thinking the hoof hasn't been trimmed in ages and the heel has grown so long that the frog has atrophied from not bearing weight. Poor horse :(
Uh the horse has no frog and extremely overgrown bars.
The reason I use the easywalkers instead of metal shoes is because if you look here http://www.easywalkerhorseshoes.com/index.php?page=flexible One day two friends and I were riding just after I got my easywalkers. One horse was in metal shoes, the other bare and Indigo was in the easywalkers. We had to go over some big rocks to get down to the bottom of a creek. I seen quite clearly metal shoe horse teetering to try and balance. Looked uncomfortable on it's joints. Next barefoot horse went, no teetering but slipped a little. Indigo was last and I have to say she had the grip and no teetering because her hooves could move. Right now we have construction on the farm and theres a lot of random construction workers. The other day I was lying flat down on the cement in the barnyard looking at the horses feet from about 25 feet away as they walked across flat and uneven surfaces watching the bare hooves flex. All of a sudden I hear "ARE YOU OK!?!??!" Hahah I guess the guy thought I was hurt or something.
bars=heels blah
Did a big abscess blow out under the frog? Or did it get ripped on something?
Thanks for the answers.
I have learned so much from reading your blog. I enjoy Sonny's escapades and reading about your family (including the furry members)!
I am in awe of your blog and thus would like to award you the 'Beautiful Blogger' award.
The award is posted on my blog at: http://livingadream2.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-am-so-honored-once-upon-equine.html
This conversation is so far over my head, it's embarrassing. I keep reading in the hopes that one day the light bulb may click on. I'm a work in progress.
A sideways frog? From what? The hoof looks really overgrown too.
As to your question, I haven't seen wear marks on the quarters, but I have seen the quarters grow and spread over the side of the shoe.
oooo, tough pic! I'm guessing... that bar looks torn. Can't tell, is there a frog there somewhere? WAY overgrown. Show us that same hoof trimmed up pretty please!!
OK, it's a mess. I've never seen one like it nor do I ever hope to. That's my two cents worth. More particulars are out of my league.
Made me wonder for a moment if that is a horse, donkey or mule foot. I'm glad that you are looking after it.
Now, about the quarters moving. Yes, the heels move a bit, hence the wear marks. But are those shiny marks a result of appreciable movement, or of grinding caused by a very small movement. (I wonder this after looking today at wear marks on a horse trailer door - it moves little but had worn deep grooves in the supports.) I think that this is another area where accurate measurement is needed (and that may be a scientific project) since the "evidence" supports more than on hypothesis.
Interesting yesterday to ride my barefoot horse across stony ground with no discomfort, whilst his shod companion had trouble with the stones. Is a shod foot more flexible because more of the structure has been weakened or removed? Again, a hypothesis.
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