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NJ
New Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 27, 2006 - 8:04 pm: |   |
Hi Dr O,
I have a 14 year old paint mare that has a inside right hide suspensory branch injury. I have read alot about long toes and low heels should be avoided especially in horses with suspensory injuries. I have read your articles about proper trimming and shoeing but I am still uncertain about a few things. And I have 2 farriers with different opinions.
I have read that square toes are also good for horses with a suspensory injuries. Is this generally true?
What is a squared toe? I have had 2 farriers look at my horses hind hooves and one said her toe wall should be rasped back so the last 1/2 - 3/4 inches of the front of her toe is at a steeper angle than the angle of the rest of her hoof and pastern. Is this a square toe? The other farrier said that the angle of the pastern should be followed all the way to the ground on the hoof wall of the toe and that rasping the front toe to a steeper angle weakens the hoof wall. I am not which method is better for my horse given her suspensory injury. |
NJ
New Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 28, 2006 - 7:08 am: | |
Also Dr. O,
What is a rolled toe? Is that a shoe that has a slope on the front of the toe (kind of like the toe of people's running sneakers) or is a rolled toe the way the hoof is trimmed? |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 16263
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 28, 2006 - 7:50 am: | |
You describe two ways to square off a toe though I would not stick with those specific numbers on the amount of toe to remove. I try to square a toe back to where at the tip of the toe I just reach the white line and square off from there. Though more attractive I don't tend to rasp the whole front to blend this in with the wall for the reason that farrier gives you. I might blend it is a little ways up to avoid a chopped off appearance and more like that of a severely rolled toe look. From a functional standpoint of reducing work of break-over it does not matter which you do. For more on trimming and shoeing recommendations for suspensory injuries see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Treatment Methods » Rehabilitating Injuries to the Tendons and Ligaments.
DrO |
NJ
New Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 4
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:34 pm: | |
Hi Dr. O,
In the next few postings, I have attached some photos of my horse's right hind hoof (the one with the suspensory injury). Would you be able to provide me with some thoughts regarding the following .....
What do you think about her heel?
Are her toes round sufficiently or are her toes too long?
Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks |
NJ
New Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:43 pm: | |
Here is her outside right hind hoof
 |
NJ
Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 6
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:44 pm: | |
Here is her outside right hind hoof
|
NJ
Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:52 pm: | |
Here is her inside right hind hoof |
NJ
Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 8
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:56 pm: | |
front right hind |
NJ
Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 8:59 pm: | |
Back right hind |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 16279
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 6:35 am: | |
This appears to be a blended attempt at squaring the toe and I think a bit more could be squared off in the front to ease break-over NJ. Both the ap balance and the heels look OK to me. The left rear seems to be suffering from a bit of collapse but it may be just the photo and that odd dark staining making it appear that way in the photo.
DrO |
NJ
Member
Username: Ngj17
Post Number: 10
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 9:11 am: | |
Hi Dr. O,
When you say the left rear, do you mean the left rear view of the right hind foot? Which photo(s) are you speaking to?
Just want to make sure I understand.
Thanks |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 16282
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 11:13 am: | |
Sorry NJ, the left rear foot shown in the topmost image.
DrO |
