Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] [RC] Low heels (was navicular)

Hi, Tammy.  

Can you tell me why you believe this?  What are the
physics behind this belief?  

What these people are talking about when they refer to
low heels is actually having a ground parallel coffin
bone.  If you look at the shape of a coffin bone (take
it out and put it on the table, independent of the
rest of the hoof/leg structure), it only stands to
reason that the best base of support it can give is if
it is sitting flat, not tilted.  In order to achieve
this, the heels must be low (around 3.5 - 4.0 cm when
measured vertically from the lateral cartilage to the
ground directly above the heel bulbs).  If you tilt
the coffin bone to any degree, then the tip is taking
a hit with each footfall and will *eventually*
degenerate.   This is not to say you might not get
many years of service before the horse has to be
retired.  But, you probably could have gotten much
more.  Having the coffin bone sitting flat also
balances the boney column to provide the best shock
absorption to the horse and the best aligment in the
joints which will prevent early onset arthritis in a
lot of horses.  

Having the coffin bone sit flat also allows the proper
tension on the Flexor and Extensor tendon systems. 
There is a very definite need for these two to be
equally balanced in their tension.  Tilting the coffin
bone allows the Flexor system to become too lax and
then causes all sorts of issues.  

I would strongly urge anyone owning horses to do some
genuine research and education into the inner working
of a horse's hoof and support apparatus.  This is not
about barefoot or shoes.  This is about knowing how
the hoof works so that you can prolong and enhance
your horse's working life however you choose to
protect the hoof.  Martha Olivio gives a fantastic 3
day clinic in which she dissects hooves and legs
(attendees can do the same) so that you get to see
what happens inside the leg and hoof when the coffin
bone is NOT sitting flat (ie., the horse has higher
than it should heels).   The link to her site which
includes her schedule is www.unitedhorsemanship.com 
Even if you don't agree with her methods and ideas you
will gain so much knowledge that I don't believe can
be gained otherwise.


REFERENCED POST:
If most Arabs are supposed to have "in general" low
heels...why do we have over 30 horses "Arabs" here on
this ranch...and not one of them have low heels. 
Better recheck this general statement. 

    If you are shoeing your horses balanced then, this
will not be the case.  Anyone that knows our horses
and have came to see them for purchasing will know
this is true.  We get them in sometimes with various
types of hoof problems.  But with our farriers, (Rob
Kalb & Levi Robinson) they soon start to form a normal
hoof over time. 
    Oh Yeah, they look just like the ones here on the
ranch that have never had shoes on.  Can't tell the
difference until you'll notice that some have medal on
the bottom for hoof ware protection vis over ware with
the miles put on hard & rocky ground. 



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