Re: foot angles

["Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

60 and 65 degree angles are pretty steep.  I kept records a few years ago
about "ideal" angles on the performance horses we were shoeing and printed a
summary on RC.  It's in the archives somewhere...I can try to find it.
Basically though, the majority of horses perform at their best between about
53-55 degrees on the fronts and slightly higher in the rear.  You can't just
say that EVERY horse should be at 55 degrees...we have one endurance horse
that we do who goes best at 53 degrees but she gains angle as she grows so
Nelson shoes her at 52 degrees to start and she spends the greatest amount
of time at her best angle as she grows through it...sometimes you need to
keep records to find out what works best for your horse.  Ask your farrier
what angles your horse is at and what length of toe and then have him
measure both BEFORE shoeing next time (after pulling the shoes and before
trimming the hoof and fitting the shoe) and see how your horse grows out.
Then there are those horses who perform miraculously at lower angles and
higher angles...for some perhaps it is just conformation or gait or whatever
and for some who have farriers who hack off heel or refuse to touch it at
all, maybe it's in spite of their hoof care.  :)
One more comment....you mentioned 60 and 65 degree angles on the front feet
of one horse...a 5 degree discrepancy is a big one.  One or two degrees is
not a biggie but 5 degrees is not desirable.  We usually shoe with wedge
pads if we have a horse who for one reason or another has that big of a
difference.  However, don't make drastic sudden changes in your horses feet
and give your horse time to adjust to the new angles whether you are going
lower or higher.  Dropping the angles will cause some stretching and pulling
of the deep flexor tendons but will relax the extensor.  Give the horse some
time to adjust...also make sure to question your farrier about the
possibility of a club foot.  Angles this steep are often caused by a club
foot.  Is there a dish in one foot and a bubble in the other?  Are they two
absolutely different feet in shape and size?  Please feel free to e-mail us
with more questions if you'd like.
Maggie