RE Part II Foot Angles

[Karen Standefer <hrschk@yahoo.com>]

>>Again, as I described above, I would say that Roy
had a "boxy" foot, rather than a "clubby" foot.  If
the latter, lowering his heels would have created
greater P3 rotation, rather than reducing it.  Re
ardless, this was definitely the solution for this
horse.<<

As mentioned earlier, my farrier and vet diagnosed
this horse, through x-rays, as club footed.   His
coffin bone is now ground parallel as evidenced from
the latest set of x-rays.  And, his hoof is the same
angle and heel height as the other hoof.  It took 8
months to accomplish (maybe closer to a year if you
include the time we gave him off before we started
actively making the changes).

>>don't know of any farrier anywhere who would say
that P3 should not be ground parallel in a normal
(i.e. not club footed) horse.<<

Believe me, we run into way more who don't believe
this to be correct.  Even Gene Ovnicek does not agree
with the ground parallel coffin bone.  It's refreshing
to run into professionals who agree with this concept.
 I have NEVER has a farrier suggest I get x-rays on my
horse.  It is very refreshing to hear you suggest
this, also.  I know that some farriers to
request/require x-rays.  I just never have had the
pleasure to work with one.  But, that's another topic
:-)  Your exception to a club hoof surprises me.  The
hoof can't be healthy unless it IS ground parallel. 
So, getting that club hoof corrected is paramount to
insuring the hoof as well as the boney column and
musculature is healthy.

>>Actually the pastern angle changes, but it doesn't
FOLLOW the foot, it changes in the opposite way.  That
is, if you raise the heel you will lower the 
pastern (kind of like backing up a trailer ...) and
vice versa. <<

Yes,I agree it works this way until you have effected
the way the coffin bone is suspended inside the hoof
capsule.  Then, the pastern angle will match the
coffin bone angle again.   This is another case where,
if you need to change the hoof angle and pastern
angle, you need to be trimming once or twice a week so
that you keep the hoof consistent in order to force
the laminae to allow the coffin bone to move inside
the hoof.  But, since the p1,2,3 alignment is off and
not optimal on a horse like this, it is best to affect
the change, even if it takes time, because this horse
will likely develop ringbone or arthritis if it's not
corrected.  That was my farrier and vet's prognosis
for Roy's rear hoof/leg.  Now, we've corrected them so
that the angle of the pastern is correct and the horse
lands straight now instead of sliding to the inside
which was putting undue stress on those joints. 
X-rays show a correctly aligned P1,2,3 now.

>>The first statement I agree with.  I also believe
that we can correct or improve founder, navicular, and
many other things with judicious care. But I also
think there are plenty of things that can't be fixed
and DO need to be accommodated.<<

You and I will have to disagree here, too as I've
already proven to myself and clients that it can be
done.  Accomodating these pathologies leaves the horse
vulnerable to worse maladies like Ringbone, navicular
and career ending arthritis.  There is no reason to
accomodate them when they can be corrected.
I'm a bit puzzled as to why you would not be
interested in learning more about how we affect these
changes rather than arguing that they can't be done. 
They clearly can be done.  It's long and arduous, but
the horse is ultimately the winner.  And, yes, it
might mean for some that they're not going to be
competing while undergoing these changes.  But, hey,
they'd just end up with a longer competetive life in
the end.  So, it seems worth it to me.

Karen





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