my 14 year old arab gelding he was limping in the front i had cleaned his feet out and he seems to be ok ,his front feet are a bit warm. could it be from a small rock stuk or a brused sole.? his diet is mix alfalfa timothey mix he gets 2 flakes in the morning and 2 at night i have been feeding him c.o.b 1cup in the morning and at night i bumped it down to just in the morning incase hes getting too much hot foods i did notice his front soles were a bit flakey is this normal ?
@bunny2057 A lot depends on the true condition of the feet. If they get lamintis but actually have good feet, they will weather through, but if not they they are in more trouble. But if you feel he's sore cut out some sweet feed and see if it helps. But that doesn't sound like too much to me. Woudl have to see the pics to tell more. Message me and I will send you my email address if you want to send pics.
laminitis to a horse is not much different than diabetis in a human being.....the common ground is sugar/fructan ... humans get addicted to sugar and can die from it, that poor horse didnt have a choice ....and i do think that horses get addicted to lush green grass ......its a sugar high of sorts........so sad she died, hope somebody learned something from it..
what was the horses diet? her bad hoof form was just the straw....that broke the camels back...........she _ate herself into laminitis cant be caused by anything else..
I think you should cut those feet vertically down the center and make a video to the damage inside. I had done this when helping my daughter do a school report on laminitis. I made a display case of cadaver feet I found that were dried and I preserved them. After her report , I donated it to my vet as a tool for education.
Seriously anyone with a half a brain can see that this horse was in alot of pain for quite awhile, instead of filming this & watching the horse suffer as the minutes ticked by, it really should have been put out of its misery straight away, there was no way of saving this horse, it was far too gone. Sure I can understand the owner wanting to save this horse, but use common sense. Gee I carnt wait for the hoofs to come out of the freezer & be disected NOT.
You may be interested in seeing this vid of a shetland pony with overgrown hooves being restored to normality with the natural method, just type in: "Founder Update nearly 12 months into Strasser Barefoot Trim normality"
Thanks for posting, but I do have to say one thing, when I was a young equestrienne in the 1980s, two of the main horse health things I heard were: 1. Cool the horse down well after exercise and don't let him drink too much cold water, and 2. Don't turn your horses out on super-green spring pastures....if you claim this owner cared so much about her horse (which I'm sure she did, in heart) why didn't she know not to do this? It is a tragedy, either way. Knowlegde is power, thanks for sharing.
@vgoth100 I have to agree here also. As a trainer I make it priority to have a half hour to one hour cool down walk before a warm water shower-for cheap way insted of heater waterers-hook a hose to ur barn sink most have one for this purpose or mixing foods.-from hind hooves up to hocks and hind quarters. then front hooves up then torso. Pretty basic way to prevent that. Then never let a horse drink water cooler than 60 degrees after a workout or being on pasture all day. Warm is fine.
Maybe I missed it, did you ever do the video of the hoof dissection on this mare? I can only imagine what it looked like inside.
I loved the part of the breaking point. With horses with long toes pulling on the heel. I never thought of that. Well done. Makes me wonder about t breeds that keep their toes long like the saddlebred. Thanks for the videos and kudos to you for actually cutting off her legs. I could have never of done it, but it is very much appreciated for learning about laminitis.
I enjoyed these videos greatly, however as a full time farrier with 10 years behind the anvil I have to disagree with your statement that the toe flair "was caused by a farriers hoof trim". It is not possible for a farrier to caues a flair in the hoof wall simply by trimming the hoof. The most common cause of hoof flares is hooves that are too long from NOT having your horse trimmed on a 6-8 week schedule.
Thankyou very much. And you are right in part, but I also have one client that has a little spanish arab mare, that had flared toes that were at least 3 to 4 in. long. Hoof twice length it should have been. Her farrier told her that was normal for those kinds of horses. They may not be the cause, but many times, they are not part of the solution. And do not want to learn or listen. In this hoof the sole had also stretched forward so that there was a tight white line at the toe.
I also had one gal who was an apprentice for 7 years, and certified for 3 years ask me how to back up an elongated toe. So see there is just some knowledge that has been gained in the last few years that needs to catch up with people. Regards.
But also know, that I know, that I've made a lot of mistakes, and have been minsinformed, and can come up with my own blunders. I'm not as anti farrier as I once was and seem to be in some of these videos, now having my own mistakes under my belt and understanding more. and I also see how OWNERS play a big part and lack of hoof care, which is mainly their responcibility.
@timberfaller390 Yes Sir. I absolutely agree. as said before on the other vids i commented on-The woman who owned this horse was in the wrong completely and has full responsibility as caregiver of the horse. No one else had control over it. She should be thrown in prison for neglect and animal cruelty. Period-dont give a darn how old she was-by 70 years of life experience and common knowledge that woman shoulda have known better. there is no excuse for the prolonged time that this went on.
hello, mi 20 yrs old spanish mare was confirmed with laminitis today, and we need to move her to the other stable by truck, can you give me any advice, her right front hand is barely moving. please!
Thanks for the vid. My husbands horse is going thru a possible bout of laminitis. We think it was brought on by Potomac Fever (which we immunized for, but he still contracted). So far, he just has pain and stiffness and wants to lay down. Have him on meds and painkiller.
Yes, I definitely advocate having your horse trimmed every 4-6 weeks. Not just for hoof health, but you can see changes in the hoof that will tell you signs of their overall health in their entire body.
my 3 year old had that one her front feet for about 3 shoings, she had her feey done every 8 weeks from a 5 month old, she now has her feet done every 6 weeks with front and back shoes and since getting my new farrier the flair has gone, is that just normal for a youngster?
I'm an Icelandic ferrier and I stumbled in on one of your videos, and tonight was the night of laminitis education for me... I'm very glad that I've watched these five vids on this horrible tragidy because now I'm better informed on this disease...
So basically, thanks a lot... And keep it up.. it's great...
My horse was pushy when it came to doing his hooves and it's taken a while to get him to cooperate. I'm so glad these videos are here. It's really pushed me to be aggressive about DAILY hoofcare rather than every other day. And it explained about pasture grazing on spring grass. So good job! For those who do their own care, for those who are new to horses, this is a wonderful tool. And it sure put the fear of God in me about caring for my horse!
The hoof wall, which you see is about 1/4th to 1/3rd of an inch thick, and surround a bone underneith that is the same shape as the hoof you see. This is called the coffin bone. Between that hoof you see and that bone you do not see, is also something you do not see, and it's called the laminea (lam-in-na). It is like living glue. Gluing that hoof wall you see to that bone you do not see.
When the edge of the hoof on the bottom, grows out too long, like your fingernails grow out beyond the tip of your finger, but around the bottom of the hoof, then the pressure of the horses weight and walking and standing, cause the hoof wall you see to tear away from that bone undernieth that you do not see. This leaves a gap between the bone and the hoof wall. This is called a flare.
Because the hoof is a living growing thing, and the wall is torn away from the bone underneith, that laminea that glues it all together, goes to work and tries to fill up the gap. Many times also the sole on the bottom will streth forward and the hoof will look normal. OR it will not streth forward, and just the wall itself, you will see torn away underneith, and the lamina also called the white line (but it's always yellow like glue) will be strethced and black and dirty.
Many times people will notice a flare in the sides of the hoof, but will not notice in the toe. Once you understand and can visualize the bone underneith, then you can look at a hoof and recognize even the slightest flaring. Again it's when the wall is torn away from the bone, causing a misshapen hoof. But to many this misshapen deformity looks normal, because they do not understand the anatomy underneigth that hoof wall and sole.
Actually the hoof IS a continuously growing thing, but NOT a living thing. It is dead tissue cells of keratin. An insensitive non-fleshy structure without blood vessels or nerves. It feels no pain and is not permeable unlike skin tissue.
Yes you are right the hoof WALL is a continuing growing thing, but when I say the "hoof", I am speaking in general of the whole foot. To trim a hoof you address the hoof wall, sole, heels, frog et. and the whole time you are also thinking of what is underneith all that, bone, blood vessels nerves, things that do feel pain.
dahoss65 for you to say that a hoof is not a living thing you need to grow a brain have you seen inside a hoof go to the naked hoof site you may learn something, on the out side is hoof (a shell) but inside is soft tissue, the laminae & bone blood pumping organ and I tell you alot of pain if a horse has laminitis or abscess's god I hope you dont have horses!
What are you, retarded? I never said anything about whats INSIDE the hoof. I was speaking about the hoof ONLY! The hoof and the foot are not the same thing. The foot refers to the hoof and all its internal structures. But the hoof is only the horny covering of the foot including the wall, the sole and the frog. It is nonvascular and has no nerve supply.
The hoof itself is DEAD!! Like your fingernail. It is an insensitive structure. Btw, there is no "blood pumping organ" in the hoof. lol
The only part of the foot that helps pump blood back up the foot is the frog and it is NOT an organ.
And believe me, my horses are alot better off under my care than at most other places. I do things the "natural" way, not the traditional or conventional non-thinking way as does so many countless millions of lost horse people (sheep) do.
dahoss65 how dare you! this lady is trying to help us and you get all up and emotional, she is trying to help us, those of us that are doing our own trimming listen to what she was saying as you were not! you dumb bitch!we are saying the whole foot not the f..... hoof! it is about l.a.m.i.n.i.t.i.u.s get it! You wrote some stupied comment about no pain and you had to get all technical and rave on about the hoof or do you mean the hoof wall.. get it right!...dumb arse!
The whole hoof is a blood pumping organ, not just the frog. Hoof expands while bearing weight , calls blood from the body and pumps it back to the hearth during flight phase. It's even more complex than that, because blood flow happens in different times inside the foot during each phase, but my english isn't good enough to explain it in few words.
Whoa! What is this? The NH version of Jerry Springer? 4 and 5 letter words being exchanged over an informational video on laminitis? This video isn't about either of you, so stop trying to make it like it is and move on. *hugs*
Hi, Actually I have come to believe that the inner hoof wall is permeable because it has less horn tubuel and is softer. I am becoming more convinced of this all the time, that is why I TOTALLY quit rasping down hoof wall for any reason.
Thank you for your videos - they are very interesting and informative. In an earlier video, you rasped an outer wall (pointing out that one should not rasp higher than the bottom third of the hoof wall) - are you saying now that it's better not to do this? If so, do you just take care of flares by rolling the edge to take the outer wall out of load bearing?
That's a very interesting point you make about how the over-long toe pulls down on the heels in an unhealthy way.
Yes I did say that, because that was what I was originally taught and had read many times. But a series of events, and learning, lead me to realize that rasping down those walls like that, as many do, is the main cause of hoof problems, both for shod and barefoot horses. So I took those videos OFF, and am teaching why you should not do that. That was a great way you worded what you should do, "just take care of flares by rolling the edge to take the outer wall out of load bearing?" AWESOME!
Thank you for explaining all of this. Another question, my mare Abby is very "flat footed" as in her heel is too low to the ground. We are definitely working to get them in a better postion, but until then, they have to remain longer than a normal hoof.
Could there be bad consequences for leaving her a little longer than average?
The heel is supposed to be low to the ground. The back of the heels should end in a straight line going accross the back of the frog. The reason for this is so that you have frog contack with the ground, because the frog helps to pump blood through the foot.
What is probubly happening, is that her heels seem too low, because she probably has a toe that is too long, and your farrier dose not realize it. What happens is the toe flares, and people do not realize it, and it makes the heels seem low, so then they try to build up the heels instead of getting the toe where it should be. Most people do not recognize (including most farriers) when a toe is too long.
If you leave the heels too long you will prevent frog ground contact, which is not good for the hoof. Also with the heels too long you wind up getting what is called an underslung heel, where the heel due to the weight will gravitate forward. Then you have LTLH syndrome, which is long toe, long heel syndrom.
ill take a picture of her hoof next time i bring her in. its almost like she has no support from her hoof at all. it has been getting better. they are so much better than we we first rescued her, though.
Well, thank you for watching, and I'm glad I've been able to help someone, because that means the purpose of doing this is being fulfilled. Thanks again.
my 14 year old arab gelding he was limping in the front i had cleaned his feet out and he seems to be ok ,his front feet are a bit warm. could it be from a small rock stuk or a brused sole.? his diet is mix alfalfa timothey mix he gets 2 flakes in the morning and 2 at night i have been feeding him c.o.b 1cup in the morning and at night i bumped it down to just in the morning incase hes getting too much hot foods i did notice his front soles were a bit flakey is this normal ?
bunny2057 4 months ago
@bunny2057 A lot depends on the true condition of the feet. If they get lamintis but actually have good feet, they will weather through, but if not they they are in more trouble. But if you feel he's sore cut out some sweet feed and see if it helps. But that doesn't sound like too much to me. Woudl have to see the pics to tell more. Message me and I will send you my email address if you want to send pics.
thehappyhoof 4 months ago
Poor girl at least she lived some of her life without it.
Kaliegrl67 6 months ago
laminitis to a horse is not much different than diabetis in a human being.....the common ground is sugar/fructan ... humans get addicted to sugar and can die from it, that poor horse didnt have a choice ....and i do think that horses get addicted to lush green grass ......its a sugar high of sorts........so sad she died, hope somebody learned something from it..
buddymacs 1 year ago
what was the horses diet? her bad hoof form was just the straw....that broke the camels back...........she _ate herself into laminitis cant be caused by anything else..
buddymacs 1 year ago
what was the horses diet? her bad hoof form was just the straw....that broke the camels back...........
buddymacs 1 year ago
@buddymacs All the lush green fescue she could eat in the wet season, and some sweet feed every day to top it off.
thehappyhoof 1 year ago
What causes laminates? thanks
yahamagirl160 1 year ago
I think you should cut those feet vertically down the center and make a video to the damage inside. I had done this when helping my daughter do a school report on laminitis. I made a display case of cadaver feet I found that were dried and I preserved them. After her report , I donated it to my vet as a tool for education.
My preservation method worked well!
MonkeyDlux 1 year ago
Seriously anyone with a half a brain can see that this horse was in alot of pain for quite awhile, instead of filming this & watching the horse suffer as the minutes ticked by, it really should have been put out of its misery straight away, there was no way of saving this horse, it was far too gone. Sure I can understand the owner wanting to save this horse, but use common sense. Gee I carnt wait for the hoofs to come out of the freezer & be disected NOT.
taykyl001 1 year ago
You may be interested in seeing this vid of a shetland pony with overgrown hooves being restored to normality with the natural method, just type in: "Founder Update nearly 12 months into Strasser Barefoot Trim normality"
vgoth100 1 year ago
Thanks for posting, but I do have to say one thing, when I was a young equestrienne in the 1980s, two of the main horse health things I heard were: 1. Cool the horse down well after exercise and don't let him drink too much cold water, and 2. Don't turn your horses out on super-green spring pastures....if you claim this owner cared so much about her horse (which I'm sure she did, in heart) why didn't she know not to do this? It is a tragedy, either way. Knowlegde is power, thanks for sharing.
vgoth100 1 year ago 3
@vgoth100 I have to agree here also. As a trainer I make it priority to have a half hour to one hour cool down walk before a warm water shower-for cheap way insted of heater waterers-hook a hose to ur barn sink most have one for this purpose or mixing foods.-from hind hooves up to hocks and hind quarters. then front hooves up then torso. Pretty basic way to prevent that. Then never let a horse drink water cooler than 60 degrees after a workout or being on pasture all day. Warm is fine.
JWDragon4 10 months ago
Maybe I missed it, did you ever do the video of the hoof dissection on this mare? I can only imagine what it looked like inside.
I loved the part of the breaking point. With horses with long toes pulling on the heel. I never thought of that. Well done. Makes me wonder about t breeds that keep their toes long like the saddlebred. Thanks for the videos and kudos to you for actually cutting off her legs. I could have never of done it, but it is very much appreciated for learning about laminitis.
thefather1961 1 year ago
These hooves have a pretty good shape.
I'll bet they were overgrown previous to the latest trim as you describe a long toe.
This overgrown condition also contributes to laminitis.
The first onset of laminitis on this horse began 3 to 4 week privious to your findings. At least.
Here treatment came way to late.
semtech30 2 years ago
I enjoyed these videos greatly, however as a full time farrier with 10 years behind the anvil I have to disagree with your statement that the toe flair "was caused by a farriers hoof trim". It is not possible for a farrier to caues a flair in the hoof wall simply by trimming the hoof. The most common cause of hoof flares is hooves that are too long from NOT having your horse trimmed on a 6-8 week schedule.
timberfaller390 2 years ago 4
Thankyou very much. And you are right in part, but I also have one client that has a little spanish arab mare, that had flared toes that were at least 3 to 4 in. long. Hoof twice length it should have been. Her farrier told her that was normal for those kinds of horses. They may not be the cause, but many times, they are not part of the solution. And do not want to learn or listen. In this hoof the sole had also stretched forward so that there was a tight white line at the toe.
thehappyhoof 2 years ago
I also had one gal who was an apprentice for 7 years, and certified for 3 years ask me how to back up an elongated toe. So see there is just some knowledge that has been gained in the last few years that needs to catch up with people. Regards.
thehappyhoof 2 years ago
But also know, that I know, that I've made a lot of mistakes, and have been minsinformed, and can come up with my own blunders. I'm not as anti farrier as I once was and seem to be in some of these videos, now having my own mistakes under my belt and understanding more. and I also see how OWNERS play a big part and lack of hoof care, which is mainly their responcibility.
thehappyhoof 2 years ago
@timberfaller390 Yes Sir. I absoulutely agree.
JWDragon4 10 months ago
@timberfaller390 Yes Sir. I absolutely agree. as said before on the other vids i commented on-The woman who owned this horse was in the wrong completely and has full responsibility as caregiver of the horse. No one else had control over it. She should be thrown in prison for neglect and animal cruelty. Period-dont give a darn how old she was-by 70 years of life experience and common knowledge that woman shoulda have known better. there is no excuse for the prolonged time that this went on.
JWDragon4 10 months ago
hello, mi 20 yrs old spanish mare was confirmed with laminitis today, and we need to move her to the other stable by truck, can you give me any advice, her right front hand is barely moving. please!
araekala 2 years ago
Hi, I sent you a messge in your message box.
thehappyhoof 2 years ago
Thanks for the vid. My husbands horse is going thru a possible bout of laminitis. We think it was brought on by Potomac Fever (which we immunized for, but he still contracted). So far, he just has pain and stiffness and wants to lay down. Have him on meds and painkiller.
Yes, I definitely advocate having your horse trimmed every 4-6 weeks. Not just for hoof health, but you can see changes in the hoof that will tell you signs of their overall health in their entire body.
skeletonmom 2 years ago
at part .2.24 when you point out the flair
my 3 year old had that one her front feet for about 3 shoings, she had her feey done every 8 weeks from a 5 month old, she now has her feet done every 6 weeks with front and back shoes and since getting my new farrier the flair has gone, is that just normal for a youngster?
sorry about my million emails lol
you did an amazing job on her feet
milliesos 2 years ago
oh thats gross, i cant believe they cut the legs off.... i know its for studdieing but still....
jonniebooboo 2 years ago
They usuallyonly bury the horse's head ,heart and legs.They buried the great Man'O'War and Secetariat whole.
HattieLovesCattie 2 years ago
As gut wrenching as it was to watch - I feel it was helpful.
GoManGo3675 3 years ago
I'm an Icelandic ferrier and I stumbled in on one of your videos, and tonight was the night of laminitis education for me... I'm very glad that I've watched these five vids on this horrible tragidy because now I'm better informed on this disease...
So basically, thanks a lot... And keep it up.. it's great...
Hr1gunnar 3 years ago
My horse was pushy when it came to doing his hooves and it's taken a while to get him to cooperate. I'm so glad these videos are here. It's really pushed me to be aggressive about DAILY hoofcare rather than every other day. And it explained about pasture grazing on spring grass. So good job! For those who do their own care, for those who are new to horses, this is a wonderful tool. And it sure put the fear of God in me about caring for my horse!
captionsnow 3 years ago
No hoof no horse as the saying goes. The greatest thing you could do as a horsewoman is learn natural trimming and hoof anatomy.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
What do you mean by flare out? Hoof care really interests me. I just don't get the terms used :)
Stormhorse23 3 years ago
The hoof wall, which you see is about 1/4th to 1/3rd of an inch thick, and surround a bone underneith that is the same shape as the hoof you see. This is called the coffin bone. Between that hoof you see and that bone you do not see, is also something you do not see, and it's called the laminea (lam-in-na). It is like living glue. Gluing that hoof wall you see to that bone you do not see.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
When the edge of the hoof on the bottom, grows out too long, like your fingernails grow out beyond the tip of your finger, but around the bottom of the hoof, then the pressure of the horses weight and walking and standing, cause the hoof wall you see to tear away from that bone undernieth that you do not see. This leaves a gap between the bone and the hoof wall. This is called a flare.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Because the hoof is a living growing thing, and the wall is torn away from the bone underneith, that laminea that glues it all together, goes to work and tries to fill up the gap. Many times also the sole on the bottom will streth forward and the hoof will look normal. OR it will not streth forward, and just the wall itself, you will see torn away underneith, and the lamina also called the white line (but it's always yellow like glue) will be strethced and black and dirty.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
A hoof can flare in one spot or all the way around.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Many times people will notice a flare in the sides of the hoof, but will not notice in the toe. Once you understand and can visualize the bone underneith, then you can look at a hoof and recognize even the slightest flaring. Again it's when the wall is torn away from the bone, causing a misshapen hoof. But to many this misshapen deformity looks normal, because they do not understand the anatomy underneigth that hoof wall and sole.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Google hoof flaring pictures, or pictures of hoof flares, and you will get tons of pictures and articles.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Actually the hoof IS a continuously growing thing, but NOT a living thing. It is dead tissue cells of keratin. An insensitive non-fleshy structure without blood vessels or nerves. It feels no pain and is not permeable unlike skin tissue.
dahoss65 3 years ago
Yes you are right the hoof WALL is a continuing growing thing, but when I say the "hoof", I am speaking in general of the whole foot. To trim a hoof you address the hoof wall, sole, heels, frog et. and the whole time you are also thinking of what is underneith all that, bone, blood vessels nerves, things that do feel pain.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
dahoss65 for you to say that a hoof is not a living thing you need to grow a brain have you seen inside a hoof go to the naked hoof site you may learn something, on the out side is hoof (a shell) but inside is soft tissue, the laminae & bone blood pumping organ and I tell you alot of pain if a horse has laminitis or abscess's god I hope you dont have horses!
salty334 3 years ago
What are you, retarded? I never said anything about whats INSIDE the hoof. I was speaking about the hoof ONLY! The hoof and the foot are not the same thing. The foot refers to the hoof and all its internal structures. But the hoof is only the horny covering of the foot including the wall, the sole and the frog. It is nonvascular and has no nerve supply.
The hoof itself is DEAD!! Like your fingernail. It is an insensitive structure. Btw, there is no "blood pumping organ" in the hoof. lol
dahoss65 3 years ago
The only part of the foot that helps pump blood back up the foot is the frog and it is NOT an organ.
And believe me, my horses are alot better off under my care than at most other places. I do things the "natural" way, not the traditional or conventional non-thinking way as does so many countless millions of lost horse people (sheep) do.
dahoss65 3 years ago
dahoss65 how dare you! this lady is trying to help us and you get all up and emotional, she is trying to help us, those of us that are doing our own trimming listen to what she was saying as you were not! you dumb bitch!we are saying the whole foot not the f..... hoof! it is about l.a.m.i.n.i.t.i.u.s get it! You wrote some stupied comment about no pain and you had to get all technical and rave on about the hoof or do you mean the hoof wall.. get it right!...dumb arse!
salty334 3 years ago
HAHA!! You're a funny person. If you only knew who I was. But whats the point.
dahoss65 3 years ago
And btw salty334, my last few comments werent aimed at thehappyhoof. They were aimed at you, fool.
dahoss65 3 years ago
The whole hoof is a blood pumping organ, not just the frog. Hoof expands while bearing weight , calls blood from the body and pumps it back to the hearth during flight phase. It's even more complex than that, because blood flow happens in different times inside the foot during each phase, but my english isn't good enough to explain it in few words.
40328 3 years ago
Whoa! What is this? The NH version of Jerry Springer? 4 and 5 letter words being exchanged over an informational video on laminitis? This video isn't about either of you, so stop trying to make it like it is and move on. *hugs*
emr2e 3 years ago
Hi, Actually I have come to believe that the inner hoof wall is permeable because it has less horn tubuel and is softer. I am becoming more convinced of this all the time, that is why I TOTALLY quit rasping down hoof wall for any reason.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Thank you for your videos - they are very interesting and informative. In an earlier video, you rasped an outer wall (pointing out that one should not rasp higher than the bottom third of the hoof wall) - are you saying now that it's better not to do this? If so, do you just take care of flares by rolling the edge to take the outer wall out of load bearing?
That's a very interesting point you make about how the over-long toe pulls down on the heels in an unhealthy way.
burkintoshburkintosh 3 years ago
Yes I did say that, because that was what I was originally taught and had read many times. But a series of events, and learning, lead me to realize that rasping down those walls like that, as many do, is the main cause of hoof problems, both for shod and barefoot horses. So I took those videos OFF, and am teaching why you should not do that. That was a great way you worded what you should do, "just take care of flares by rolling the edge to take the outer wall out of load bearing?" AWESOME!
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Thank you for explaining all of this. Another question, my mare Abby is very "flat footed" as in her heel is too low to the ground. We are definitely working to get them in a better postion, but until then, they have to remain longer than a normal hoof.
Could there be bad consequences for leaving her a little longer than average?
Stormhorse23 3 years ago
The heel is supposed to be low to the ground. The back of the heels should end in a straight line going accross the back of the frog. The reason for this is so that you have frog contack with the ground, because the frog helps to pump blood through the foot.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
What is probubly happening, is that her heels seem too low, because she probably has a toe that is too long, and your farrier dose not realize it. What happens is the toe flares, and people do not realize it, and it makes the heels seem low, so then they try to build up the heels instead of getting the toe where it should be. Most people do not recognize (including most farriers) when a toe is too long.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
If you leave the heels too long you will prevent frog ground contact, which is not good for the hoof. Also with the heels too long you wind up getting what is called an underslung heel, where the heel due to the weight will gravitate forward. Then you have LTLH syndrome, which is long toe, long heel syndrom.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
ill take a picture of her hoof next time i bring her in. its almost like she has no support from her hoof at all. it has been getting better. they are so much better than we we first rescued her, though.
Stormhorse23 3 years ago
Thank you for making these videos, they are very helpful.
thatpete 3 years ago
Well, thank you for watching, and I'm glad I've been able to help someone, because that means the purpose of doing this is being fulfilled. Thanks again.
thehappyhoof 3 years ago
Sorry to hear about this poor beautiful mare.
A grim reminder of how easy it is for a horse to become ill enough that it leads to their death.
dahoss65 3 years ago