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  Discussion on Getting the Hoof Angle Correct
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 4, 2002 - 11:11 am:

I have a 4 year old that has his front RIGHT hoof growing at 56 degrees, and his front LEFT hoof growing at 51 degrees. What happens is that some times you'd think that he is limping. So my farrier trimmed his Right hoof from the back to get a smaller angle, and the LEFT hoof from the front to get a wider angle, but after 5 weeks the hoof grew to their original angle. Any help would be appreciated.

Posted on Friday, Apr 5, 2002 - 5:07 am:

Joe, two questions first,
1) what makes you think the limping is related to the angles?
2) are you putting shoes on this horse?

We have an article on club footed horses (Equine Diseases: Lameness: Foot and Sole Problems: Club Foot). Though 56 degrees is a pretty normal angle the same principles and recommendations apply when you have two feet that are a little different.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 8, 2002 - 1:52 am:

He doesn't actually limp because he is in pain, but he does it because the left hoof is lower from the back than the right. Its like saying that the left is canon footed and the right is club footed, but when shoed and you get them as close as possible to each other they will grow to their orignal angle after about a month.

Posted on Monday, Apr 8, 2002 - 7:07 am:

I think I would leave the 56 degree alone and pad up the "coon foot" to match it. Not only does this match up the feet (cosmetic but not neccessary), but fixes the reason you think he limps.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 8, 2002 - 7:14 pm:

Hi, Joe,
I have a gelding who came to me with a severe injury to one shoulder. The injury keeps him from being able to bend toward that side, and has caused him to move unequally on his front feet. The unequal movement has caused one foot to carry more pressure than the other and, as a result, the hoof that gets the most pressure has a heel that is worn down more and a toe that grows longer. If I tried to get his angles the same, I know they wouldn't stay because of the way he balances himself.
Holly
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