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  Discussion on Flat feet question
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Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 12:04 pm:

Is there a corrective way to fix a flat footed horse to improve this condition. Or is a trait?
Thank you Katrina
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 5:38 pm:

I am not sure what you mean by a flat footed horse Katrina. Could you expand on your horses foot conformaton?
DrO
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2003 - 8:44 pm:

Hi Dr O,
My vet was out today as my horse has a bad cough. While out I got her to look at his stone bruise. She said that he was flat footed. I am guessing his sole is almost level with the ground. it does not concave very much like his back feet. I always thought his feet looked like a typical barefoot horse. Angles look great, heals are a little low, but most bare foot horse's are. His front feet are slightly wider than they are long, back feet are equal in length and width.
I changed farriers about 6 months ago. My old farrier never touched the soles and his feet were tougher. My new farrier has been trimming the sole. I did ask him not to last trim, but he did at the toe area. This is the area that touchs the ground about 1 inch back from the toe.
So I guess I am asking if the sole (at least 1 inch from the front of his hoof)is touching or almost touching the ground that would be flat footed? I am curious, have his trimmings caused this and what can be done to fix this. Wish I had a camera. I am terrible at explaining this. It is probably nothing but you know us horse owners. We love to worry about our horses.
Thanks Katrina
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 18, 2003 - 7:17 am:

Most horses have a bit of concavity of the solar surface. But you hedge your description with "almost" level, this might be enough to be within the normal range. I think more important is the quality of the horn at the sole is it thin and delicate or thick and tough?

Also, is "the angle right" or "the heel low": you cannot have both as a-p angle is dependent on the relative height of the heel to the toe. The reason I push this is I find many horses with poor quality solar horn also have low heels and may be do to the excessive loading at the heels caused by this trim.
DrO
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Thursday, Dec 18, 2003 - 7:55 am:

Hi Dr O,
His soles are thick and tough. He has always been bare foot. I guess I will have to find a camera. As soon as I do I will post pictures.
Thank you
Katrina
Member:
Goodie

Posted on Friday, Dec 19, 2003 - 11:23 pm:

I have a 7 yr old mare who has one foot that has the sole flat to the ground with a tiny bit of frog and the hoof wall is actually lifted off the ground. She has a LOT of trouble walking because and ankle of the left foot is injured. I am not sure how injured, just keep hearing everyone talking about waiting for her ankle to "fuse". This bad ankle, the sole to the ground together have created major back and hip trouble for this mare. I cry some days when I see her trying to walk to the feeder. I was thinking of trying an easy-boot on the flat foot to help her balance and possibly take away some of the pain. She does really well right after shoeing so I am hoping this will help for a bit longer since the ice pack in the show creates more pain than she needs.
If anyone has any input on my idea, please let me know. Also, I will let you know if it works. Maybe this will help Katrina.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Dec 20, 2003 - 8:23 am:

Taara, fusion of the ankle joint does not occur naturally nor will it result in soundness. I have seen some ankles that the soft tissues around it have become so tight and fixed that it seemed the ankle were fused.

If the problem is pain from pressure on the sole then a Boot is logical but you need also explore why the horse is so much better following shoeing, perhaps a more often trimming is the ticket.
DrO
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Saturday, Dec 20, 2003 - 7:06 pm:

Taara,
Funny you should mention this. I just ordered old macs. My horse is not lame any more. He was from a bad stone bruise. He has never been foot sore before. I was riding in extremly rocky area's that caused the bruise. It was my vet that said he was flat footed. I am hoping boots help. Personly I think his feet are great. But I have made many misjudgements before.
My vet had mentioned when I asked her about boots that they are great. She has a seen a foundered pony in so much pain but loves the old macs. Easy boots are great I had them . I just found they are difficult to put on and off which is why I am choosing old macs.
I hope they help your mare.
Katrina
Member:
Goodie

Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 12:33 am:

Thanks to both of you for your input.

Dr. O
The fusion is something that I will be checking into if she is given to me. At that time I will find the correct area to address the problem.

Katrina
I am hoping to be able to leave the boot on her while she is out in pasture. I haven't seen the Old Macs around here but I have owned both the Davis boots and the Easy Boots and found that the Easy Boots may be hard to get off but when you are doing distance riding, that part comes in handy.

Everyone
She is trimmed every 6 weeks like clockwork and the shoes (when she is wearing them) are reset. The only thing I can think is that the shoes lift her off the sole of her foot long enough to give her some relief that lasts about a week. In the thoroughbred "World" it is said that ankles can fuse for easier future function. I want to have x-rays taken if she is given to me so that I know exactly what is wrong. I do know that the front leg problem has caused a severe joint problem in her hips. The only thing I can try to fix right now is the flat foot situation. Do you think a boot will really help?
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Monday, Dec 22, 2003 - 9:43 pm:

You won't know until you try, and it's always great to have them in a pinch.
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