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  Discussion on Heel length
Author Message
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 9:54 am:

Recently I purchased Pete Rameys book on barefoot trimming.
I learned alot, excellent book. I learned some things I am doing right and somethings I need to do different and more importantly I learned the whys of most of it.
However, I am still having some difficulty determining how low to take the heel.
Since I am worried about taking too much I usually leave the whole hoof a bit long, balanced and even, just long.
This means I have to trim a bit more often. Not the end of the world but I would like to be able to trim them 'properly'.
I have reread the part about how to tell how low to trim and for some reason I just can't see it.
Maybe someone else can explain it??
Am I correct in understanding him to say that the frog should be trimmed so it is not the lowest part of the hoof?
Much appreciated.
Member:
kthorse

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 10:24 am:

If your horse has a nice thick frog I would only trim the heels level with the frog so they have equal ground contact. The frog should have ground contact. I dont touch the frog unless it is flacky and just remove the flaky part. Pete has changed some of his trimming since the book. Like leaving bars alone. Most important is keeping the toe lot too long.
Katrina
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 11:58 am:

Lori,

I have trouble with that too. About 5 weeks ago, I took Cody's heels too far down,(after being conservative for the last 9 months, I got aggressive) and now I am waiting, and waiting, for them to grow back out. For some reason, they don't seem to be growing and it's causing me lots of guilty feelings and anxiety. He wasn't lame per see, but had some swelling and heat in his tendons. (back feet only here) His frog was touching first, than heels of the hoof wall. I don't think he was walking on the bulbs though.

I don't think one should trim the frog except for loose parts.

I think, and someone correct me if I am wrong, that if the horse is standing square on cement, you should be able to slide a thin piece of metal, (I used a hacksaw blade) under the bulbs/frog area at the heel. And, on some horses, depending on shape of the feet, at the quarters too. If you can't slide it under the bulbs/frog in back, I think it's a serious problem. If you've got 1/2" gap there, looking at eye level, then I'd think the heels are way too long but there are so many differences in horses that there is no one size fits all.

Comments anyone? I'd love a sure fire way of being 110% sure on heel heights too..it's my biggest concern after leaving the toes too long.

How many horses are you doing? I am trying to do 4 and find doing a little every 3-4 weeks works, just using the rasp.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007 - 8:25 am:

First let's be clear that there are many factors that determine how a horse's foot needs to be trimmed and ignoring any one factor may lead to problems. As an example the heels cannot be trimmed in isolation of the toe. If you do, you change the angle and ap balance. But lowering the heel and toe together can lead to a excessively thinned sole.

There is little in the way of scientific work that definitely answers the optimal way to determine hoof length. So any answer will be an opinion. However one opinion seems to have the greatest number of proponents: healthy normal hooves should have the heels trimmed to the point that the buttresses are even with the back corner of the frog. The article on "Correcting Long Toes and Low Heels" has a diagram of this.
DrO
Member:
gailkin

Posted on Friday, Oct 19, 2007 - 7:45 pm:

Lori, check Pete Ramey's website for his articles which are much clearer and updated than his book. To trim the heel you don't want to remove any live sole at the buttress. You leave the heel wall about 1/16 inch longer than the live sole. You have to factor in the frog length too. Basically, you leave the sole alone all the time so that it can callous. Make sure the toe is short if you have the heels short.

Angie, I don't understand your question about the hacksaw blade at the back of heels/bulbs. You should have a gully between the frog and sole. Could you clarify what you are asking.
Gail
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Sunday, Oct 28, 2007 - 11:53 pm:

I have four of my own and two trainees at the moment.

I checked out the website, you're right, he does clarify things.

I find it very interesting that now he is hardly using his knife at all.

I see when I pare off the bars they seem to grow back faster than the rest of the hoof wall.
Now I am trying to leave them alone.
Great, its less to do.
If I do regular work, about every 4-5 weeks I use the file only.
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