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  Discussion on Correct Shoeing for Horse who foundered
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New Member:
beckyo

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2008 - 1:03 am:

I know this is probably a stupid question. I hope you will forgive my ignorance.
I recently bought my Arab/Walker back from the people I sold him to. I was told that after sold him, he had a mild case of founder.
Before selling him I had been showing him in gaited classes. He had huge, very healthy feet. My farrier had gradually increased the length of the horses toe a bit,improving his gait.
When I bought him back, he did not want to walk on any hard surfaces. He feet had been trimmed too far down. Even with shoes, his frog was hitting the ground when he walked. The shoes on his feet were two sized too small. I immediately had the barn's farrier come out and re-shoe him. I told the farrier that I wanted to let his toes grow out a bit. (this is a different farrier than I had the first time I owned this horse).
His feet are growing back well, and he is happy in shoes that fit.
I admit that when I got him back, I knew nothing about founder. I've been doing quite a bit of reading up, and it is my understanding that there were no signs of any problems after the initial mild episode.
At this time, his feet seem to be doing great, he no longer avoids hard surfaces.
But now I have read that you should not let the toe grow out on a horse who has foundered. Is this true? Should I have the toe trimmed back?
Thanks
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2008 - 8:50 am:

Becky,

I may not be the best person to respond to your post; I don't know anything about shoeing for gaiting. I don't believe in shoes, period. A horses hoof should be trimmed in balance; and that, can be very complicated to explain. In short, all parts have to have contact with the ground, the walls always will have the contact, the frog when the foot touches down, the bars play a big part, etc. I suggest you google and do a search on barefoot trimming, or natural trimming, and read what guys like Pete Ramey and Jamie Jackson have to say about trimming, and foundered horses. Be best to avoid reading about the Strasser method, that is too extreme for most.

When you read, you will come across the fact the shoes have many negative affects. The hoof wall can't expand, and with the shoe hits the ground, all that vibration travels up the horses legs! If his hoofs are too short to walk comfortably, there are many boots out there would be the thing he would need for his comfort.

Yes, his toe should be kept back, this is done by taking his toe back vertically, not from underneath. If his heels are too short, this may take months to get them to grow back. I mistakenly took one of my horses heels too far down last fall (I am a self taught barefoot trimming, still learning tons myself)and the horse is just now starting to have his heel growth back. So if that is your case, it's a slow process.

If you can, I think most folks on here would like a picture. Many have experience with what you are questioning. A full side photo showing how the horse stands normally so we can see if his heels are under his leg correctly, and his angles. Then a shot of the hoof bottom, from the heel, so we can see the bars, and if everything is even.

His diet is very important. Follow DrO's reccomendations on here for that.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2008 - 9:24 am:

Hello BeckySJO,
Corrective (proper) trimming and shoeing of the past foundered horse depends ultimately on whether there is rotation of the coffin bone. If there is rotation usually you will have a flare in the toe of the hoof wall and/or an enlarged (widened) white line. If there are no external signs of the founder it seems unlikely there is bony rotation and the horse can be trimmed as you would normally. For more on this check out our articles on founder at Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Founder & Laminitis.
DrO
New Member:
beckyo

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2008 - 11:53 am:

Angie, I actually agree on not usually shoeing him, when I had him in the past, I normally kept his feet bare when we were only trail riding. I only kept shoes on him when we were showing and riding for very long periods or distances.
I had the shoes put on this time because we needed to get his heal up off the ground. I would prefer his big normal healthy feet.
Dr. O, there are no signs of any past issues. I wouldn't know if I hadn't been told. Thanks.
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