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Discussion on Old-mac subsitute for pigeon-toed horse?
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 28, 2011 - 6:16 pm:
Old Macs hoof boots work great on my QH gelding. However, I learned they may not work as well for my pigeon-toed Arabian gelding. This is what the FAQs section of Old Macs' Website says:
Q. Are there circumstances under which my horse should NOT use Old Mac’s?
A. Old Mac’s MAY not be suitable for horses suffering conformation and/or gait abnormalities. This includes overreaching, forging, cross-firing, toe dragging and excessive hoof twisting under weight bearing.
Had anyone had any experience in this area?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2011 - 7:14 pm:
Hello Heidi M,
I think they are saying that foot interference problems and abnormal ground contact MAY pull the boot off. If your pigeon toed horse does not interfere I don't think this applies to you.
DrO
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 30, 2011 - 10:08 pm:
Dr. O., my gelding's former owners said he would have interference problems if not trimmed regularly. I'm wondering then if the hoof boots might add enough bulk to make him interfere even with a fresh trim. Thoughts?
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 - 11:41 am:
Let me ask a different question, Dr. O. Do pigeon-toed horses naturally twist their hooves during movement? The FAQ for the Old Macs say to never ride such a horse with their boots because the traction will hamper this movement and cause problems for the horse.
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 - 11:46 am:
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 - 9:42 pm:
Not all Heidi, but simply watching your horses action will accurately answer your question.
DrO
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 1, 2011 - 1:30 pm:
I suppose I had that coming, Dr. O. Anyway, I surfed more on the Internet and found a farrier's warming that riding a pigeon-toed horse with Old Macs will lead to lameness. My own vet has recommended in the past that I consult with my farrier on hoof issues to complement his knowledge. Guess I'd better just play it safe and keep from blowing $$ unnecessarily since the boots can't be returned once they are used. I have a related question but will start a new thread to address it.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Sep 2, 2011 - 9:27 pm:
Heidi if your horse does not twist and has a beakover at the front of the toe, as many pigeon toed horses do, I do not see why Old Mac's would be a problem. As to whether they may increase interference I cannot answer but again watching your horses gait may give you a better idea.
DrO
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Monday, Sep 5, 2011 - 9:16 am:
Dr. O, I walked my gelding around and saw no twisting. If there's no twisting at the walk, can I assume it's the same at the other gaits? Or is there another way to tell at those gaits? It's was hard to watch for that subtle an action through simple observation.
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Member:
canter
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Posted on Monday, Sep 5, 2011 - 11:08 am:
Heidi, do you have someone who can video your horse at walk, trot & canter? Then you can watch it in slow-mo, which will make it much easier to see how the horse moves.
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Monday, Sep 5, 2011 - 2:29 pm:
Actually, I have that feature on my camera. Thanks for the idea, Fran. I'll give it a try.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2011 - 10:48 am:
Also trotting / cantering on sand or soft ground then examining the hoofprints will give you an idea.
DrO
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