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  Discussion on Acquired Club Foot
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Member:
Huntmom

Posted on Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 5:57 pm:

I have an 8-yr.-old 17 hand warmblood mare used as a show hunter. She moves well, is a 10 jumper and is DrOp-dead gorgeous. She was the first home-bred born at our current farm so I have known her from day one. About a year ago my long-time farrier decided that I was too small time (only five horses, two shod) to waste his time, so I had to find a new farrier. The first farrier I tried left a long toe ("makes her move better, he said) and she started to get trippy. So I tried another farrier and at first thought he'd work out. However, over the months I've noticed my mare's right fore getting more upright and contracted. Now she's slightly off and developing windpuffs and some swelling in that leg after jumping. I had my vet look at her and he was quite alarmed...he didn't remember her ever showing signs of clubbiness and said it looked like acquired clubfoot from poor trimming. He suggested burning a "7" in the outer hoof wall and setting the shoe a little wide to allow the hoof to spread. He also thought letting her go barefoot this winter might allow the foot to return to a more normal shape. When I gave the farrier these suggestions, he would have no part of it. He said he could apply equi-thane and that would pad the area...but that she has always had a club foot. You might say, "Get a new farrier!" I've been on the phone trying all week, but my closest option is to trailer to a farrier over an hour away that's in the area every two weeks (which leaves me in a pickle if a horse throws a shoe). - Why are farriers such prima donnas? Ah but that's a subject for another discussion! - So, what can you do about the horse with an acquired club foot? This mare is my joy and it makes me sick as I see her foot getting more and more clubby and her soundness decrease with each passing month.
Member:
Ejar

Posted on Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 9:05 pm:

I can sooo relate. My mare has an acquired club from an injury at 9 months that wasn't treated until she stepped off the shipper's truck 2 months later. It went from absolutely normal the last time I saw her that year, in December, to completely upright when she showed up in March. The injury happened in January of her first year.

My vet said she'd never be sound. Farrier just shook his head. Ended up doing check ligament surgery. She is now six, sound, and feet are trimmed every five to six weeks - never a day longer.

Her heel was so contracted there were no clefts, just hoof wall all around.

We started off with a half shoe to protect the toe, and I had to rasp her heel daily. Not a lot, just a few rasps to keep the growth in check.

She now wears a regular shoe with pad, set slightly wider. Her foot looks as normal as I can hope for, and she moves beautifully. I'm the only one who detects the slight difference in movement - my vet and farrier both look at me like I'm nuts when I try to point it out.

So now that you know my story, here's some thoughts I have on your situation:

* Your vet and farrier need to work together. I have scheduled visits to have mine both out at the same time. The conversation and options improve when they are both present. Maybe your farrier would respond differently with your vet around.

* I have never heard of burning a "7" into the hoof wall, and I would want more info on the specifics of why and proof of effectiveness.

* Have you done x-rays? You'll want to make sure there is absolutely nothing happening with the bones in the foot. My mare had a very slight turn in the coffin bone (less than .1%) which actually gave my vet hope that we could still correct it.

* I would still keep an eye out for a different farrier, if for no other reason that because your guy doesn't seem willing to explore options. Since he's quick to label your horse as "always" having a club (I got that too), and he's not willing to entertain options, then he's not going to be much of a partner in the long run.

* If the farrier you'd have to trailer for is REALLY good (your vet knows him and likes him? He's well respected by other farriers and horsepeople?) then his work should be good enough to stay on for six weeks, and he should be willing to guarantee against thrown shoes.

Another option would be to have the distant farrier do quarterly check ups on your easy access farrier's work. I admit that might hurt feelings and seem harsh, but we're talking about your horse's soundness and longevity here. This is not a popularity contest, and you can simply explain it's insurance; it is always good to have another set of eyes look at a problem.

Do not give up; do not accept lame answers. Your horse can stay sound. Keep pestering your service providers until they provide you with answers.

Erin
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Friday, Sep 9, 2005 - 10:13 pm:

Wow what a shame. But why am I not surprised.
My shoer had a truck accident on the way to my house last summer and it took him weeks to get it fixed. Sooooo, I had to find someone. Well, references led to references led to references and I ended up with a shoer that basically reduced the size of his foot almost a whole size in one shoeing. I started to ask her to not file so much off the front of his foot. The answer was "this is strictly cosmetic". I finally said "STOP please!". My result was a barefoot horse with one foot smaller than the other.
My recommendation . . . .if you cannot find a good shoer, let her go barefoot for the winter and learn how to trim her yourself. Its not hard really. I do it to all my horses hind feet and some of there front ones. If you stay on top of it(every couple of weeks) you can just do it with a good file. You basically keep the foot level on the bottom and check for one heel longer than the other. Many times they wear down the outside heel faster. If you think the last shoer nubbed the toe to make her so club footed then leave the toe alone as much as possible and do most of your leveling at the heels. Depending on how much foot she grows you may need to take more off, especially around the quarters to keep them from chipping too much. I think bare foot is great for horses with a tendency for contracted heels. The only ones that can get into trouble is it they have a tendency to flare. But then you just have to stay on top of it more often.
There seems to be a trend in shoeing these days that involves "nubbing" the toe. Some shoers that do "natural balance" end up filing the front of the hoof off. I dont know what the goal is but I like my horses big, thick walled feet. Also, alot of shoer are not used to seeing a horse with a size 2 or larger and they feel inclined to "fix" it.
One more thing. If you give HA an idea of where you live maybe some HA folks could recommend a shoer for you. Good Luck
Shelley
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 10, 2005 - 9:08 am:

Of course continued looking for a new farrier is paramount, if just because of attitude. I do like the idea of getting the vet and farrier together to see if some agreement can be come to. Until then a few ideas:

1) If you have to haul this one to get a proper trim and shoe again I would do that, then once you get the foot straightened out have the farrier take the toe length, heel length, and angle and have the new farrier replicate it.

2) If this horse is not shod you can work on the heels with a rasp in the inbetween trimming times to lower the heels. Just a few swipes every now and then can have a remarkable effect.

3) Keep alive the idea this may be truly acquired and though rare, it happens. The only way I know to tell the difference between "shortening of the flexor unit" and "leaving too much heel" is to put a proper trim on the foot and see if the heels make it to the ground.
DrO
Member:
Miamoo

Posted on Saturday, Sep 10, 2005 - 10:39 am:

If you have to truck to someone why not go to your original farrier who knows your horse best. He would have the best handle of the changes your horses foot has undergone.

Ella :-)
Member:
Huntmom

Posted on Saturday, Sep 10, 2005 - 2:25 pm:

The original farrier won't even return my phone calls even though I've basically begged him to call me back. I wanted to ask him whether he had ever seen an indication of club foot on this mare. The farriers that I'd trailer to live in Germantown, Tennessee, (Phil and Glen Mascari) but travel to Murfreesboro every two weeks. They aren't even sure they have the time to add my horse to their to-do list. And they definitely won't get together with my vet (Dr. Harry Prince) or with another well-respected vet (Dr. Wooten) who's in Nolensville.

Based on all of the great input you folks have given me, I'll try my hardest to get a farrier and vet meeting with x-rays. If that just doesn't work, I may have the shoes pulled now and start rasping the heel. Whatever the case, I need to have her x-rayed to rule out any underlying issues besides questionable farrier work.

In answer to the question regarding my location, I live in Manchester, Tennessee. That's half way between Nashville and Chattanooga via I-24.
Member:
Huntmom

Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2005 - 11:59 am:

The original farrier returned my call and said he would start doing my horses again! Yea!! He said that the two front feet had always been slightly different shapes but not anywhere to the extent that they are now. I'm getting x-rays at 3:30 today and she'll be re-shod tomorrow at 1:00. I'll keep you posted on what the x-rays show (whether there is rotation of the coffin bone, etc.).
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2005 - 12:34 pm:

How about before and after pictures Susan?
DrO
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2005 - 1:24 pm:

Susan-I'm so glad you're getting your original farrier back! Better bake him some cookies or something! There is nothing worse than loosing a good farrier, and trying to find a replacement. One of the happiest days of my life was when my farrier bought the place across the street from us!!
Member:
Huntmom

Posted on Monday, Sep 12, 2005 - 10:00 pm:

The x-rays were completely normal! No rotation. The vet warned me that the farrier may never be able to return the foot to it's original condition. However, since the internal foot mechanics are all what they should be, the prognosis is good. I'll try to take some befores and afters for you, Dr. O. Thanks so much for hosting this site. It's been a God-send!
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 - 7:22 pm:

I didn't realize a club foot could be acquired but have a similar situation I need to ask about.

I had to take a trip this spring for a few weeks and when I came back my horses feet were suddenly horrible looking. Once the farrier trimmed them they ended up too short (to get rid of the cracks I suppose). Then we got on a bad cycle--right when the hoof would start growing the toe would break-off. I started having the farrier come every 4 weeks to try and keep them balanced, and started on Biotin 22 supplement. Now the foot's finally starting to grow healthy looking (although still short) but one of them seems to be at a different angle now, and the Easyboot for that particular foot won't stay on when we trail ride (my horse is barefoot).

No vets have ever mentioned anything about having a clubfoot (he's seen many), but even his trainer asked about it the other day. He also seems kind of ouchy.

What can I do?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 - 6:32 am:

Hello CP,
Back up one page and start yourself a new discussion rather than mix yours with Susan's, you will get more and quicker responses.
DrO
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