[Dawn]

Wow, this thread exploded since I've been on here.

I know earlier I stated that if you wanted to finish out the show season, blah, blah, blah. I take that back now. With the feet like they are now (unless you get someone in there that can do some miracle work on them), I would 100% not allow him to jump or do any 'strenous' flat exercise. Much too dangerous.

I like the lines that your friend has drawn in. In relation to what Rick said though, I don't think she intended that someone come in and trim them to those parameters. Rather she was showing you a general idea of what the hoof should look like if it had been receiving proper care rather as opposed to what it does look like.

I would love to see photos of these feet from the bottom.

They do look to me like there could be some laminitic issues going on. Then again, the trim might just be so bad that it's causing those forces to distort the hoof. But if in doubt, best to play it safe. Your current diet isn't that 'great' anyway. If it's not hurting, then at the least it's not helping.

Boots would be great right now, but I have a feeling they're going to be a bit hard to fit. You said you have a cavello on one, so I'm assuming it fits? I know boots can be expensive, but cavello's are on the lower end (though not really ideal for turnout). You already have one, so (since you do have enough money to have him reshod), then you should be able to take that money and put it toward buying him another boot for the other front foot.

I'm all for discussing issues with your farrier normally. But if someone is doing this poor of a job, doesn't seem to realize/care that they are, etc...I see no reason in putting much stock into the hope that they're suddenly going to go 'Oh okay, I didn't realize you wanted me to trim/shoe your horse properly. I'll do a good job from now on.' Just doesn't make much sense does it?

[MIEventer]

That makes allot of sense.

Thanks Dawn, I do appreciate the help and the advice.

I will get pictures of the bottoms today if I can get out to the barn.

Thanks again!

I am picking him up the Buckeye Grow N Win - that will help?

[2horsestoride]

MIE, I'm curious about the BL solution. Did you start him on that? If so, why? Typically I see it used as an alternative to bute, so I'm wondering about pain issues.

[MIEventer]

When I bought him, he was on Adequan because his previous owners dressage coach said he was stiff in his hocks. So when I purchased him, I kept everything as was with no changes in his feed, suppliments and care.

He has lived a very competative life. On the track, A Circuit Hunters/Jumpers, Preliminary Level Eventing, 2nd/3rd level dressage and now with me competing Novice/Training level Eventing.

Ridden 4/5 days a week and we were taking 2 lessons a week as well which included 1/2 dressage and then 1/2 hour jumping.

Now - keep in mind. He was on a Dry Lot when not being ridden, and then in his stall for up to 13 hours a day as well.

So I am thinking that - that could of been a big contributing factor to stiffness in his hocks, I would assume. He was also coming out of his stall with swollen ankles in the A.M.

So just to see - I took him off of the Adequan to see if he really needed it or not. And the result was that he was allot of work to get that back end working and to get impulsion. I was working so much more harder than he during our rides. And he was reaching short with his hinds.

So, my Vet came out and did an examination and I was told the Adequan was working, but at least we knew. So instead of continuing with the Adequan which was way to pricey for me - my vet put him on Glucosamine Injections and B-L Solution.

Now - since July, he has been at my Parents large Dairy Farm out on 15 acres of pasture, NO stalling and on turnout all day and all night. He has options to stand in Lean Two's *spelling?* and to come in and out of the large barn at his choice.

He is constantly moving around and I've never seen an ankle swollen, he moves so beautifully for me and is really easy now to get that back end working. He is much softer and lighter as well and really tracks up and moves forward for me. I am no longer huffing and puffing and breaking a sweat to get him moving up and into my aids.

So - could it be the Glucosamine and the B-L Solution? Or his new environment?

So - to find out, my vet said take him off of the Glucosamine and the B-L to see the result. But my vet also said that the Glucosamine is a good preventative as well. He gets intramuscular once every 3 weeks of that.

[IIIBarsV]

You know how when you work hard, it's always best to do some light moving around afterwards to keep yourself from stiffening up? Pretty much the same thing as being stuck in the stall or standing around on a boring dry lot all day.

That said, with long toes in the hinds (I'm going to assume the hinds are probably also too long), it takes more effort for him to move out from behind and puts more stress on the hocks and stifles as well. Once he has a better hoof set up going on, the difference in his movement will probably shock you right off backwards.

[JBandRio]

You can do all the IM/IA/IV/feed through stuff you want, but until those feet get fixed, the body will never be fixed. It's a hand-in-hand process - you have to work on the body at the same time you're working on the feet.

Get Jack Meagher's book "Beating Muscle Injuries in Horses" - you won't regret a single page of it.

[Asfaloth]

Several trimmers in MI on this list
http://www.tribeequus.com/help.html
And here
http://www.thehorseshoof.com/