Farrier Godmother 808-937-0843
Guidelines For Safely Feeding Horses in Hawaii
Susanella Noble, CNBBT
Hoof Care Practitioner
Case Studies
Every single one of my clients becomes a case study for me. I take accurate photos, keep charts and study every horse, pony and donkey in my practice in order to make them as healthy as possible.
The importance of the TRUE FLIGHT PATH
It is NOT possible to "correct" anatomy by raising medial heels and toes in order to make a pigeon-toed horse toe-out or visa versa. By outward appearance it might look good for a while until the horse develops arthritic deposits (as seen in the following x-ray) and the hooves remodel in order to compensate for the improper shape of the capsule.
Farriers who try to "correct" the horse's anatomy can actually revolve the hoof capsule out of alignment. The identifying characteristics of Capsule Displacement are constricted heels, thin non-functioning frogs, curled bars and uneven sole planes. The ultimate proof is to feel the vertical lumps on either side of the dorsal hoof wall.
How To Re-correct
By following the Natural Balance mapping and trimming protocol we are able to find the point of articulation or center of balance in every hoof. From there we need to determine the true flight path of the hoof in order to allow it to breakover as it would if the horse wore it down from traveling 20+ miles a day on rocky terrain. When the horse is walking, observe movement from the poll and follow it through the neck, withers, down the shoulders through the joints to the ground for each foot. If the horse swings a foot out instead of rolling over the toe, then the alignment is off. Stand behind the horse and watch the bottom of the hooves when walking away and determine the direction that each frog points just before hitting the ground. This is the key to the true flight path to determine the placement of breakover.
Draw a line from the heel buttress clef through the apex of the frog and bring it over the front of the dorsal wall.
Extend the frog line up the dorsal wall and you'll get the exact visual reference. The following photo is a perfect example of a horse who has NOT been allowed to toe-in during a lifetime of ranch work in shoes.
Exagerate the breakover for the true flight path which will allow the capsule to realign with its coffin bone and, over time, will restore circulation and proper foot function.
Can A Horse Go Barefoot After This????
click on x-ray
Healing The "Club" or Dominant Hoof
Cindy
I'd never seen a "club" foot like Cindy's RF before and kept a vision in my mind of how I wanted it to turn out. The solar surface was flat and round as a pancake with a major cavity in the toe that eventually cracked up through the front into the coronary band.
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I gradually began to lower the heels, followed the true flight path for the breakover and watched the capsule realign with the coffin bone. The healing process wasn't always pretty and involved painful abscesses. Several times we cast the hoof to stabilize it while reattaching correctly at the coronary band for healthy new growth.
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Diet has been an issue with this horse living on a pasture with grass high in sucrose. To help balance over-fermentation in the secum she's getting apple cider vinegar daily (see my Guide To Safely Feeding Horses In Hawaii).
Cindy's hoof capsules are now solid without separations, her heels have expanded, the frog is growing but suffered from raging thrush and her coffin bone is balanced.
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