Club Feet
Club feet are one of the most difficult hoof problems to deal with. They can't be reversed and become more about management, although many horses with a club foot do go on to have successful athletic careers. Below is a series of photos of a horse with a club foot and how I have dealt with it. Club feet is too complex a subject to go into here, but if you want to know more I can point you in the right direction if you would like more information. There are many ways of shoeing this type of hoof, I have found that a glue on with the mechanics in the shoe is the most successful method I've used. Keeping glue on shoes attached to a horse that permanently lives outside can be a real challenge though, especially if the conditions are wet. The key is the preparation, the better the hoof is prepared (i.e., clean and dry) the greater the chance of keeping them attached for the duration of the shoeing schedule.
Club feet are one of the most difficult hoof problems to deal with. They can't be reversed and become more about management, although many horses with a club foot do go on to have successful athletic careers. Below is a series of photos of a horse with a club foot and how I have dealt with it. Club feet is too complex a subject to go into here, but if you want to know more I can point you in the right direction if you would like more information. There are many ways of shoeing this type of hoof, I have found that a glue on with the mechanics in the shoe is the most successful method I've used. Keeping glue on shoes attached to a horse that permanently lives outside can be a real challenge though, especially if the conditions are wet. The key is the preparation, the better the hoof is prepared (i.e., clean and dry) the greater the chance of keeping them attached for the duration of the shoeing schedule.
Hoof Cracks
Cracks come in various forms, the most common are Grass and Sand cracks. They are caused from imbalance in the hoof capsule and are difficult to resolve either barefoot or with just an ordinary open heeled shoe. Bar shoes offer stabilization of the hoof while shifting some of the weight off the wall and onto the frog. The photos below show how effective this can be in the case of severe cracks.
Cracks come in various forms, the most common are Grass and Sand cracks. They are caused from imbalance in the hoof capsule and are difficult to resolve either barefoot or with just an ordinary open heeled shoe. Bar shoes offer stabilization of the hoof while shifting some of the weight off the wall and onto the frog. The photos below show how effective this can be in the case of severe cracks.
Laminitis: If you think your horse has laminitis you must treat it as a medical emergency. Your Vet is your best friend in this situation, early intervention will give you your best chance of a good result. No two cases are alike and must be treated on an individual basis. Once the pain has subsided your Vet will work with your farrier with a plan of how to best look after your horse as it goes into a recovery phase.
