Low Heels with Suspensory Branch Shoe

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@SporthorseFun

When I look at some of the pictures I have posted, I understand the hooves by virtue of where the base of the heel support falls relative to the center of the cannon bone. I understand the cannon bone needs to be plumb. The open or closed angles of the hock, pastern, and stifle are unclear to me. I know he trots like he is on back stilts with NPA. However, when I try to compare his pictures with pictures of “normal” horses, they all look like their joints are too open, which would make him normal.

On the hinds:
If the hock joint is too open, or straight, and the pasterns have not dropped, the fetlock would look taller, but the horse would compensate by standing out behind. The confusion is one picture shows him standing under with an angled cannon bone, and another picture shows him standing with the cannon bone straight but maybe slightly out behind? Is standing under an attempt to unload the hind hooves or legs due to pain? Is standing slightly out behind a way to compensate for loss of heel support? Does the horse have the awful job of choosing one or the other when he has both?

With the new shoeing set-up - when the hope is that the heels are going to start moving back and growing down, what would you expect to see in his stance if pain were not an issue? I know no one is a vet here, but what are the mechanics, basic mechanics? I will post new pictures with his whole body next time. Shoeing cycle 2 in the new set-up is next week. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

If we had some good conformation photos to look at we might be able to help you understand this…

https://horseandrider.com/horse-heal…n-clinic-photo

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@SporthorseFun

When I look at some of the pictures I have posted, I understand the hooves by virtue of where the base of the heel support falls relative to the center of the cannon bone. I understand the cannon bone needs to be plumb. The open or closed angles of the hock, pastern, and stifle are unclear to me. I know he trots like he is on back stilts with NPA. However, when I try to compare his pictures with pictures of “normal” horses, they all look like their joints are too open, which would make him normal.

On the hinds:
If the hock joint is too open, or straight, and the pasterns have not dropped, the fetlock would look taller, but the horse would compensate by standing out behind. The confusion is one picture shows him standing under with an angled cannon bone, and another picture shows him standing with the cannon bone straight but maybe slightly out behind? Is standing under an attempt to unload the hind hooves or legs due to pain? Is standing slightly out behind a way to compensate for loss of heel support? Does the horse have the awful job of choosing one or the other when he has both?

With the new shoeing set-up - when the hope is that the heels are going to start moving back and growing down, what would you expect to see in his stance if pain were not an issue? I know no one is a vet here, but what are the mechanics, basic mechanics? I will post new pictures with his whole body next time. Shoeing cycle 2 in the new set-up is next week. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Trying to post a link to help you take a good conformation shot of him so we can help you but it keeps getting flagged as spam… I PM’d it to you

[SporthorseFun]

Thank you BoyleHeightsKid.

[SporthorseFun]

Hi Everyone,

An update, third shoeing cycle:

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10738114}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10738115}[/ATTACH] I am very pleased. The fronts have support, and the weather has been so wet, that they haven’t become more underrun is a miracle. To be shod more fully with the spider plates has worked out really well for us. I think I see the heel support coming back to support the boney column. The hinds are a miracle. The hooves are breaking up a good bit, but again, I am in the Florida, and alas, it is raining even as I speak, and the horse is slowly getting rid of an old toe crack where there is a bit of white line separation. We are treating, with discipline, the hoof and the crack to stop the migration of bacteria. Hopefully, the crack will be gone next shoeing cycle. He needed to be out of those suspensory shoes when his angles went negative. Full stop. The dental impression material, I believe, is being used to correct the angles while the hoof grows. All of that flipping of the hooves while trotting has stopped. I think he was really lower back sore while trying to go on his heels on the hinds. The suspensory leg hamstring is still really tight. Massaging daily and letting him stretch down over trot poles in-hand. I am so appreciative of all the feedback and support.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@SporthorseFun

Hi Everyone,

An update, third shoeing cycle:

[ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: Left Front 9.23.2020.JPG Views: 26 Size: 12.6 KB ID: 10738114”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10738114”,“data-size”:“medium”}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: Right Hind 9.23.2020.JPG Views: 21 Size: 12.1 KB ID: 10738115”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10738115”,“data-size”:“medium”}[/ATTACH] I am very pleased. The fronts have support, and the weather has been so wet, that they haven’t become more underrun is a miracle. To be shod more fully with the spider plates has worked out really well for us. I think I see the heel support coming back to support the boney column. The hinds are a miracle. The hooves are breaking up a good bit, but again, I am in the Florida, and alas, it is raining even as I speak, and the horse is slowly getting rid of an old toe crack where there is a bit of white line separation. We are treating, with discipline, the hoof and the crack to stop the migration of bacteria. Hopefully, the crack will be gone next shoeing cycle. He needed to be out of those suspensory shoes when his angles went negative. Full stop. The dental impression material, I believe, is being used to correct the angles while the hoof grows. All of that flipping of the hooves while trotting has stopped. I think he was really lower back sore while trying to go on his heels on the hinds. The suspensory leg hamstring is still really tight. Massaging daily and letting him stretch down over trot poles in-hand. I am so appreciative of all the feedback and support.

Hinds look much better… The front heels are still folded under and crushed and the jamming at the quarters hasn’t seemed to improve much. This takes time, but I would have expected more improvement than this after 3 resets. Is the farrier trimming the heels? If he isn’t you’re not going to get anywhere. I would also expect the shoe to be set back more.

[SporthorseFun]

Boyle Heights Kid, I can see why you say the fronts still look folded under and crushed with jammed quarters. I will have to ask about the trimming of the heels. What I am pleased with with the fronts is that the horse has his hoof underneath him instead of out in front of him in space. It is horrifying to see what the mechanics were on the fronts a few months ago! Interesting case study. I will keep you posted!

[BoyleHeightsKid]

@SporthorseFun

Boyle Heights Kid, I can see why you say the fronts still look folded under and crushed with jammed quarters. I will have to ask about the trimming of the heels. What I am pleased with with the fronts is that the horse has his hoof underneath him instead of out in front of him in space. It is horrifying to see what the mechanics were on the fronts a few months ago! Interesting case study. I will keep you posted!

I’m glad he’s moving better and seems more comfortable. Find out about trimming the heels and if you’re there for the farrier make sure to watch what he’s doing. Also ask if he thinks floating the quarters would help. This will show him that you’re paying attention