[seejp083]

That's some really horrible advice IMO. Lighter shoes, especially aluminum, flex more and wear more which may break up feet. Shoes with fine nails break up feet. A Farrier should be able to shape and fit a shoe so the nails holes are where they need to be.

The vet comes very highly recommended and a lot of local trainers call her out for feet issues, so I was lucky to get an appt with her so quickly. I certainly hope this isn't a mistake, but the current shoeing isn't working for us, and this is something that the farrier and vet think is worth a shot. My trainer also thinks I should give it a try...hopefully it'll work out well for us. I can't put a shoe back on him until his abscess is done draining so I probably have another week before I do anything. From what I've read online since the appt this morning, it seems that aluminum shoes are often a good choice for typical thin-walled TB feet. Do you have any links I could look at to read up on what you're talking about? I'm not claiming to be an expert on this.

[tradewind]

I had a TB that came in with the most god awful feet from seriously screwed up work plus thrush..He was in aluminum shoes for a couple of years until things straightened out enough to do him in a more "traditional shoe" His feet were and continue to be a work in progress, but it gets better every year.

[seejp083]

I had a TB that came in with the most god awful feet from seriously screwed up work plus thrush..He was in aluminum shoes for a couple of years until things straightened out enough to do him in a more "traditional shoe" His feet were and continue to be a work in progress, but it gets better every year.

Good to hear! I expect to have some issues for the next year or so until he has all new foot - I just don't want to do any more damage while his feet grow out and I want him sound during the process. He's super nice (and the price was right), which is why I took a chance on him even with his crappy feet lol! Hopefully it'll pay off :-)

[Trinity3205]

I just ordered these to try for my TB as a test horse. I like casting as a rule for rehab in some cases and this looks like it would hold up well to riding and not damage the wall either.

http://appliedequinepodiatry.org/Perfect_Hoof_Wear.html

[seejp083]

I'd be interested to see how it goes for you - I have no experience with products like this and don't know anyone who has used them before. Please post back when you have some feedback :-)

[Tom Bloomer]

So how does a vet or trainer that doesn't shoe horses get to be an expert on feet?

[JBCool]

Just wanted to wish you luck with your horse. I'm kinda got my horse the same way: right horse, right place, but wrong time with his feet. Still in the middle of fixing what someone else did to him, and it sounds like we're not alone. Here's hoping we all get these guys going!

[seejp083]

So how does a vet or trainer that doesn't shoe horses get to be an expert on feet?

You don't think that a vet with years of education and experience who has focused on foot anatomy/physiology and issues with the feet for a good part of her long career, working closely with farriers, is an expert on feet? I agree not all vets are experts in every area of horse health - but some I think are true experts, even when it comes to feet. I'm not knocking anyone in other professions, I'm just saying that a vet can be extremely knowledgable and certainly be an expert on feet.

I'm definitely interested in constructive comments or experiences and in any resources for further reading that you (or anyone on this forum) might be able to share. I'm not trying to be defensive - I'm just trying to get information and ideas that I can take to the professionals I'm using to help me with my horse's feet.

[seejp083]

Just wanted to wish you luck with your horse. I'm kinda got my horse the same way: right horse, right place, but wrong time with his feet. Still in the middle of fixing what someone else did to him, and it sounds like we're not alone. Here's hoping we all get these guys going!

Thanks! And best of luck to you, too! :-)

[happyfeet]

So how does a vet or trainer that doesn't shoe horses get to be an expert on feet?

The same way someone who does shoe horses becomes an expert. Education and experience.

[ESG]

So how does a vet or trainer that doesn't shoe horses get to be an expert on feet?

Wow.

[Tom Bloomer]

You don't think that a vet with years of education and experience who has focused on foot anatomy/physiology and issues with the feet for a good part of her long career, working closely with farriers, is an expert on feet?

Without significant years of hands-on execution, HELL NO.

Perhaps knowledgeable and having input worth considering, but not an expert.

An expert is an authority when it comes to execution and is capable or performing the work themselves at the highest level of competence.

[LauraKY]

Without significant years of hands-on execution, HELL NO.

Perhaps knowledgeable and having input worth considering, but not an expert.

An expert is an authority when it comes to execution and is capable or performing the work themselves at the highest level of competence.

In my limited experience, I'm going to agree with Tom. My vet is the hoof expert, he was a farrier before vet school. He calls in the big gun farrier (used to own Ric Redden's clinc) with problems, he doesn't try to solve it all by himself. They problem solve together.

[Tom Bloomer]

The same way someone who does shoe horses becomes an expert. Education and experience.

How does one "experience" something without actually doing it?

[happyfeet]

How does one "experience" something without actually doing it?

You asked how someone who doesn't shoe a horse can become an expert on feet.

It is possible that a vet, or any other intelligent person who cared to put in the study and practical time, could become an expert in feet.

I would agree that someone who doesn't shoe a horse could not become an expert in shoeing horses. But that is not what you said.

There are fields where more theoretical than practical expertise can be obtained. An expert involves knowledge and/or skill.

To the OP - Sorry if I derailed your thread. I didn't mean to.

[Tom Bloomer]

You appear have "knowledge about" confused with "know how." In the real world expertise requires both. Expertise requires years of execution, making mistakes, owning them, and learning from them. It doesn't happen vicariously.

[eruss]

You don't think that a vet with years of education and experience who has focused on foot anatomy/physiology and issues with the feet for a good part of her long career, working closely with farriers, is an expert on feet?

An expert on feet yes. And expert on feet as it pertains to Farriery no.

You can't learn trimming through a book or clinic. It takes years of apprenticing for Farriers to become proficient in trimming.

You also can't learn shoe fit and placement though a book or clinic. This also takes years for a Farrier to become proficient in.

What's the most common foot lameness in horses? Sore feet through trimming and or nailing. It's not something you can learn in a book and goes right back to Farrier proficiency.

I'm definitely interested in constructive comments or experiences and in any resources for further reading that you (or anyone on this forum) might be able to share.

Like I said, most of this stuff you can't learn in books so you won't find much of it on the internet.

[eruss]

I agree not all vets are experts in every area of horse health - but some I think are true experts, even when it comes to feet.

I think most would agree Dr. Stephen O'Grady is someone most would consider a veterinarian hoof expert?

Here is an article which he suggests trimming using Hoof Pastern Axis, COA, Heels extend to back of frog.

http://equipodiatry.com/article_equinefoot_trimming_guidelines.htm

The coa is not always below the widest part of the foot.

Trimming the heels to the widest part of the frog depends on quite a few things but if you constantly trim the heels low enough to reach the widest part of the frog the hpa will be broken back quite often.

So, are articles about Farriery just difficult to write because "it depends" or does he just not understand what he's writing about?

Just because you read something or hear something from a so called expert doesn't mean it's correct.

[Rick Burten]

Tom and Eric,

BRAVO!!!!!

[Tom Bloomer]

. . .The coa is not always below the widest part of the foot.

Only when the foot is upside down.