Club Foot? Anyone With Experience, Or A Corrective Farrier Around To Take A Look?
I’d asked a question last night about a new horse, and the odd condition of his toes. One person said that they thought that it was trauma that caused it, two said it was a club foot.
My main questions about the club foot, is if it was caused by a club foot, then why does it look like it’ growing mostly normal now? If it was allowed to get to the point that it was now, wouldn’t it be causing him pain. or at least effect how he moves? He gaits fairly well, despite having an awful shoeing job. Also, what’s wrong effects both hooves, the one is just far worse, and more noticeable.
The people I got him from said that it started when they had him, after he had ‘Shipping Disease’ but they only had him for five months, and the mostly normal stuff is about five months worth of growth…
Also, as you can see in the pictures, whoever shoed him last tried to shape his hoof to the shoe. When the shoe should be shaped to fit the foot. I am worried about the strength of his hoofwall, but looking at it, I think that a lot of the hoof can be taken off.
I’m going to order some hoof supplement, or buy some from my Tractor Supply (I want to look and see what Stateline has) and the Dumor is currently on sale. Is that a good supplement?
I am currently looking for a good farrier who has experience with corrective shoeing, and gaited horses, preferably TWHs, so if anyone happens to know of a good one in the general Lexington, KY area…
So, basically, what do you think?
Here’s the pictures.http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/E…http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/E…http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/E…
And here’s just a front shot of his other hoof. I regretted not taking a bunch of pictures from the sides like I did the other, once I got up to the house and uploaded the pictures.http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/E…
Tags: Anyone, Around, Club, Corrective, Experience, Farrier, Foot, Look, Take, With
November 21st, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I did say that it was a club foot but having seen other pictures I am not so sure.
One thing I am certain of is that whoever shod him sure could do with some lessons. That is one super bad job done on the horse. The heels are so long and yet he has calkins fitted at the heels.
I would want to see the underside of the foot, it would make for interesting viewing.
If you like I can print the pictures off and ask my farrier who is very experienced and extremely good (he was 4th in the World Championships this year)
I will not be seeing him until Thursday – but I can ask him if you like.
If you mail me on Yahoo I will send my proper mail address and you can send me full size pictures, and also any of the horse that you have of him standing
ADD ON
OK they are not calkins but hardened steel to stop wear.
The extra pictures are good – I have mailed you my address. Farrier will be here on Thursday.
If you send the pictures make them receivable! LOL For some reason I could not print them off photobucket.
Thanks
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 am
To me it looks like a combination of a grade 2 to 4 club foot deformity and bad farrier work. Here is a quick article on club foot with diagrams that may be helpful………..http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx…
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 am
We currently have a 14 yr. old QH gelding who has a club foot. His is not very noticable, but you can tell it’s there. As far as we know, he was born with it and his was not caused by anything else. His previous owners used him as a 2 year old futurity horse, so he is pretty arthritic right now. I rode him hard up until he was 11 or so, then the stiffness started to catch up to him; we ended up retiring him to my mom’s trail horse / cousin’s pee wee walk mount.
All of his life, he has had great farriers, so I believe this contributes to his soundness for so long. As of right now, the only thing truely wrong with him is the stiffness that he has. We’ve tried several supplements and the only thing to offer some relief was ActiFlex 4000. If he’s warmed up with 20-30 minutes of stretching, he still can lope like a million bucks, but weekend circuits are very hard on him.
Year around we keep shoes on him, aluminum ones, since his feet are so brittle and the shoes come off really easily. We also keep him on Horseshoer’s Secret, but are thinking about trying some of the SmartPak supplements this winter.
A club footed horse can be kept very sound with excellent farrier and vet care, it all depends on the skill level of the professionals that you use. Having one is not an end all issue. Charlie is 14, still loves his job, shows no pain, and we’ll keep him happy and healthy until he tells us it’s time to go.
After looking at your photos closer, I’d definately get a vet consult on that foot. The way the hoof is shaped in the first photo would concern me with what is going on internally.