Archie 6.08.11

Archie's previous trim.

Third Archie trim - he was one week overdue because I had a bad injury to my finger two days before he was due where the pad of my left ring finger was ripped off by a broken broom handle. Stupid injury. It has only prevented me from doing the things I love (i.e. trim and ride) but I still have to go to work and pack the dish washer.

So, Archie (and Remy and Bertha) were late. Harumph.

Archie was suffering from thrush again poor thing. Apparently he has not been sore this time though. He went out on a trail ride sans boots and was fine. I would still recommend booting up for every ride though at this stage.

Near fore

This was the last hoof I trimmed - I was pooped, and I know you are not supposed to sit on a crate to trim and that it is very dangerous, but I just wasn't strong enough. He was a total raging beast about being trimmed too.

rawr

See what happens when you don't trim for three weeks? You loose it.


ANYWAY

 Moving on... as always, pre trim on left, post on right, click to enlarge.

Thrushy crumbly yucky sole. HEAPS of flappy frog on all four, harbouring thrush. Central sulcus widening. Black hole from old abcess getting smaller. Should be gone next trim.

Big bevel, quarter scoop, bring breakover at toe back, heels lowered but not by much due to weak frogs.

Sorry about the angle difference. Heels no lower than the frog (i.e. frogs in passive contact with ground when hoof weigh bearing). Central sulcus still deep, but opening.

Heel comparison to set up trim. They look weaker sadly.

Near hind

Weird massive bars popped up, but flicked out very easily. The question is, did they pop put just due to thrush or did the foot really not need them anymore? They will grow back if they were needed. Removed crappy thrushy flaky sole and frog, then bevel all around.

Didn't take the heels down too much. Needs more sole depth.

Mainly heel and wall height removed from this angle.

Comparison to set up trim - a very different foot! The outside (left in the pic) bar is larger in both pics. Maybe to give support due to his many issue from his injury?

It is midnight now, I shall update with the other two feet's pictures soon. :)

Archie 18.06.11 - Set Up Trim

Archie is an 11 year old grey quarter horse. He has been shod most of his life however he has been out of shoes for about 12 months. He had an injury about 12 months ago to his off hind leg, taking out the two tendons at the front. It is a big, nasty, ugly mess of a wound, and his owner has spent a lot (I'm thinking thousands?) into getting him better. He is battling proud flesh, and the injury affects his movement. He walks like he has float boots on that leg (goose-stepping) until he has loosened up. Vet has told the owner to keep him in light work, and once warmed up, he is happily cantering around the trails. She is a weekend rider.

Archie has very contracted heels, deep deep central sulcus on both fronts. He was referred to me after another client of mine helped Archie's owner a few weekends ago when Archie was showing up extremely footsore. Extreme thrush infection was the problem. My client helped Archie's owner with a variety of thrush treatments, and by the time I came to trim him it was all but gone.

To get to the next step with his feet, Archie needs at a maximum 4 weekly trims (previously at 8 weekly intervals or more!) and to keep the thrush in check.

Left front, after trim. Very contracted heels, very very deep central sulcus. Black hole is the site of an old abscess blow out - abscess was about three months ago! He has been hanging onto all the sole he can... When I scraped away at the hole there was a little black thrushy lymph like fluid that came out.

Left front heels post trim. Again, contracted heels, deep central sulcus.

Left front post trim. A little tiny bit of concavity, but needs more.

Left hind, pre trim. No where near as contracted as the fronts, just need thrush prevention. No concavity, but ok sole thickness.

Left hind, pre trim.

Left hind, pre trim.