Re: RC: New Topic - Hooves

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Dear Jan
To save our beloved stallion Explodent who had spikes a fever on
Christmas Eve and had sloughed his hooves before the vet got the message
the next morning. we had every hot shot working on him from Moses
Gonzales (NBS) to Don Birdsell (of Alamo Pintado Fame ) to Dan Bradshaw
to everyone west of the Mississippi (did I get enough p's and s' in?)---
even the hot shot What's-his-name in Texas. This is what I learned:
THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO SHOE!!!! 
DIFFERENT THINGS WORKED AT DIFFERENT TIMES!!!!
IT WAS A TUG AND WAR GAME BETWEEN CONTRACTED TENDONS AND ROTATING THE
COFFIN BONE!!!
We did the best we could and alternated between all the theories and
keep a stallion who should have been put down logically, alive and
relatively comfortable (hey, he was in with mare(s)) for 7 years past
when he should have been gone. The farriers all had their different
theories and one theory worked for awhile, and then didn't. Then we
would change to another "expert" and that theory would work for awhile
until it didn't. I guess what I am saying is that each farrier had a
contribution to make and all of them did the best they could with their
theories and they worked---AS LONG AS WE, THE OWNERS, WITH OUR WONDERFUL
VET, CHARLIE BOLES, RECOGNIZED WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE THEORIES---and
the theories were exactly opposite from each other. We finally did have
to put him down after the last double tenectomy; he got up and
fragmented his sesmoid bone, there was so much osteoporosis--no hope
after that---but the farriers, bless their hearts, kept him alive and
kicking (literally) for seven years past his initial injury. My
recommendation would be to work with your vet as to what changes are
happening as a result of new farrier techniques--he can see what's going
on with the coffin bone (am I spelling that right, Heidi?) and the
tendons. It kept us on top of Explodent's progress and gave him many
good years. (OH and visit my tribute to him if you've a mind to at
http://www.stormnet.com/~woa/contactus.html (corny but heartfelt)
Bette
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of TLA Halynov
http://www.stormnet.com/~woa
I've learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it
gets to the end, the faster it goes. Smell the roses!

> Jan Mutchler wrote:
> 
> Hi Ridecampers:  Some of my friends and I have been doing a lot of
> brainstorming about our horses' hooves and our relationship(s) with
> our farriers.  We were wondering what opinions other endurance riders
> might have about some of the things we discussed.  I know this is long
> (you can delete now), but hopefully, thought-provoking.  Maggie - go
> get Nelson - I bet he'll have fun with this. :>)
> 
> 1.  Do you know the difference between Natural Balance Shoeing (NBS)
> and the "older more traditional" style of shoeing?
> 2.  Do you discuss with your farrier if he/she is going to use NBS
> methods, or more traditional methods?  (using the term "traditional"
> for lack of a better word)
> 3.  Do you know how to evaluate the quality of job your farrier does?
> 4.  How do you evaluate the quality of job your farrier does?  Do you
> watch your horse move after each reshoeing?
> 5.  What type of shoes do you like to have on your horse?  Do you
> know?  Do you have a preference?
> 6.  Have you had lameness problems that you thought were due to
> trimming/shoeing?
> 7.  How do you know the lameness was caused by the trimming/shoeing?
> 8.  What mileages do you compete in?
> 9.  Do you work with your farrier to get the type of trim/balance you
> want?  i.e.  do you tell your farrier horse is toeing out behind -
> need to do such-n-such.
> 10.  How do you tell your farrier what you want - do you feel as
> though you have to "tread lightly"?
> 11.  Is your farrier responsive to your needs?  Does your farrier
> listen to your concerns and take time to explain why he/she may
> disagree with you.
> 12.  Have you ever evaluated your horses hooves via radiograph with
> your vet AND farrier?
> 13.  What have you learned from using radiographs?
> 14.  What have you learned from the radiographs that you can use for a
> visual inspection of the hooves?  How do you do it?
> 15.  What, in your opinion, is the best way to learn about your
> horse's hooves/needs.?
> 16.  What publication, video, seminar, or person is the best way you
> learned about hooves?
> 17.  Does your farrier use NBS methods on your horse?  Why or why not?
> 18.  How much training has your farrier had in NBS methods?  Has
> she/he gone to clinics/workshops, learned from other farriers?
> 19.  How long has the farrier been using the NBS method on your horse?
> 20.  How many competitive miles has your horse done with the NBS
> method?
> 21.  Do you feel the NBS method is appropriate to use on domestic
> horses - why or why not?
> 22.  If you use NBS on your horse, are you comfortable with the
> methods considering that this is a relatively new concept?
> 23.  If you don't use NBS methods, does your farrier still recess the
> shoes somewhat for an earlier breakover.
> 24.  If you use NBS methods, did your horse's hooves ever get to the
> point of just looking "strange" to you?
> 
> O.k. guys - I'm anxiously awaiting intellectual, complex responses -
> have at it. :>)
> Jan Mutchler
> Colorado

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