Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Boy 24/7 turn out on 40 acres.  I've gotta get out of L.A.
But move to someplace with.....   >gasp<......weather???
Dunno.  Don't think I could do it!  
I am such a wuss.

As far as hind legs filling, Bitsy had this problem for a time.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  I'd wrap her.  I'd ice her. Still she'd get so swollen back there that I stopped riding her for a while.
Until I got the vets out.  Two separate vets  (one who specialized in lameness).....both said the same thing.  Her toes were too long.  
But she'd just been trimmed and shod.
Both vets said that some farriers have a tendency to leave too much toe (and sometimes too much heel--causing underrun heels).  Over time the problem gets worse and worse.

The 2nd vet pulled her shoes and trimmed her.
Gee Bitsy, what tiny feet you have!!!
Within three days the swelling had gone.  Completely.
That was back in September 2002 and she's barefoot still.  Now I trim her myself.
I don't think shoeing is a bad thing. I know how sensitive this list is about that topic. In fact, one day I may go back to shoeing my horse.  But frankly, I've learned that trimming is not rocket science and that Bitsy is better now than she's ever been.  This is what worked for my horse.

The other day I had a farrier take a look at her to see how I was doing.  He said I needed to take down the lateral wall.  Now I know that when I do that, she swells a little on that side because it puts some strain on that outside suspensory.  My point here is that no one knows my horse as well as I do.  It's not possible for a stranger to know how she's most comfortable.  I happen to know  that she toes out a little and that she goes best being a teeny bit shorter on the inside or medial wall.  And eureka!  This happens to be exactly how she wears naturally.  Surprising, eh? 

I'm not saying this is the answer for your guy.  It's just something to consider.

Kathy