Been screening all of the comments and suggestions regarding forging. Over
the miles we have found that some horses forge when they are barefoot and
when shod they do not. We have also found that forging happens at a "less
than optimum" trot. Many horses when trotting at speed, spread the hind legs
so there is no interference. The hind foot passes the front to the outside
and there is no interference or forging. Improper shoeing can cause the
forging. One instance of this is forcing the rear hoof to breakover in the
wrong direction. This is sometimes done to make the feet"track up" or in an
attempt to "correct: cow hocks. But remember cow hocks are good for
endurance horses (I do not mean extreme ones)
Many persons have the mistaken concept that horses legs, including feet,
must move straight forward and back. That is far from the actual physical
action of the equine legs. Remember the legs are not "outboard" of the body
of the horse but somewhat under. The elbow and stifle must clear that barrel
to get full stride so there is always some lateral movement of the leg and
foot. The well trained and conditioned horse thus realizes that lateral
movement in the hind leg and holds it out there allowing the rear hoof to
bypass the front. My feeling is this is a "learned action"
As for hoof angles, the shoulder, and pastern do not determine the hoof wall
angle. If you dig deep you will find the coffin bone is the determining
factor!! The hoof wall IS attached to the coffin bone in a sense.(not so in
a foundered foot though as the coffin bone is detached from the hoof wall)
The best way to determine the proper hoof angle for a particular endurance
horse, and I say endurance horse as I believe ,Tom, the race horse is a
different case, is to pull shoes when the hoof is a bit long and then ride
barefoot for 20 or so miles on pavement, rough ground, gravel and then
pavement again. Then check angles on each foot. But also check the wear on
each side of the hoof. Some feet do not wear what the human eye calls
"balanced" but it is the way the horse is most comfortable.
Tom, I think that the endurance horse traveling at sub-optimal speed creates
a different foot actuation set than does the TB at racing speeds. That is
most likely not couched in the best of terms. The endurance horse is
conditioned to a certain muscular action set due to training and
conditioning. The race horse is conditioned to another realm of muscular
action sets. The trot of a TB and the trot of an endurance horse will not be
the same. Yes the same gait, but not the same action. Thus, what may work
for shoeing a race horse will not necessarily work for an endurance horse.
That includes angles as well. One thing to think about is the "wheel action"
of a TB galloping. But for most of the distance in an endurance ride that
action is not present. It is a stride and a slide for each foot. Evidence?
check the foot prints out on the trail and it becomes very evident also
check the bottom of an endurance horses shoes and see the long abrasion
marks from sliding.
Linda I agree with you on the square toes in back. We find this to some
extent on all of our horses when they have run without shoes for a while. Of
course if you are fortunate to have an excellent farrier like we do, he will
fit the shoe to the horse's foot. This takes some time to do though. We
figure on 2 hours per horse for shoeing. (this is a farrier with 15 years
experience) We experience very few pulled shoes, and those that do pull are
usually due to a faulty sets or caught on a rock. We do lose many shoes when
the shoe gets down toless then one sixteenth inch thick. Right now I have a
mare with both hind shoes gone, load bath of them. Of course there are still
six nails in each foot. Goes to show you how poor the nails are these days
they could not keep thin shoes on the foot any more.
Enough rambling on. Listen to your horse and not your neighbor. The horse
knows more!
Bob Morris
Morris endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID