Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net
----------
> From: Tivers@aol.com
>
> Duncan, would you please forward the answer I gave you directly to this
> question to the group?
>
> I'm getting a lot of questions, folks, and I want to answer them all, but
I
> don't want to answer them twice each time. When you ask the question
through
> the group and then personally as well, I'll only be able to answer the
> question that gets to me first--usually it's the personal one. So, if
that
> happens, it will be your responsibility to forward it to the group.
>
> ti
> From: Tivers@aol.com
> To: dfletche@gte.net
> Subject: Re: Fw: Judging a trot on the ground
> Date: Tuesday, March 18, 1997 2:37 PM
>
> In a message dated 97-03-18 00:23:11 EST, you write:
>
> << Tom -
>
> I have no problem understanding angle logic, but why should a square toe
> increase concussive stress (assuming equal hoof angles) and why should
it
> jam more than a 'pointy' toe (again assuming equal hoof angles)?
> >>
>
> Good question, Duncan. The hoof hits heel first, and rolls onto the toe.
The
> toe generally slices through sand and soil and ceases forward motion a
few
> inches from its initial impact. A squared toe, at least on a Standardbred
> going on a track where these kinds of things are visible after the fact,
> stops the forward motion of the toe almost instantly and causes a much
> quicker breakover.
>
> While squared toes can solve a lot of (interference/gaiting) problems,
front
> and back, the one thing that a Standardbred horseman will tell you is
that
> you're going to have to start paying more attention to the joints,
especially
> pasterns and ankles, when you go to a square toe. Whether these kinds of
> problems are so quick to show up in endurance horses, I don't know, but
the
> mechanical principles would be the same.