ridecamp@endurance.net: Re[2]: Squaring the Toe

Re[2]: Squaring the Toe

Bonnie Snodgrass (snodgrab@ncr.disa.mil)
Wed, 19 Mar 97 11:34:43 EST

Tom this is an area where we'll have to agree to disagree as neither will change
the other's mind. We disagreed on this subject in the past. I have had
experience with the TB racing world (not the STB's) having spent years at
breeding farms and tracks. I seen the low heels and long toes created to
maximize length of stride. I've also seen this else where, dressage horses come
to mind. The show ring Quarter horse is frequently afflicted with this mismatch
of angles (and coincidentally? also navicular syndrome). Match the angles, move
the shoe back on the foot, let the thick toe do it's job and save the structures
at the back of the foot/leg. No, nothing's simple, but duplicating what nature
intended (or should I say natural selection) appears to promote sound foot
structure. The racing world makes it's own demands and is very specialized. It
has many knowledgeable experts in their field but what works for a race horse is
not necessarily best applied to the rest of the equine world.

Bonnie Snodgrass

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Squaring the Toe
Author: ridecamp@endurance.net at smtp
Date: 3/18/97 6:31 PM

In a message dated 97-03-18 07:05:02 EST, you write:
Bonnie:
<< Gotta agree with Steve here. A horse should have angles that match his
pastern angles and he will land flat. >>

I wish you'd explain this to the hundreds of Thoroughbreds we put over our
treadmills each year for diagnostic purposes. We use slo-mo videos to see
exactly what happens with changes in hoof trimming. It ain't as simple as
matching hoof to pastern angles, Bonnie.


>>The squared or rolled toe with ease or speed up break over.>> Yes.

> This is nature's way.Horses didn't evolve wearing shoes protecting their
toes from wear.> Careful. They didn't eveolve carrying a human 50 miles in a
day or one mile in 1:33.

>> That's why a horses toe wall is thicker than anywhere else on the foot.
It's
because it's normal for this wall to wear back. >>

This is interesting. One thing we noted with the World Racing Plate, which
has a squared toe, was that there was a major buildup of hoof wall (2-3
months into wearing the shoes) from the coronary to the shoe over the squared
section of the foot.

In standardbreds, one way to know if you're soeing with too high an angle for
the horse is that the toes will get sore--white lines turning pink, or sand
cracks in the toe. This tells me that higher angles put extra stress on the
toe. I think squared toes do the same, but have no proof to offer.

ti

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