Re: low heels

[avpinc@bellsouth.net]

Paula,

     Your horse may be experiencing a lack of something  he needs in the way
of nutrition.  He may also be suffering from some anomoly in the environment
in your area.  For instance, here in the Volusia County area, it is known by
most that we have a Selenium deficiency in the soil here.  You can have things
like this tested by your vet with a blood test.  Many people in our area have
found that their horses, particularly endurance horses, benefit from extra
Vitamin E w. Selenium in their diet.  This can be added as a supplement.
Your horse may also need something as simple as biotin added to promote
healthy hoof growth.  The local hay we have available is sometimes low in
calcium which can also affect the hooves.  Many Florida horses in my opinion
suffer from a calcium deficiency.
     You may also check to make sure your farrier is trimming your horse in
a "four-point" method which allows for a longer heel by shortening and straightening
the toe (I'm not a farrier and I'm probably not explaining this right)  but the bottom
line is to take pressure off the heel, the sole and the hocks.
     E-mail me privately if you want to discuss the nutrition issue further.  I've
had some real learning experiences since moving from the NE to the SE.
                                                  Linda (AVP)

guest@endurance.net wrote:

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>
> From: Paula Stich
> Email: paulastk@aol.com
>
> I haven't been at this sport very long so I'm just getting started with the horse I already had, A Thb. gelding with very puny low heeled hooves.  I had shoes on him until recently(they wouldn't stay on him) and the farrier said he'd be lame.  Well he's not but he's very tender footed and I am hesitant to condition him on the trail until he grows some hoof.  Without buying ANOTHER horse, is it possible to get this horse a heel?  Are some horses just proned to not grow any heel?  Seems like around Tallahassee area there are alot of horses without any subtantial heels on them, we do have dry weather for now but its usually wet and dry, and that's the reason my farrier says he can't keep the shoes on.  I have also tried the easy boots but they look to tight on the bulbs and we train in alot of sand.  Help.  I don't want to give up the sport so soon for lack of a heel!
>
> Thanks
> Paula and Cosmos (ouch!)