Re: RC: wedge pads

[RDShoe4U@aol.com]

   Well in my experience you both are right.A horse that had wedges and is 
being worked hard will in fact crush heels.I have found that there is only 
one way to fix crushed heels.Keeping in mind that a horses foot is made up of 
thousands of horn tubules that grow in the direction they are pointed.Example 
would be crushed heels the tubules are bent toward the toe causing them to 
grow more foward than down.By growing forward it drags the hoof capsule 
forward and pushes the toe out even further.This is the part that gets people 
because they do not want you to take any heel off the horse, but that is what 
needs to happen.Rasping the heel down moves the base of support back futher 
under the horse, also what happens is you are removing the part of the horn 
tubules that are bent forward and setting the path to grow down and less 
forward.The toe needs to be backed up in relation to how far you backed the 
heels up if possible sometimes this may take rockering the toe.Here is where 
you wedge pads come into play again.Sometimes you need to wedge the horse 
back up in order to keep a workable hoof pastern axis.Over time the wedge can 
be done away with because you will be able to move the toe back in order to 
maintain the right angle because you will be growing heel to help with the 
proper angle.Keep in mind that some horses have very poor foot conformation 
and it may be a case of just managing the problem in the way I described 
above.Hope this helps you.If you have futher questions or need it explained 
better feel free to give me a page at 606-741-2835. I am located in Kentucky 
but I am willing to travel if there are several horses in the area that would 
make it worth the trip.I am very intrested in shoeing endurance and 
competitive horses.I have found they have similar problems as race and 
breeding stock thoroghbreds which are the majority of my current work.One 
again I hope this helps ! RD 


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