Re: RC: Debate on rolled toes (long)

["Truman Prevatt, PhD" <truman.prevatt@netsrq.com>]

While this is all well and good, I took similar advise and didn't square
off the toes of my horse for one shoeing.

We did a couple of rides and guess what, his rear ankles were swollen.
Squared off the toes in the back the next shoeing and did a couple of
rides and the swelling was not there - and it wasn't there before I
decided to fix what wasn't broken.

So do what works, the horse will tell you. Theory is good, especially if
it has been tested in a controlled environment - it is pretty much
religion if it hasn't. Not saying that every horse needs squared, but it
should not be eliminated as an option just because of some analysis.

Truman

Kristi Schaaf wrote:

> I have the Jan/Feb 2001 issue
> of the American Farriers Journal in hand, and I just
> read what I consider an interesting article, titled
> "Toe mechanics: taking away the toes hurts the horse
> more than it helps" by Randy Luikart, CJF. I've always
> been under the impression that a rolled or squared toe
> makes breakover easier, thus making miles of trotting
> not so tiring.
> (which we all know is so important in long distance
> riding!) But the article has me reevaluating this
> theory. Luikart's opinion is that a toe is needed for
> propulsion; he says "The hoof and shoe base combined
> with a proper toe length allows the deep digital
> flexor
> apparatus to provide the propulsion needed to move the
> horse's center of mass". In other words, horses use
> their toes to "dig in and propel" themselves.
> I see my farrier next week so will definitely ask him
> his opinion on all this (he's been telling me for
> years
> to quit relying on ALL the new "natural horse" fads. I
> thought he was just being old-fashioned and
> difficult!)

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