Caudal pedal bone rotation - recovery time

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Any experiences of this? I have one recovering that has just been reshod with raised heels to relieve discomfort (long story, not for here and the collapsed heels happened before I started dealing with the horse) and i would like some kind of feel for when any significant improvement can be seen so that I am not tormenting myself looking for it on a weekly basis!

the vet has advised not to expect anything significant for at least two weeks based on Xrays and I know that hoof growth is a kind of 'how long is a bit of string' question but go do with some positive information if anybody has any
 
Why did the pedal bone rotate? By caudal rotation do you mean that it has sunk at the heel, instead of the more normal sinking at the toe?
 
my lad took 6 month to cure the pedal bone rotation however the wedges cause more problems and left him crippled so that took and extra 7-8 months to come sound
 
cptrayes said:
Why did the pedal bone rotate? By caudal rotation do you mean that it has sunk at the heel, instead of the more normal sinking at the toe?
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Yes, exactly that due to collapsed heels.

LadyRacasse. I know wedge shoes are not ideal and am hoping that we will be able to dispense with the wedges after 2 trims (8 weeks time) or at least reduce them from their current 1cm lift, all we trying to do currently is mitigate the coffin joint pain and wait for some hoof growth at the heel. The horse has extended shoes to allow for this. 6 months is a bit depressing but it does tell me that I shouldn't be too optimisitic too soon so thanks for that.
 
is the horse too unsound to go without shoes at all? Because shoeing with wedges doesn't sound like the best way to encourage heel development. I have rehabbed a horse with no collateral groove at the heel whatsoever and he did absolutely brilliantly barefoot, in time.
 
As above, I would have thought that putting heels on the shoes would impede heel recovery - all it will do is make sure there is more weight going through the heels and crush the heel horn tubules? Could you put some pictures up?
 
My horse had a rotation of the pedal bones in both front feet - toes up.

He was fitted with bar shoes - I did not want bar shoes put on - and was sounds instantly.

He was given two weeks in the field and then re-commenced ridden work.
 
For those that queried the built up heels - yes I understand that it isn't ideal and he had a few days between the Xrays and the farrier coming back and clearly was not comfortable. The shoes were desgined in consultation between the vet and the farrier and to the issues raised on the Xrays.

I don't have clear photos but essentially both shoes have approaching a 1cm lift underneath at the back to allow the hoof to sit at the correct angle on the shoe, they are also extended behind to encourage the heels to grow down and we are hoping that with the next two trims we can adjust the toes enough, and have enough growth at the heels to dispense with the lifts. The simple fact is that several days in he is already much more comfortable when being led out into the field so i am hopeful we will see an improvement in a trot up on hard ground in another week or so.

I do know that going barefoot is often a positive in these cases but not for this horse, at least not yet. My other two however are completely unshod so I am open to the concept - if it suits the horse and the workload.
 
I have been told before that raising the heals reduces the strain of the DDFT that attaches to the back of the pedal bone, thus reducing the chance of further rotation. Future management and time for recovery should be guided by clinical response and xrays.
 
For those that queried the built up heels
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Sorry, just re-read my post - and it was built up heals I did not want my horse to have fitted, as often they can become worse before they become better. And often there is no improvement at all.
 
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