Change in trot action as a result of wedges?

[arizonahoney]

Hi all,

I'm bringing my pony back into work after a period of time off...

Copy / pasted from the vet report after MRI's and X-rays in October of last year -

"In my opinion the most significant finding of the cunent MRI sequences is the sclerosis of the facies flexoria of the distal phalanx. This is a relatively unusual finding in isolation with only limited desmitis of the distal sesamoidean impar ligament and no change in the deep digital flexor tendon. The limited number of cases I have seen have done well with a prolonged period of rest and corrective farriery (keeping the toe short to reduce breakover and applying a small graduated heel to reduce tension in the deep digital flexor tendon and distal seamoidean impar ligament)."

My farrier reports bruising which is growing out - good - and hopefully we should be able to kiss goodbye to the wedges this next shoeing cycle. In walk, pony feels fine - but in trot, the action feels kind of weird to me. Not lame, just different to how it was before when he was last sound and in work.

Any ideas why this would be? My hunch is that this is to do with the graduated heels in the shoes somehow...

 

[arizonahoney]

NB - wedges are just on front. Since we started the cycle of remedial shoeing, he is not shod behind, just trims when the farrier comes to do the front feet.

 

[TwoStroke]

I would imagine it's due to incorrect biomechanics which are inevitable with wedges.

Does your pony have poor caudal hooves in front? (Weak frog or under run heel etc).

 

[arizonahoney]

Does your pony have poor caudal hooves in front? (Weak frog or under run heel etc).

Not especially...having said that, his hinds are looking pretty good now after 5 months approx of no shoes, so it will be interesting to compare and contrast with the fronts at the next trimming / shoeing.

I'm going to talk to my YO tonight as he has a far better eye than me for movement / lameness - and farrier is next out on the 22nd.

 

[tallyho!]

The wedges seem to be prescribed to replace a natural "wedge" of the caudal heel structure which according to that report is flat and non-existent causing the distal phalanx to tilt in such a way.

How is the trot different? How is the hoof landing?

Photos of the hoof?

 

[arizonahoney]

How is the trot different? How is the hoof landing?

Have only had 3 brief trots on him in our last couple of rides...so I can't say how the hoof is landing...but the natural bounce that you post to is throwing me high out of the saddle...and there doesn't seem to be a great deal of forward motion to it. Does that make any sense?

Photos of the hoof?

Not recent ones...will fix that next time I am at the yard with some natural light.

 

[tallyho!]

Have only had 3 brief trots on him in our last couple of rides...so I can't say how the hoof is landing...but the natural bounce that you post to is throwing me high out of the saddle...and there doesn't seem to be a great deal of forward motion to it. Does that make any sense?


Not recent ones...will fix that next time I am at the yard with some natural light.

If you could that would be helpful, plus one view from the back of the foot on the ground.

Try a trot in hand and observe how the hoof lands.

I am imagining that with the sudden new angle of how his hoof meets the ground, he is landing more or less flat because he won't be able to swing his whole limb forward as he is being "put" on his toe which is now very short compared to what it was. So, the arc of the flight/landing is shortened and he is being placed in front of his natural movement, almost as if he is having to make a quicker, shorter arc with his forelegs as his hinds push him forwards.

I can't see obviously but I am trying to imagine from what the vet described is the problem and how the remedial work has been done.

 

[rachm6]

My horse had the same problem. He started off with graduated heart bars they started off fine but after 12 weeks made him suffer from cronic lameness. They made him 'rock' his feet when he put them down. The shoes were removed and he went bare foot for 10 months and now he has normal shoes back on