Hind Foot Medial Lateral Flare

[GinaGeo]

Quick bit of history.

Horse is a 13yr old Welsh DxTB gelding. His near hind leg moves with a twist. Always has and does flare medially (has done this since 3yr old). He was shod at five, when he had a huge abscess in his near hind. Vet came, dug it out, told me he needed shoes to address the medial lateral balance. And I poulticed and employed a new farrier.

And all was fine. Changed farrier a few years ago as we were too far out for the original farrier. He had lateral extensions on his hinds, always kept a short shoeing cycle to keep on top of the back feet.

During the 1st lockdown I noticed he was starting to stand pointing his off fore and without being able to have a vet in for non emergency diagnostics we pulled his shoes and set about walking him. He’s still being trimmed by my farrier.

He wasn’t landing heel first in that foot at first (the near fore was) but we’ve now got him landing a solid heel first, he’s 100% sound, using his front end better than he has for a very long time and he’s really happy in himsel. The toe pointing stance has gone and other than long stoney hacks he’s comfortable without his boots.

There’s always a however though isn’t there. His near hind has slowly been flaring again medially. The flare is tight to the white line - it’s not something that can be easily removed.

He isn’t in hard work at the moment - lockdown has seen to that and prior to lockdown he was mostly hacking, very happily and very soundly.

Some pictures for reference


Near fore




Off Fore





Off hind


Near Hind




I’m teetering between waiting to see if this is something he will correct himself and let him do some self-trimming Rockley style and see what effect this has. His leg has always twisted - is just the foot he wants...

Or wondering whether we should have a look higher up. I know my Vet will tell me put shoes back on. Which would be a shame given the improvements in front.

Anyway - keen to hear your thoughts.

 

[GinaGeo]

Knew I’d forget something.
He gets the Pro Earth Pro Hoof Supplement and has for a long time. He also gets fed salt.

His feeds are meadow nuts and some meadow chaff to carry the supplement.

He lives out on my small track and has ad lib Haylage. Haylage suitable for laminitics as my other two metabolically challenged ponies live on it.

He’s a good weight and doesn’t show any other health problems.

 

[ester]

If the white line is tight I think this is where flare v. supportive hoof wall deviation comes in, and I wouldn't be removing the latter.
We have a lateral one, for a hock spavin, it was there a few years before the spavin properly came to light.
old pic

You haven't quite got a head on for the near hind, would be interesting to see and for your own interest perhaps a slow mo in front?

 

[GinaGeo]

Thanks Ester.

On studying the ‘from the front’ video is landing on the lateral side of his off fore. More walking on the soft.

I can’t work out how to work out how to get the video on YouTube without losing the slow mo..!

I will endeavour to get a better picture of the near hind. It’s so wonky it’s hard to decide where the toe is ?

 

[ester]

sometimes it's easier to look at it from above and add a marker