Never hold a Farriers hands behind his back!

[Anaconda Pintler]

I am a full time farrier with years of lameness experience, I have a full time apprentice that has been working for me for over a year and a half we were at a longstanding account on Friday to take care of a horse there that should have been taken care of 4 years ago, the horse is a big (1600 lb or so) drafty warmblood that is used on fox hunts, when he came to the barn years ago I told them the prevalent toe crack needed to be addressed at that time, the were reluctant to give it special attention stating that he was sound and if it was not broke they were not going to go thru the expense and trouble of fixing it, I have repeatedly informed them that it would eventually result in a lame horse if not tended to! Well it has finally happened and with all the moisture resulting in a weak hoofcapsule he has fell apart. Sadly this could have been avoided years ago, but like I explained to them we have been putting lipstick on it for years not really addressing the undermining cause which was two things, one: radiographs showed us he has a central sulcus in his coffin bone and two is it was and has been for awhile been infected with onchymycosis. So we met with the Vet and decided after viewing radiographs to resect a portion of the hoof wall to rid it of infectious debris and then stabilize the capsule with a glued on aluminum band and a heartbar shoe and equipak. the results were a very lame horse before the procedure and a bleeding coronary band afterwards a stabilized hoof capsule, the bleeding stopped and the horse is sound at a walk and trot but will not be able to be in work for at least 6 mos. The whole moral of this post is to try and tell you as horse owners that if you have a qualified farrier that you have confidence in to let him or her do their respective jobs in order to avoid this very same outcome, they are very appreciative now and realize the whole thing could have been avoided. The techique I used with the aluminum bad is a relatively new way of treating these conditons developed by a good friend and Team USA Farrier Steve Teichman from PA, he has revolutionized methods of stabilizing hoof cracks with the glue on techique the older method would have been to patch the crack or stitch and lace it neither work very well because you can get close enough to the coronary band because the hoof wall is to thin that high up partucularly on heavy horses. hope you enjoy the pics

Here you can see the unattached white line

shooting radiographs

rescection of anterior hoofwall

Heartbar shoe

Glued on aluminum band to stabilize crack

Heartbar shoe with Equipak

Since one of main sources of treatment requires the resection to remain clean and free of debris and bacteria you can see how this method remains open and easily accessible to clean daily.

[ACooper]

That crack was NASTY, I cannot belive after that many years that you are going to be able to have him working again in about six months. NICE JOB. Interesting photos.

[Anaconda Pintler]

It really only seemed cosmetic to the owners the whole time, I knew better, lets just say it is not my first rodeo! The crack actually has just recently, within the past couple of weeks fell to the extreme side mostly due to the wet condition and a soft hoof capsule, while the weak moist foot just could not support his weight anymore and it fell apart quickly, it did not look this bad even a month ago the last time he was shod, making my point again trust your farrier if he is concerned about something, it may be best to heed his or her advice!

[Jmackk]

Sounds like some one needs to kick the owners in the butt a few time's. I have never heard of a crack being called "cosmetic". Anyone with any horse experience knows how important a horses foot(hoof) is, the old saying is "no hoof, no horse". Things like this really drive me crazy, so sarry if I come off sound like a......... you can fill in the blank.
And then they told the ferrier to get lost, what are people thinking, THE MANS A FERRIER, he knows what hes talking about. His job is horse feet, hes a horse pedicurist sorry had the throw that in lol. Well I hope every thing goes well for him and good luck.

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Anaconda I have a 12 yr old gelding that has been lame due to ringbone for about 5 yrs now. I've had him to equine specialists in Wichita, KS and the said about all we can do is bute him up and ride him. I'm wondering since it seems to me your very knowledgable with lameness in horses. My husband keeps him trimmed and shapped up and I have bought boots that seem to help him some but not fully. Just wondering if there's anything you might do differently. Another problem we have and was when we found this out was he was ran through a 5 strand barbwire fence cutting himself and around his hooves and legs badly. This one resulted in him loosing half of this hoof that the ringbone miraculaously showed up in the same time we were trying to get him healed up. We've had problems keeping a shoe to stay on him without the inside of this hoof wall breaking off and away. Any suggestions??? He's an awesome horse to this day and has been pretty much a yard/pasture ornimant since this happend and it makes me sick. He was an awesome scout horse for me and I miss him dearly. Any ideas would be appreciated bad or good. Thanks. Robbi

PS~have attached a few shots of him (he's the buckskin)

[Anaconda Pintler]

Robbi alot of what I would do to the horse in ways of shoeing would determine if he has been diagnosed with high ringbone or low ringbone? Whether it is articular or non articular (meaning are the osteophytes in the joint or around it) As far as the hoof itself with the old injury or wire cuts and half of his foot missing he sounds like a good candidate for a full support shoe of some sort, whether it be a heartbar or a Z bar, either way if he is missing part of his foot you must make him bear the weight somewhere, and the most success I have had is by letting the frog do it. Now saying this you might have to have a hand forged shoe made from barstock and the nails punched accordingly in order to keep it on. I love a challenge mayube you could find out a few particulars for me and let me ponder this: Take a good picture of him standing from the front so I can see his comformation, 2) pick up the foot and take a good pic of it as well next take a pic of the medial(nside) and one of the lateral (outside) while standing on it with the opposite foot picked up. Make sense? Then ask your vet who diagnosed him if it is high or low and articular or non articular, it would be great if you could take a digital of the radiograph in which he used to diagnose him and post them or email them to me. And then I am only a phone call away, if he that nice he deserves to have a chance to be sound, don't get me wrong they all do but it saddens me when a nice horse is put out to pasture that may be able to be fixed. And last but not least where are you located? I travel alot with my business and may be in your neck of the woods some time and would love to try and help you out.

Here is a mid case of a bad hoof abcess that i got called out to treat, the infection was rampant I had to come up with a way to attach a heart bar without nails on the lateral side so :




I used a hose clamp for two shoeings screwed to the remaining healthy wall while he grew new hoof wall, this horse is sound and has a healthy foot and competes at a high level once again

[Anaconda Pintler]

A nasty quarter crack that we resected and placed in a heart bar and he healed completely, this was caused by improper shoeing and since he was a Grand Prix jumper his feet just could not take the landing being so inbalanced thus the weight had to go somewhere and literally blowed a huge gaping crack all the way to the hairline I will post updated pics of this guy in the next day or so he is scheduled to be shod tmrw. Note the gap between the shoe and foot directly under the crack insuring the crack above it is weight free since he is standing on his frog.

Before the resection someone had tried the "old groove" technique which only work some of the time if grooved all the way until tiny little blood spots are present and only then with a full support shoe

[Anaconda Pintler]

Actually Robbi I think I may be shoeing a horse that came from you guys, Maxx, Jason Brooks I think bought him from you, am I correct? I put 2 and 2 together he said if I remember right he bought the horse from you all you are from KS right?

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Yes, Max came from us and we are in southeastern Kansas. We actually sold Max (a steel grey) to Dave Walker and then he to Jason. I'll work on getting you some shots of Buck and his hoof and I'll also try to call the specialist that worked on him tomorrow. I am thinking he gave me a flourascan disk from when he scaned his hoof but man I don't have a clue where I put it now. I just called the specialist in Wichita that I took Buck to and since I had to make an appointment for a 4yr old blue roan colt that is having some issues I'm going to haul Buck up there as well (appointment is @ 1 pm cst) and get all the info and maybe even have them scan or xray him as I'm sure it's changed from then. I'll keep you posted and let you know more when I do. Thanks so much for your info so far. I'll ttys Robbi

[Anaconda Pintler]

feel free to have them call me or you to anytime! PM you my number


PS you have got to see the video of me shoeing Maxx, one saturday I went down to Jason's and shod him with heavy steel front handmade shoes and toe clips it was pretty cool if anybody has never seen someone build shoes from straight stock! Jason enjoyed it! and we drank a beer later and had a wonderful dinner with his family, good times

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Just curious why you put heavy shoes and clips on Max, was he having problems that he needed them?? Just curious not our horse anymore but I loved him and his gaits. lol Got your PM I'll keep you posted and get some pictures of Buck as well.

[Anaconda Pintler]

I think it was a combination of things, mostlyhe just wanted to pace real bad and we tried to straighten that out with some weight and length and it worked real good he went alot better. He is nice to be around I rode him at a couple of trial this past winter and he is a nice horse, Jason and I and my brother also train together quite a bit when I get a chance to, seems like I am under them more than I am on them though!



PS I am not talking "weighted shoes" in any form they were just handmade out of heavier steel than what keg shoes would be

[snips]

Thats nice work Quinten. I used to work with one of the best in the country on fixing Quarter cracks, they flew him from coast to coast to fix feet. He don't have nothin on you:) That is nice work!

[Buckeye_V]

Wow. I try to have the best relationship with my ferrier to avoid this type of thing. I hope mine never, ever get that bad! Ouch

[Anaconda Pintler]

Thats nice work Quinten. I used to work with one of the best in the country on fixing Quarter cracks, they flew him from coast to coast to fix feet. He don't have nothin on you:) That is nice work!

After having the kids I almost refuse to travel anymore, it was such a hassle and I did for so long, going to the airport, boxing up supplies and either flying them or shipping them ahead of time and it always seemed like you were to fly in and do one or maybe two and the next thing you know they would flood you and you would be there for two - three days! Then you get to hear the bitching about the bill! that was my favorite I guess my time was not worth anything! I currently work for numerous local lameness clinics and they keep me covered up and I get to be home a night! Thanks for the compliment though Brenda!

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Quinten here are the shots of Buck's hoof and legs I told you I'd get you. He was just trimmed about 3-4 wks ago and needs to be done again (sorry). Will see what the specialist has to say tomorrow and I'll get you more info. Can't believe Max went to pacing. Weird. Oh well sounds like he's got an awesome shoer in you that means alot to me. I like to know horses I owned are being taken care of.

[Anaconda Pintler]

Robbi, well I have seen alot worse, but the scar tissue involving the hoof capsule would be the least of my worries, that can and needs to have some medial heel support which can be done numerous ways, now that I have seen the foot I am looking forward to hear what the clinic had to say pertaining to the ringbone which is the "big" piece of the puzzle concerning the soundness of the horse, let me know when you find out again I just think some frog pressure and increased breakover would no doubt help him. Is he lame all the time or directly after you work him? Is he pasture sound or lame only when you ride him?

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Well appreciate your time and you looking @ stuff Quintin but Buck isn't sound and never will be even with any kind of help. The looks of the radiographs it is continuing to get worse. I'm awaiting to see if the meds I had to put my blue roan colt on will help him and if not will probably just end up having to put the both of them down much to me wanting to cure them Buck it just won't happen with and Bo we'll just wait and see. The specialist gave be some shots he took of Buck yesterday.





he did say we could put a keg shoe (rocker or rolled toe) on him backwards so when he rolls the foot there is no pressure being put on the toe leaving for less pain on the bone against bone. Make sense?? He also has a lot of scar tissue inside itself. So sometime in the near future I will be putting my pretty boy down that I've had since he was 18 months old.

I'm also dealing with we're not totally sure what as of yet on my blue roan colt but going to put him on a regiment of Uniprine (Sulfa) for 14days and then ride him to see if there is any change in his gait. Their thinking he could have EPM (aka possium disease) so I have another problem horse on my hands. If this medication doesn't work I'll probably end up putting this gorgeous young boy down as it effects his center of balance and his gaiting/walking isn't right. So well see what happens on him.

Here are some shots I took of both Bo and Buck in the lot yesterday. Needless to say I'm pretty bummed out and haven't had to great a day and a half.

[Anaconda Pintler]

Not so fast Robbi, pm me your number or call me on the number I pm'd you! I see some things that leave a few questions in my mind. As far asthe epm there is alot of it here in GA and if I am not mistaking the absolute only way that can be diagnosed is with a spinal tap to withdraw spinal fluid to be tested. It is a very sad debilitating disease if he does have it but it is also treatable, I know of a few horses that have been treated. Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis is cured in about 70% of infected horses they usuallu use the three Anti's: Antiinflammatories, Antioxidants,Antibiotics. But I would really like to talk to you about Buc.

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Yeah I know some of the EPM horses are curable and then some aren't. We think after just 3 days that we might be seeing some improvement on my blue roan Bo but not counting our chickens just yet and will wait and see in 12-14 days when I get back on him and see how he is. I know they can do spinal taps and blood tests to determine if this is what he has or not.
And as far as Buck Keith says he's not going to spend anymore money on a 12 yr old horse that will never be sound again. I can give you the doctors name and number (as he could tell you everything so that I wouldn't get it goofed up) you could call him but we're pretty much done with his case.
Now we'll just wait and see the final out come of Bo and his EPM. Have been reading up alot on it and the vet told me of a lot of cases he's heard about and saw.
Thanks again.

[Anaconda Pintler]

OK

[Blue Dawn Kennel]

Thought I'd post that my blue roan TWH colt does have the EPM and is now on a special $800 medication specifically for EPM for 27 days. He was already a 100% better after 5-7 days of being on the sulfa meds (Uniprim) so we finished that and started Bo on the Marquis. Will keep you posted.