Monday, January 28, 2013

The long awaited updated hoof portraits are here!

The following pics will show a typical high-low fore hoof asymmetry. The right heel is coming down slowly..... The heel shows the scar from the rub turned proud flesh which has healed. The forward flare is still present, and the angle change apparent when shoes were pulled (lower 1/3 of fores). Hinds have weak wall at ground level, probably extending as high as the rings on the outer wall... thus the chipping and exaggerated bevel. There is slight concavity at the tip of the frog, and frogs are beefier. Still a heel crack in the central sulcus- continuing NoThrush therapy. See if you can identify the laminitic rings which appear to be wider apart at the heel than the toe... Backing the toe to keep it out of active wear is normalizing this higher up. There are signs of sub-solar abscessing, and icky pockets of black goo behind the bars on one hind. Bars are beginning to stand up where they belong. Flares are mostly in the lower third of the hoof (which is what is left of the hoof he wore last August when he came to me. Collateral groove depth is good, sole is stable on hinds and only has a couple small spongy areas on the fores. I want to see the anterior/posterior balance improve... heels lower and toes higher... once he develops more concavity (movement, diet and trim!) I expect to see a more normal lateral hairline (aiming at 30 degrees for left fore, and right fore yet to be seen). The rear view of the fore hooves shows the heel rocker I keep on the right fore. On the hinds, I want to see the toes tighten up, with less forward flare (keeping toes backed up on hinds too). Left hind was negative palmar, so I have focused on exfoliating the sole around the frog ahead of the bars and keeping the toe out of weight bearing. Overall, lateral cartilages are relaxing, digital cushions are coming back, slowly, and he is comfortable and rideable. I never ride him faster than he moves at liberty. So when he galloped around the pasture, missing his buddy mares who had gone for a ride, I knew it was time to try loping him. Jester speaks... He teaches me to listen.  photo P1253362_zps748c6e2e.jpg  photo P1253349_zps3b251170.jpg  photo P1253348_zps3bc7ea23.jpg  photo P1253346_zps727f571e.jpg  photo P1253345_zps3ea224d1.jpg  photo P1253344_zps36bb784e.jpg  photo P1253343_zps2b21fc97.jpg  photo P1253342_zpsce5652b0.jpg  photo P1253336_zps20736475.jpg  photo P1253358_zps8b3e3272.jpg  photo P1253356_zps4e34ebbd.jpg  photo P1253353_zps71a654d3.jpg  photo P1253351_zps52395a30.jpg  photo P1253360_zpsf77659f5.jpg  photo P1253359_zps2224bc36.jpg And Jester, just being a horse... Yesterday I saw him roll on the right side, and get up and shake his whole body TWICE! He has only shaken his head and neck for so long... such a little thing but such a good sign!

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