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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Would you rather own a horse with a clubbed foot or a foot that can never grow enough heel on it??
BTW, Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a fun Halloween tomorrow! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 495
Location: Washington | I'd rather have one that wouldn't grow heel. A club foot is a deeper issue then appearance, it's actually a tendon/ligament issues and have to have to be very careful with trimming/shoeing. One that didn't grow heel would be as easy as putting a wedge on to get proper angle.
This is my opinion. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I agree. Another thing is I can fix a horse with not enough heel by proper barefoot trimming. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Neither, but I have dealt with a club footed mare I had and a pretty good shoer that keep her going. But would not want to do that again. And that was over 20 years ago, I had her for many years, she stayed with me till she died. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | If it's under 2 years old I'll take the club foot and do the check ligament surgery on it.
But if its a grown horse, I'll work with a horse with no heel over club foot. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I have one with a club foot and she is manageable with frequent trimmings. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Horse in my profile picture doesn't grow a heel at all on her front feet. In the 6 years we've had her, she's only grown maybe an inch on her heel with frequent trimming and a great program (her toes grow like crazy, and her back feet are beautiful). She has specialty wedge shoes with sole covers and is perfectly sound. She also gets a prescription circulation supplement to improve blood flow to her hooves, plus double strength farrier formula hoof supplement and, as I said before, strict farrier program every 5 weeks. Since the circulation supplement, her hooves have been growing out better, but still not helping the heels much. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I have a horse who, at his worst (due to bad farrier work), was a grade 2 club.
After 3 years of natural balance trimming and no shoes, most people wouldn't catch that he's got a club foot. Seriously. Only those who have a natural eye for angles would pick up the difference in his fronts. And the club just looks different, not wrong. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I have a club footed mare that is easily managed as well. I think I'd prefer a clubby one over no heels. Farrier charges extra to wedge and pad, etc. but doesn't charge extra to deal with the club. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | lonely va barrelxr - 2015-10-30 11:31 AM
I have a horse who, at his worst (due to bad farrier work), was a grade 2 club.
After 3 years of natural balance trimming and no shoes, most people wouldn't catch that he's got a club foot. Seriously. Only those who have a natural eye for angles would pick up the difference in his fronts. And the club just looks different, not wrong.
Exactly, trim the foot barefoot and you can help it heal. Putting wedges on the no heel or under-slung heel foot, just makes the problem worse over time. When I trim, I take off every bit of heel I can, that's the only way to help stimulate it, make the foot widen, and cut back toe.
Edited by Tdove 2015-10-30 12:56 PM
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | I've dealt with both and both have their own set of challenges. I would rather have a horse that doesn't grow much heel. |
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| I have a 21 year old mare with a true clubbed foot and has never been lame and I've never had any trouble with it. She still runs awesome and I have won quite a few races with her last summer and placed at a few rodeos. I've also had horses with no heel so with that being said with my experiences I would rather have a clubbed foot. But my mare might possibly be a freak and be tough as nails though. |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Both hoof conformation have to be helped, you won't change the way the hoof grows. One extreme to another that's all. You would just have to live with a straight shouldered horse for example. |
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