Case Studies

EXTREME FOUNDER:

*This pony's hooves are still a work in progress, but I wanted to show how you how much difference can be made in 3 months. Check back for updates.*

This pony was in tremendous pain when I first started working on her, she was badly foundered and her toes had gotten so long they had curled up on all four hooves. Original cause of founder was probably due to a lack of hoofcare ,more than anything. Her owners had a very hard time getting someone to come all the way out to trim just one pony, so her hooves just grew and grew. Fortunately, they had gotten my number from a friend of theirs and I immediately came out. The first trim involved the use of a hack saw, to get those darn curls off and help give a more normal shape to the foot. I suggested that the horse be taken off sweet feed (high-carbs) and be put on a grass only diet with the use of a grazing muzzle if necessary. It has now been 3 months and the hooves are beginning to take on a more normal shape, you can see the healthy hoof wall at the top 1/3 of the hoof. This healthy hoof wall will make it all the way down to the ground in about 5-6 more months. Although she is much more comfortable she is far from being sound, yet. She still has much hoof to grow but as the months go by she will feel more and more comfortable. She is kept on a 4-5 week trim schedule.

MARCH '10 JUNE '10

FOUNDER:

This pony was diagnosed with 12-13 degrees rotation in both fronts, in other words, he was foundered. The cause was most likely due to a high-carb diet, getting too much green grass. His owner then put him in a dry lot and I began working on him, he was kept on a 5-6 week trim schedule. Within a few months there was noticeable improvement in the concavity of his sole, a sign that the coffin bone is moving back into the correct position. A few more months and all of the white line separation had grown out and there was no more slippering of the toe. Reducing the carbs in his diet by keeping him dry lotted and keeping him on a regular trimming schedule is what allowed for a successful rehabilitation of this pony.