Post by oberon on Dec 9, 2011 10:48:04 GMT 1
I'm reading a book about shoeing, written by an American farrier in 1997.
Most of it made for uncomfortable reading (he has some dubious ideas on horse handling and restraint) and then something made me start to shake in horror.
I'll give the story behind the following pics from the book....
"Curative Burning"
"This type of treatment is used to put flexibility in a hoof that is frog- and sole-bound or otherwise restricted. For example, this type of treatment might help a club foot open up more, expanding into more of a normal, healthy-looking hoof. In the following photos, this procedure is used on a horse who was showing chronic lameness in both front feet."
"The horse was diagnosed as having bursitis in the navicular area - in other words, pre-navicular. The horse was probably predisposed for this condition, having fairly straight pasterns. He had been shod previously with wedge pads, which raised his heels, but that seemed to make his lameness worse."
"His left front foot was also somewhat of a club foot, and was noticeably smaller than his right front foot. He was also definitely frog- and sole-bound."
"After both front feet were opened up with the burning technique, and he was shod with concave roller-motion shoes on both feet, he walked away sound and resumed his summer horse-show schedule."
"In the years that followed, this gelding did gradually develop navicular disease, but he maintained a fairly useful life, largely free of pain, through regular trimming and/or shoeing, and the occasional use of pads (sometimes wedge pads, sometimes not.)........Today, the horse is primarily retired......."
"Burning around the perimeter of the frog helped open up the heel, allowing it to resume natural growth."
"A fan pattern was also burned into the sole, again to allow expansion of growth in the area."
"A '7' was burnt into the hoof wall in this fashion on both sides of the hoof (both feet). This also adds flexibility to the heel area, which in turn lessens concussion and promotes healthy growth."
I am aghast :cry:
Most of it made for uncomfortable reading (he has some dubious ideas on horse handling and restraint) and then something made me start to shake in horror.
I'll give the story behind the following pics from the book....
"Curative Burning"
"This type of treatment is used to put flexibility in a hoof that is frog- and sole-bound or otherwise restricted. For example, this type of treatment might help a club foot open up more, expanding into more of a normal, healthy-looking hoof. In the following photos, this procedure is used on a horse who was showing chronic lameness in both front feet."
"The horse was diagnosed as having bursitis in the navicular area - in other words, pre-navicular. The horse was probably predisposed for this condition, having fairly straight pasterns. He had been shod previously with wedge pads, which raised his heels, but that seemed to make his lameness worse."
"His left front foot was also somewhat of a club foot, and was noticeably smaller than his right front foot. He was also definitely frog- and sole-bound."
"After both front feet were opened up with the burning technique, and he was shod with concave roller-motion shoes on both feet, he walked away sound and resumed his summer horse-show schedule."
"In the years that followed, this gelding did gradually develop navicular disease, but he maintained a fairly useful life, largely free of pain, through regular trimming and/or shoeing, and the occasional use of pads (sometimes wedge pads, sometimes not.)........Today, the horse is primarily retired......."
"Burning around the perimeter of the frog helped open up the heel, allowing it to resume natural growth."
"A fan pattern was also burned into the sole, again to allow expansion of growth in the area."
"A '7' was burnt into the hoof wall in this fashion on both sides of the hoof (both feet). This also adds flexibility to the heel area, which in turn lessens concussion and promotes healthy growth."
I am aghast :cry:
How recent is this book oberon? It really isn't acceptable for this stuff to be still going on when so much is out in the open about cause of navicular and there are so many more modern and less barbaric and less invasive treatment options available. 
