Comments on: Tendency of Foals to Develop Club Foot due to Conformation http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com A world of sound, healthy barefoot horses Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:41:50 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kinolound http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-5282 Kinolound Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:57:44 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-5282 Hi all! As a fresh barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com user i just wanted to say hi to everyone else who uses this bbs ;-) Hi all!

As a fresh barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com user i just wanted to say hi to everyone else who uses this bbs ;-)

]]> By: aderriere http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4750 aderriere Sun, 19 Oct 2008 09:06:11 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4750 Hello my friends! The interesting name of a site - barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com I recently 0 hours looked in the Internet So I have found your site :) The interesting site but does not suffice several sections! However this section is very necessary! Best wishes for you! Hello my friends!
The interesting name of a site – barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com
I recently 0 hours
looked in the Internet So I have found your site :)
The interesting site but does not suffice several sections!
However this section is very necessary!
Best wishes for you!

]]> By: Christina http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4544 Christina Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:52:13 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4544 Hi Rocky. It does sound like the trimming has been done correctly. If you like you can send me pictures (clear, of the bottom of the foot) for a second opinion. Also I think the chiropractic will be very helfpful. Hi Rocky.
It does sound like the trimming has been done correctly. If you like you can send me pictures (clear, of the bottom of the foot) for a second opinion. Also I think the chiropractic will be very helfpful.

]]> By: Rocky http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4541 Rocky Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:44:19 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4541 Thanks Christina, Sorry I should have said that we've already trimmed the bars and the heel right down on the upright foot and left the foal tip as long as possible and trimmed the nearfore normally but more off the toe than the other one. He's been out 24/7 the last month and the ground has been dry here the last two months. But he still favours the nearfore when grazing and I think it's just habit now so was trying to think of a way to break the habit. It's worrying that all the time he favours one foot forward we are struggling against time to correct it successfully :-( I'll ask my friend who is a chiropractor to have a look at him for me too. Thanks :-) Thanks Christina,
Sorry I should have said that we’ve already trimmed the bars and the heel right down on the upright foot and left the foal tip as long as possible and trimmed the nearfore normally but more off the toe than the other one.
He’s been out 24/7 the last month and the ground has been dry here the last two months.
But he still favours the nearfore when grazing and I think it’s just habit now so was trying to think of a way to break the habit.
It’s worrying that all the time he favours one foot forward we are struggling against time to correct it successfully :-(
I’ll ask my friend who is a chiropractor to have a look at him for me too.
Thanks :-)

]]> By: Christina http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4540 Christina Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:08:41 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4540 Hi Rocky. I wouldn't try any weird things like taping but I would definitely have a barefoot trimmer or highly skilled farrier take a look at the trim job. What I would do is closely examine the bottom of that right front, and look for long bars already. Believe it or not, a 3 month old foal can have it. If they're there, smooth them down. Also, lower the heels as much as reasonably possible - often (2-3 wks) until the stance evens out. Usually I find after the first trim on a foal about this age, if it is done correctly (meaning addressing the bars) it doesn't need more correction again because the foot spreads open and starts growing. The baby foot tends to grow this way because they are usually not on 24 hr turnout and in soft footing, both inside the stall and in turnout. Other things I would investigate is som body work, maybe have a chiropractor once to check him out. The act of birthing can cause subtle problems that can cause these imbalances. Hi Rocky.
I wouldn’t try any weird things like taping but I would definitely have a barefoot trimmer or highly skilled farrier take a look at the trim job. What I would do is closely examine the bottom of that right front, and look for long bars already. Believe it or not, a 3 month old foal can have it. If they’re there, smooth them down. Also, lower the heels as much as reasonably possible – often (2-3 wks) until the stance evens out. Usually I find after the first trim on a foal about this age, if it is done correctly (meaning addressing the bars) it doesn’t need more correction again because the foot spreads open and starts growing. The baby foot tends to grow this way because they are usually not on 24 hr turnout and in soft footing, both inside the stall and in turnout.

Other things I would investigate is som body work, maybe have a chiropractor once to check him out. The act of birthing can cause subtle problems that can cause these imbalances.

]]> By: Rocky http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4539 Rocky Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:47:55 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4539 Hi, I have a three month old TB that is also favouring grazing with the near fore forward all the time resulting in the off fore growing upright. I'm wondering if there is a way to encourage grazing with the upright foot forward eg. taping the other foot so it's not comfortable to to graze that way?..any suggestions please? Hi,
I have a three month old TB that is also favouring grazing with the near fore forward all the time resulting in the off fore growing upright.
I’m wondering if there is a way to encourage grazing with the upright foot forward eg. taping the other foot so it’s not comfortable to to graze that way?..any suggestions please?

]]> By: Christina http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4537 Christina Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:23:06 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4537 HI Ginger, I have posted the results of this study here on my blog for informational purposes but I don't have access to any more information that what you see here. The full information is not available online and the researcher, M.C. Van Heel does not seem to be accessible via the internet. She has spoken at Cornell which might be a way to track her down. The full study is available in the Nov EVJ as I said in the post, but I don't have access to that as I'm not a vet. HI Ginger, I have posted the results of this study here on my blog for informational purposes but I don’t have access to any more information that what you see here. The full information is not available online and the researcher, M.C. Van Heel does not seem to be accessible via the internet. She has spoken at Cornell which might be a way to track her down. The full study is available in the Nov EVJ as I said in the post, but I don’t have access to that as I’m not a vet.

]]> By: Ginger http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4534 Ginger Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:49:39 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4534 I'm sorry... let me ask this again. I meant to say... of those 50% of foals, how many actually resulted in a clubbed foot? And, did the problem of uneven feet and uneven loading patterns (or clubbing), correct itself as the foal matured and grew into its legs. Thanks. I’m sorry… let me ask this again. I meant to say… of those 50% of foals, how many actually resulted in a clubbed foot? And, did the problem of uneven feet and uneven loading patterns (or clubbing), correct itself as the foal matured and grew into its legs. Thanks.

]]> By: Ginger http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4533 Ginger Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:44:32 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4533 Interesting study. The study indicates that close to 50% of foals "can" develop club feet, but doesn't necessarily state that they actually do. What it states is that "50% of the foals developed a significant preference to protract the same limb systematically while grazing, which resulted in uneven feet and subsequently uneven loading patterns." I'm curious... of those 50% of foals, how many actually resulted in a club foot, and did the problem correct itself as the foal matured and grew into its legs? Interesting study. The study indicates that close to 50% of foals “can” develop club feet, but doesn’t necessarily state that they actually do. What it states is that “50% of the foals developed a significant preference to protract the same limb systematically while grazing, which resulted in uneven feet and subsequently uneven loading patterns.” I’m curious… of those 50% of foals, how many actually resulted in a club foot, and did the problem correct itself as the foal matured and grew into its legs?

]]> By: Christina http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4045 Christina Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:43:30 +0000 http://barefoothoofcare.wordpress.com/studies/tendency-of-foals-to-develop-club-foot-due-to-conformation/#comment-4045 Hi Emily, glad to hear your mare is doing better. It would be great to see pictures of the contraction improving. Just to be clear, I am not the author of the article but I think I can answer some of your questions. In addition to trimming the heels and toe it is vital to address the sole and bars of the clubby or upright foot. If there is bar protruding to the level of the wall or even past it, this will cause pain and prevent the horse from weighting the heel which encourages it to grow faster than the other foot. I think in such cases massage would be the most beneficial because the shoulders tend to tighten up from this posture. Also, such treatments as myofascial release therapy, or acupuncture that will help muscles relax. Good luck with the colt. Hi Emily, glad to hear your mare is doing better. It would be great to see pictures of the contraction improving.

Just to be clear, I am not the author of the article but I think I can answer some of your questions.

In addition to trimming the heels and toe it is vital to address the sole and bars of the clubby or upright foot. If there is bar protruding to the level of the wall or even past it, this will cause pain and prevent the horse from weighting the heel which encourages it to grow faster than the other foot.

I think in such cases massage would be the most beneficial because the shoulders tend to tighten up from this posture. Also, such treatments as myofascial release therapy, or acupuncture that will help muscles relax.

Good luck with the colt.

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