Hi Dr. T.,
I trimmed my little guy yesterday, and used Jaime Jackson's yellow hoof gauge. I hadn't used it in awhile - my mentor said its better to use a triangular gauge and that the angle should be 30 degrees at the hairline. For the heck of it, I used Jaime Jackson's gauge and was a bit upset because T's left foot was a little less than 45 degrees. His right foot had a higher angle of 48 degrees so I did a bit too much according to Jaime's yellow hoof gauge and the other foot is higher. He seems okay - not limping but I don't know if I should make the right foot a little bit lower to even out the discrepancy. Now the 45 degree angle foot, left front was the foot with the slight rotation. The other foot had a little more contraction not like it was though since he's been barefoot now for 1-1/2 years. He is still not 100% rideable.
So have you developed any new opinions on the abrasive trimming approach? What do you think I should do? Is 45 degrees an unnatural angle that could cause damage? Is it better to go by the 30 degree hairline rule or use for example the Jaime Jackson gauge? I have spent so much money on this foot stuff. I have had my work checked every three months. One thing I will say is that since I have been doing the abrasive trimming, T's feet do seem much harder because I've been more easily able to keep the heels lower, etc.
Two trims ago, my horse was doing great. I was leaving a lot of the sole there. I really screwed up on my last trim. I took off too much from his back feet. I don't know what to do. He is wearing boots right now. I wanted to ask your opinion about the Jaime Jackson hoof gauge versus a straight 30 degree triangular gauge at the hairline. What do you think is best? I'm going crazy right now because my little guy was doing great--tough soles, etc. except now I have totally got him off balance. I had good mojo going - was fairly conservative then my abrasive trimmer guy checked my work and said I was too conservative and took off too much. I told him it made my horse sore and he said "yes, it is up to the horse to tell us what's too much" and he said don't take off as much as he had. Then I did my horses feet and for some reason, I screwed up. The back feet may be shorter heels than the front. He is limping a little bit. How do you think I should correct this? Also, I noticed from back a year ago, his frogs looked much better.
I like doing the abrasive trim - but I am still confused about the ideal angle. So is it the 30 degree hairline or Jaime Jackson's little yellow hoof gauge? I am biting my nails on my horse's feet because I do not want to ruin his ligaments or back. Please tell me what you think. So next time in four weeks, I should not do the back heels but the mustang roll though?
What about the apex of the frog to the middle - isn't that still tapered?
What about the bars? What about the mustang roll and flares?
Thank you for your advice, it is still nerve-wracking because I want to do the right thing.
- C
Hi C,
I don't use any hoof gauges. The coronet/hairline is very soft tissue and changes easily and is not a hard and fast landmark I feel we should use guide trimming. Using sole plane/exfoliating plane works best for the horse because it's what each foot on each horse is doing IF it had the opportunity to put on that mileage. Most hairlines end up at 25-30 degrees, but I don't measure them other than just to document what they end up being. Of course I don't like to see a horizontal hairline and I know what is right for each horse after getting to know them, but I would NOT dictate a specified angle for a horse. Doing so is just giving in to a measurement and doesn't make you pay attention to what each hoof is doing.
The area you removed too much from will come back quickly. Just allow a little time. I don't trim frogs at all other than loose pieces. No tapering or pyramiding. Let the frogs be where they will. Don't take bars below the sole period. In fact, leaving bars to trim themselves offers many advantages to us guessing where they should be. It's scary to think of how many horses we've all hurt by taking bars down (because now it's looking like so much of the sole growth is coming from the bars!) Bars will trim themselves much like the sole and frog. Let them be. Think about how many times we've taken bars time and time and time again and they keep popping back. This is because the horse needs them there. When something keeps "suddenly growing back," it's most often because it should have been left there.
Rolling toes still seems to be the best thing since sliced bread for our domestics, but not so aggressively as to remove much dorsal wall. Stay low on the capsule.
This is pretty different stuff compared to what we thought we once knew. But then again when you have a chance to just think about it and watch the hooves, it makes much more sense than ever.
You're worrying too much about making things "just right." I know looking at and working on hooves is fun and exciting, but you need to back off and leave the tools alone and ride more often, even if it's in boots and pads for the next few days or weeks. If you think you're going to make the hooves right through your trimming, you're mistaken. You'll cause more problems than you solve by "getting into the hooves" with your tools. Try to relax and just enjoy being with your horse, doing different things between trims every four to five weeks. I'm giving you permission to neglect the hooves a bit more, because I know in your case it will likely allow some things to even out, especially if you keep the horse moving. Think of it as "benign neglect," and "tincture of time".
Dr. Tom T.
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