Whitney's Trim

[zoel_222]

Gah I'm so excited! I got Whitney trimmed today by a corrective trimmer and it worked out really well! For those of you who don't know, Whitney's right front leg is crooked. It turns in like she's pigeon toed and she leans on the side of it really bad. It's a conformation issue, but can be improved with good trimming. Trouble is good trimming is VERY hard to find. Since I moved away from my amazing farrier last year, her leg has gotten steadily worse. But now there's hope for her yet! I had originally tried to get booked with this guy but he said he wasn't taking new clients. Well I ran into him at the barn last week and he decided to make an exception. :) After just one trim, Whitney is already standing a whole lot straighter. We have a second appointment for the 3rd of December. You all have no idea what a relief this is to me. It was getting so bad I was actually on the verge of semi-retiring Whitney. She could only comfortably walk and jog. Anything faster she'd be stumbling and tripping and was just having a really hard time. We'll be back to barrels in no time :p

[Dakota Sunrise]

That's great!!! I'm so happy for you and Whitney!:D

[JackieB]

Great, Zoe! Glad to hear it. Go Whitney!

[lovesfortune]

Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vicklynn]

Very Cool!! Glad you got the farrier you wanted, and she is standing better.

[HeartofSteel]

Yay Whitney! I'm so glad he changed his mind, it would have been sad if Whitney has to be semi-retired

[cloedoll]

Yay! I'm very happy for thee both of you.

[magayle]

so happy for you!!! i know what it's like trying to get a good farrier.....not fun! wish that vets would keep good farrier's on staff!

[Lakota's Pet]

That's great. My old QH had a similar problem, right front was crooked as all get out, pigeon toed, and walked very heavily on the outside of the foot. I can't tell you how many farriers it took to get it right. When you find one that works, hang on to them, they are worth their weight in gold. Here's a pic of him, you can see the crooked leg very clearly.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/album.php?albumid=285&pictureid=2614

[Peggy Sue]

Please be careful trying o change a mature horse's conformation faults... if she is over a yearling the best you can do without demage is trim to try adn keep the wear even and her landing properly...

Glad to hear things are going better now

[westmanfarrier]

"Corrective trimmer" is a pet peeve of mine. Shouldn't every trim be correct?

[Lakota's Pet]

I agree with you westman, but not everyone does it correctly. As I found out the hard way.

[zoel_222]

Thanks for the support everyone :)

"Corrective trimmer" is a pet peeve of mine. Shouldn't every trim be correct?

Yeah, I wish. When I was still on the farrier hunt, I told another farrier about Whitney and he said "I don't go looking for problems to fix" :huh: Isn't it his JOB to trim horses to keep them sound?

Lakota, that's about how Whitney's leg looks. Hers isn't quite that extreme, though. Rocky's a cute horse. :)

PeggySue, I'm not changing her conformation, I'm getting her trimmed properly so she can distribute her weight more evenly and stay sound. Her leg is still clearly crooked and will always be that way. Most farriers trim her hoof to be straight instead of trimming it to go with that turned in leg. That's what causes her to trip and stumble. I wish I had some pictures to put up, but I don't have any head on "before" pictures except one where she's standing in a really weird position so all of her legs look crooked lol.

[Cat]

We had this problem with my husband's first horse. He had crooked legs causing him to be significantly pigeon-toed. Several farriers kept making him lame because they were trying to make him straight. It just does not work. Once he was finally trimmed to get the best support with his conformation and kept the bone angles aligned the way they wanted to go, he was happy as a clam. He went from shuffling lame on both fronts to galloping the field and being rideable. Some farriers want to see a perfect looking foot even if that is not what is best for the horse.

Good luck with Whitney! Glad you have someone doing the right trim for her now - she will be much happier.

[Peggy Sue]

Thanks for the support everyone :)



Yeah, I wish. When I was still on the farrier hunt, I told another farrier about Whitney and he said "I don't go looking for problems to fix" :huh: Isn't it his JOB to trim horses to keep them sound?

Lakota, that's about how Whitney's leg looks. Hers isn't quite that extreme, though. Rocky's a cute horse. :)

PeggySue, I'm not changing her conformation, I'm getting her trimmed properly so she can distribute her weight more evenly and stay sound. Her leg is still clearly crooked and will always be that way. Most farriers trim her hoof to be straight instead of trimming it to go with that turned in leg. That's what causes her to trip and stumble. I wish I had some pictures to put up, but I don't have any head on "before" pictures except one where she's standing in a really weird position so all of her legs look crooked lol.


OK I just wanted to be sure that is what you were doing .... so many farriers AND trimmers want to make a crooked leg straight and it just can't be done without making it worse IN THE LONG RUN!!

I also agree with Westman a correct trim is not a corrective trim it is just that a correct trim!!!

[42many]

Congrats!! I'm glad you found someone who will work for you!

[Lakota's Pet]

[QUOTE=zoel_222;34606]Thanks for the support everyone :)
Lakota, that's about how Whitney's leg looks. Hers isn't quite that extreme, though. Rocky's a cute horse. :)


Thanks Zoel. I unfortunately lost him this spring due to heaves. But he was my buddy. He was always that exaggerated, he was about 2 weeks overdue for a trim and reset in that pic. I had quite a few farriers try to do what Peggy Sue said and try to straighten the leg. Lame within a day of trim. My current farrier would trim his foot so his weight was even on the foot and leg. I never had a problem with that.

[lisakaye]

"I unfortunately lost him this spring due to heaves" Now you have me scared.. Easter has chronic heaves and my barn owner tells me it is nothing to worry about. We have been keeping her under control since she was moved last year. Is Heaves something I should be more concerned about?

[Lakota's Pet]

Lisakaye, I wouldn't be too concerned, but I would definately get your vets opinion. We had his under control for 2-3 years with just watching what he was fed, soaking his hay, and keeping dust to an absolute minimum. Unfortunately he took a very serious turn for the worst, and when the dex that my vet gave me to put him on wasn't having any affect anymore I made the decision to put him down because he was suffering and there wasn't anything more I could do for him. We had a mare quite a few years ago that was born with heaves, and she led a very normal life till she was about 20 years old, and then we olny lost her due to colic. So heaves is normally controlable, I would just talk to the vet and BO and make sure you are doing all you can to keep it controlled.

[zoel_222]

Lakota, I'm so sorry about Rocky. I know how hard it is to lose a horse :(