Balanced Stride

This is a radiograph of the right front foot, to be more truthful it is two radiographs superimposed on each other. What I am attempting to show here is the amount of "DEROTATION" (or the reversal of the rotation of the coffin bone) that has occurred in a time frame of eight weeks. The clearer picture (the one that is more to the left of the photo) shows how far the coffin bone had rotated downward prior to the operation. The lighter shadow-type that appears more to the right of the photo is the second radiograph taken eight weeks after the surgery. It shows a great deal of reversal of the damage that had occurred to the internal structure of the foot.

This photograph show the two radiographs that were taken of the front left foot. Again the clear image is of the coffin bone prior to the surgery and shows the severity of the problem and damage that had been done to the internal structures. The lighter image is the results that was achieved after a period of eight weeks. The results and progress is very close to the same on both front feet. This then gave me the necessary information as to the how and where I was able to continue to have the feet progress in even a more positive manner. Once that I had this information it allowed me to determine how I was to show the horse properly and the necessary changes that I could be allowed at this time.

This is a picture of the left front foot and what I had to start with. Notice that the area of the toe shows that there has been much damage to the tissues that are contained within the foot and are lifeless in color and texture.

This is the view of the same foot from the side view. What is necessary here is to see how much of the dead tissue was removed at the toe and at the same time how the front of the show was allowed to be placed in a manner that projected where the actual front of the foot would normally be. This has to be done to allow the foot to start to operate in a  proper and correct manner for this horse. IN addition I have removed (during the last shoeing) the excess hoof wall that had built up at the front of the foot due to the internal damage.

This is the right front foot before this shoeing was accomplished. It shows a greater amount of internal damage has be done since you are able to see much more affected tissues and their condition being so poor.

This is the side view of the right front foot so that you will be able to compare the feet to each other. Again there is excessive hoof wall buildup at the area of the toe and as much dead tissue as possible was removed at the last shoeing. This dead material has to be removed as much as possible and in short intervals between shoeing cycles (I usually have the horse on a four week shoeing cycle for the first several shoeing) so that as much of the dead material can be removed. Since if you leave the dead tissue it will continue to kill the healthy tissue around it.

This shows the bottom of the foot as I prepare to make the initial cuts to continue to progression of the healing process. The area where the hoof nippers are positioned shows the amount of additional dead tissue that has to be removed.

This photo shows the preparing of the bottom of the foot to accept the show and pad that I have selected to do the best job for this particular situation.

In this photo it shows the process of removing the excess hoof wall from the front of the foot that will aid in the proper support and growth of new and healthy tissue as we progress in a positive manner with this horse's feet. The red areas that are starting to appear are actually internal bruises that are starting to grow out and the area above the bruises are white showing us that we have taken away the pressure that caused the initial bruises to be caused. That is a very positive sign.

In this photo you can see that the feet have been trimmed and as much dead tissue as possible removed from the front of the foot. The foot will start to look quite different from here on in. We are about to see one of the first major steps forward in this particular case.

This shows the  finished foot once the foot was trimmed and the shoe and pad was attached and the foot. You can see that the area of the toe is initially to the end of the shoe, but that is to change. If you look close at the photo you will notice an area that is different in color and is about one inch or so from the front of the foot. That is dead tissue and has to be removed if we want to retard the growth of it.

This photo will give you a better view of the area of dead tissue. In this photo the area of dead and healthy tissue is distinguished by the very clear dark line between the two. Once that I have attached the shoe to the foot I will be able to better determine how much of the dead tissue I can remove and still properly support the front of the foot. I tend not to show this process since it can be easily abused and further damage can result from not know exactly what to do.

Although this is the second shoeing since the surgery I want you to realize that there have been a couple more shoeing since then. The results are very good and Raleigh is continuing to be a great and fast progressing client. There is a regular exercise program and a balanced feed program and regular visits by his health care team not to mention the dedication that has been showed and properly maintained by his owner. She is one of the main reasons that Raleigh has done so well.