Indy, A Five Year Rehab Story

Every rehab and Shoe Transition is different, and how I handle them depends on the horse and the owner. In the case of Ruth and Indy, Ruth had lost the use of her horse and had been doing nothing for years but trying to manage Indys feet and pain. She was at the end when she called me,sure her horse would have to be put down because she thought the only thing  that could keep  him even marginally comfortable, were the shoes that NOW wouldn’t even stay on her horse. When I read the Vet report from Alamo Pantado, I have to admit it wasnt looking to good for Indy. Alamo said he was lamanitic, had some rotation of the coffin bone, pedal osteitis, and I believe some where in the report they said they saw some  Navicular changes. How many things can one horse have and still stay standing? Go to my website and look under testimonials, and then click on Indy for Ruths complete story of her journey.

August 3rd 2005

Indy had been shod with pads, wedges,clips, I sware the shoe weighed 20 lbs, he was very contracted in both heels, and the Asymmetry was obvious in the front feet and his shoulder muscles were typical of a horse having been in this condition for a long time.

Pads wedges clips hoof wall done

Indy’s hoof wall was cracked and rotting away from all the shoeing and nail holes. Ruths Farrier had tried to repair the cracking , but there is only so much you can do when a hoof wall is gone. Indy’s left front was his low underslung side and of corse his right was the clubby side. Indy’s feet where so unhealthy, his frogs were almost none existant, severe bruises in the soul, we had several abscesses erupte during the first few months, and his hoof wall was very thin and brital.

Asymmetry is obviouse

Pulled shoes starting first trim

As you can see, all I could do was get rid of the dead hoof wall, bring the toe back a bit and get those heels back up underneath that leg.

After first trim ready for Boa Boots

Indy was in a lot of pain when we started, and I could tell he was waiting for the nails and the pounding with a lot of painful anticipation. I spent a lot of time with Ruth and Indy on that first day, they both were scared, and very unsure of what was going to come next. After the testing and the trim, I put Indy in a pair of Easycare Boa’s with a 12mm pad and watched him walk away. Ruth couldn’t believe it was the same horse, Indy was pretty happy about it too, the stiffness and tippy toeing was replaced with a nice long stride and it looked like every muscle in his body had decided to relax at the same time.

Indy was in alot of Pain at this first trim

Indy’s LF wasnt as contracted as much as  the right was, but the heels had to be brought back almost a full inch. It was only 3 or 4 weeks and Ruth was up on Indy in the boots and back on the trail, a place she had not been with her horse for a long time. A few months after that Ruth said ” I can feel his balance coming back and he feels like he’s under me again”.

Left front before trim

Left front after trim

See how contracted the heels were

Left front after trim

We had a few ups and downs, but I don’t think any of them were related to his feet. Ind’y Asymmetry issue is getting better as his balance has come back. Now I know what you are thinking, Jesus that took a long time 2005 till 2010, well that is true, but it took a lot of years to get Indy into the bad shape he was in too. But like I said at the beginning, how I approach a horse and a client, depends on them and their need and wants. After Indy got back on the trail in a month Ruth and i decided to take it very slow and keep him sound while we changed his feet. Ruth has been able to ride Indy in every kind of ground Barefoot for over 4 years, she’s happy, Indy’s happy, so I’m happy. One of the things that I have found is that when a horse is shod his feet change to overcome the imbalance, trauma and damage that is being done to his feet, skeleton,and muscles. You can trim a foot correct, but until all the rest of the horse believes it, it will keep going back to where the muscle memory tells it to go. You just have to keep putting the foot and the balance right and over time the body will believe, and eventually the horses feet will reflect the new balance. Over time the trim will hold, and the feet will become the same size, and hold their angle.

Me and Jason working on Indy summer 2009

2008

2009

2010

Indy’s feet don’t look perfect, but they are perfectly sound, and every year they look better and better, you just cant beat that.

May 4th 2010 Right Front

For more of Indy’s story in Ruths words go to my website, click testimonials and then click on Indy.