Sawed a hoof too short back in March and it taught me a hard lesson

Everyone says you can fix a little imbalance by taking more off the high side, but I went after a front hoof on a gelding in Eugene and left him sore for two weeks. The vet told me I basically gave him a temporary laminitis from the concussion. Now I only take off what's definitely dead and leave the rest for the next trim. Has anyone else had a horse act fine at first then go lame two days later?

3 comments

3 Comments

nelson.cameron1mo ago

Back when I was still learning the trade, I trimmed a mare and she walked out of the barn like nothing was wrong. Three days later she was dead lame on that foot, and I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out what I did. Turns out I had nicked the sole just enough to bruise it deep, but it didn't show up until she'd been walking on it for a couple days. The vet said sole bruises can take that long to swell up and cause problems. I learned to press around the sole really careful before I ever put the horse back in the field. Now I tell every new trimmer I meet to give it a day or two and check back, because some damage doesn't show its hand right away. That mare was sore for a solid week, and I felt like a fool the whole time.

paule531mo ago

I appreciate you mentioning that waiting a day or two is the real test, because that's a hard lesson most of us have to learn the hard way. Did you notice any specific spot on the sole where you tend to nick them most, or was it more of a general area you now avoid pressing into? I always wonder if there's a pattern to where these delayed bruises happen, or if it's just random bad luck with certain feet.

victor_carr2521d ago

Catch yourself pressing too hard on the sole right around the white line. That's where I always messed up.