Odd Angles?

InTheIrons · 08-31-2008, 05:30 AM

My farrier, who i have been using for a little over 4 years, shod my horses (2) on Friday without my attendance. I went to ride my horses yesterday (sat) and noticed that both my horses seemed to be at steep angles. this is odd for my farrier to do this. i know the front hooves are suppose to be at a 45 degree angle and the back 54 degrees. but with a naked eye it appears 54 degrees is the angle for all hooves. could this cause serious issues, or can I get the angle reduced 2 days after being shod? neither of the horses were lame. I was thinking i could take pics of both my horses hooves to give a more detailed image. oh also i noticed that both horses had a lot of heal left.

Kingpin · 08-31-2008, 05:47 AM

You call him back! Tell him they just aren't alking right or whatever. If you have used him that long and he is good farrier he will stand by his work. Anybody can have off day but by leaving your horses like that if indeed they are off then you are setting yourself and especially the horses for trouble and possible lameness.

InTheIrons · 08-31-2008, 10:33 AM

I'm still going to talk to my farrier but i found a VERY interesting research article that I thought i should share with everyone.

http://www.horseshoes.com/advice/propangl/tprphfan.htm

Within this article i found the folowing quote:

"Unlike the lower limit of healthy hoofs, the upper limit is not so well defined, or important. Although there is ample proof of many diseases being caused by too low a hoof angle, there is no proof of any disease being caused by too high a hoof angle."

so i'm glad he left a steep angle rather than a low angle....he may have done this intentionally..... i have yet to talk to him...but this article and a few others have eased my emergency worries.

EquineAlberta · 08-31-2008, 11:20 AM

Changing the angle might cause tendon and muscle strain, so if the change is significant, I would give the horse some bute for a few days to prevent swelling and inflamation in the tendons.

I have also found that too high an angle can result in contraction of the heel, but the angle has to be pretty steep for this to happen.

Karen

David · 09-09-2008, 09:07 AM

He might also have left the heal long because he thinks your horse needs to go up a size in shoes and he is trying to grow enough hoof to do that. I would just call and say some thing like " Hey I noticed their feet look different than normal, is there anything I need to be worried about?"

David · 09-09-2008, 09:31 AM

I just wanted to add that the article was excellent. Very informative, thank you for posting the link.

dodib · 09-09-2008, 12:07 PM

I enjoyed the article as well--thank you

ohiobred · 09-12-2008, 03:03 PM

as a farrier is very nice to see that u guy's like to read and learn. because it is so hard to explain over a computer. it is also hard for me to understand exactly what your seeing.

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08-31-2008, 05:30 AM
InTheIrons Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Near the East Coast Posts: 494	Odd Angles? My farrier, who i have been using for a little over 4 years, shod my horses (2) on Friday without my attendance. I went to ride my horses yesterday (sat) and noticed that both my horses seemed to be at steep angles. this is odd for my farrier to do this. i know the front hooves are suppose to be at a 45 degree angle and the back 54 degrees. but with a naked eye it appears 54 degrees is the angle for all hooves. could this cause serious issues, or can I get the angle reduced 2 days after being shod? neither of the horses were lame. I was thinking i could take pics of both my horses hooves to give a more detailed image. oh also i noticed that both horses had a lot of heal left.

08-31-2008, 05:47 AM
Kingpin Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lancaster, Ky Posts: 441	You call him back! Tell him they just aren't alking right or whatever. If you have used him that long and he is good farrier he will stand by his work. Anybody can have off day but by leaving your horses like that if indeed they are off then you are setting yourself and especially the horses for trouble and possible lameness.

08-31-2008, 10:33 AM
InTheIrons Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Near the East Coast Posts: 494	I'm still going to talk to my farrier but i found a VERY interesting research article that I thought i should share with everyone. http://www.horseshoes.com/advice/propangl/tprphfan.htm Within this article i found the folowing quote: "Unlike the lower limit of healthy hoofs, the upper limit is not so well defined, or important. Although there is ample proof of many diseases being caused by too low a hoof angle, there is no proof of any disease being caused by too high a hoof angle." so i'm glad he left a steep angle rather than a low angle....he may have done this intentionally..... i have yet to talk to him...but this article and a few others have eased my emergency worries.

08-31-2008, 11:20 AM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,476	Changing the angle might cause tendon and muscle strain, so if the change is significant, I would give the horse some bute for a few days to prevent swelling and inflamation in the tendons. I have also found that too high an angle can result in contraction of the heel, but the angle has to be pretty steep for this to happen. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

09-09-2008, 09:07 AM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,066	He might also have left the heal long because he thinks your horse needs to go up a size in shoes and he is trying to grow enough hoof to do that. I would just call and say some thing like " Hey I noticed their feet look different than normal, is there anything I need to be worried about?" __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

09-09-2008, 09:31 AM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,066	I just wanted to add that the article was excellent. Very informative, thank you for posting the link. __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

09-09-2008, 12:07 PM
dodib Started Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ravenna, MI Posts: 2,596	I enjoyed the article as well--thank you __________________ Dorthy www.freewebs.com/brownranch/

09-12-2008, 03:03 PM
ohiobred Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: northern ohio Posts: 198	as a farrier is very nice to see that u guy's like to read and learn. because it is so hard to explain over a computer. it is also hard for me to understand exactly what your seeing. __________________ that forge ain't for cookin your lunch in boy!