tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post3083488902425299907..comments2024-03-14T06:57:29.577+00:00Comments on Rockley Farm: Flare, deviation and does it really matter?Nic Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-13596551766906152642013-03-20T08:51:06.659+00:002013-03-20T08:51:06.659+00:00Is there ever a situation where the horse has such...Is there ever a situation where the horse has such a strong wall that it will not break off as required?alimachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16759037612404313573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-86809208142455647292013-03-17T11:52:15.544+00:002013-03-17T11:52:15.544+00:00" I think for many laminitic horses solar cor..." I think for many laminitic horses solar corium inflammation is as big, or even more of a source of pain than the inflammation of hoof wall laminae"<br /><br />Biggest I'd say, absolutely what I've observed. But the debate about laminitics always seems to centre oin that toe area and dorsal wall. And why the choice of surface is really important - anything that packs the feet,like sand or mud, is uncomfortable, but concrete is actually not a bad surface as long as they have access to a conforming surface or bed. Pea gravel is great because it doesn't pack and stimulates the sole. BruceAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11813945785653884501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-88585376830639708402013-03-17T11:37:04.130+00:002013-03-17T11:37:04.130+00:00The solar inflammation being the biggest problem f...The solar inflammation being the biggest problem fits with my very limited experience of one (lol) pony. The pads I use taped onto her hoof when she has been acute seem to give more relief than anything else.amandaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645616368761221877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-32572870170871110782013-03-16T18:04:24.592+00:002013-03-16T18:04:24.592+00:00Thanks for all the kind comments - and yes, C, its...Thanks for all the kind comments - and yes, C, its been a heck of a trip, hasn't it?! <br /><br />I agree that laminitic feet can be very tricky and I would never try to prescribe when to trim but I would say from my own experience (and that of some of the horses pictured in the blog post) that once a laminitic episode is over then leverage of flare doesn't seem to be painful.<br /><br />I've seen some pretty ugly feet in horses who had suffered laminitic episodes BUT as long as the laminitis was under control the flare didn't seem to trouble them. I think for many laminitic horses solar corium inflammation is as big, or even more of a source of pain than the inflammation of hoof wall laminae but I'd be the first to admit that laminitis isn't something I deal with on a regular basis nowadays.Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-11008588999208451852013-03-16T16:24:26.369+00:002013-03-16T16:24:26.369+00:00Would be really good Nic if you could do a blog po...Would be really good Nic if you could do a blog post about your approach to caring for recovering laminitic feet.BruceAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11813945785653884501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-15474836561481303972013-03-15T20:12:46.850+00:002013-03-15T20:12:46.850+00:00Very helpful - thanksVery helpful - thankslyndachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11907599983696635608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-80574008994077473992013-03-15T16:04:53.458+00:002013-03-15T16:04:53.458+00:00I found this article extra helpful. My horse had a...I found this article extra helpful. My horse had a lot of trauma to his feet as a youngster and he doesn't have great conformation to begin with. He is sound and happy barefoot, but my trimmer always says, "Don't use him as an example of my work!" He has all sorts of flares that 'don't really matter' and everything you say in this post backs what my guy has been telling me for years :)Domhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00139769676714813261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-8335014781064218582013-03-15T13:40:38.390+00:002013-03-15T13:40:38.390+00:00Thank you Nic, that is really, really helpful :)Thank you Nic, that is really, really helpful :)Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413934294397073238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-31459079244462497792013-03-15T11:57:27.810+00:002013-03-15T11:57:27.810+00:00I think laminitics are a different thing altogethe...I think laminitics are a different thing altogether and they can only be dealt with on a case by case basis with the horse in front of you. <br /><br />I know from experience that it is possible to drastically reduce pain in a chronic laminitic by a severe toe roll, but I wouldn't advise anyone to do it without seeing the horse concerned.<br /><br />With flare and deviation you need to start from the point that you have a healthy horse with good laminar attachment coming down, even if it is not yet thre at the bottom. And after that then generalisations become much more useful.<br /><br />Ccptrayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06564275580390738561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-55297453330706106672013-03-15T10:52:06.977+00:002013-03-15T10:52:06.977+00:00Great blog post Nic.
I've always felt that fl...Great blog post Nic.<br /><br />I've always felt that flare and deviation are both supportive, they differ only in that the first is like scaffolding, the second is like a supportive buttress build to support what is above and around it once the scaffolding is taken away. Actually I think you used that analogy way back....<br /><br />I'm lucky in a way - I have some tough ones and I've seen this kind of deviation appear and disappear as the horse goes through periods where he needs that support. It does so surprisingly quickly.<br /><br />So do you feel it is wrong to back the toes of laminitics?<br /><br />P.S> to be honest I've never felt comfortable about rolls either - why take away healthy functioning hoof wall and reduce the ground load bearing surfaces? If the horse is doing it for themselves fine, but why do it at all with a rasp? Makes no sense - just because wild horses on a sandy abrasive surface do it mechanically - it makes no sense for horses working in our conditions and on roads surely. BruceAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11813945785653884501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-30704545348094721502013-03-15T10:45:32.414+00:002013-03-15T10:45:32.414+00:00I think pain factor is incredibly important becaus...I think pain factor is incredibly important because for as long as the horse is in pain, it won't land properly and what should wear away, won't. But how you remove the pain factor is not so simple. I have had some success recently with a very difficult laminitic but it was through the use of gel pads that I managed to get the horse to forget the pain. Whether the pain was still there or she got used to toe-landing, I am not sure. But I am finally seeing heel-landing even out of boots. I still use the boots though, even for turnout. Never thought I would do that but had to think outside the box.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11986516602300870699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-36335013543650645632013-03-15T10:07:02.448+00:002013-03-15T10:07:02.448+00:00I get this and especially that healthy lamina can&...I get this and especially that healthy lamina can't be levered away. However, what about the supposed pain factor of leverage on weak lamina? Is there such a thing in your opinion? Are there nerves/pain receptors in the lamina anyway?<br /><br />I do think the exercize movement factor is very important here. What about laminitics that are difficult to stabilize and therefore don't wear their hooves? amandaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645616368761221877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-8445111333734366762013-03-15T09:42:58.628+00:002013-03-15T09:42:58.628+00:00Wow, thankyou - what a journey we've been on e...Wow, thankyou - what a journey we've been on eh? We've religiously taken off flare only to see horn weakened for no reason but aesthetics. We've concientiously bevelled away bits of supportive toe, only to find that the horse moves worse, and finally we've found that if you stop worrying about what the foot looks like and concentrate on how well the horse moves, you get the right answer time after time.<br /><br /><br />What a fantastic analogy Nic, a stroke of brilliance there!<br /><br />C. cptrayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06564275580390738561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-27954821905175524972013-03-15T08:45:45.389+00:002013-03-15T08:45:45.389+00:00:-):-)Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-35852656064400679002013-03-15T08:10:39.998+00:002013-03-15T08:10:39.998+00:00Fantastic analogy Nic and a great post. I've h...Fantastic analogy Nic and a great post. I've had a few conversations with people since B came home about his freaky feet ;0) They want to know why I'm not trimming the old hoof back to make it look 'more normal' and my answer of B will change it when he's ready isn't enough so I'm going to pinch this!Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10709276648026571805noreply@blogger.com