DB's first 4 weeks have gone past incredibly quickly for us at least, though I am sure the time has dragged for his owner. Its time for an update with as ever his original photo above and the most recent one below.
He has made some good improvements although he is not yet strong enough to land heel first in front.
If you look at the end of his heels they are now further back than when he arrived and his frog is also a bit stronger. This shows that the back of his foot is developing and I hope over the next few weeks a better landing will become clear.
Monitoring the hairline is a good way to check whether the internal structures of the palmar hoof are improving. For DB its more level than it was which is encouraging.
From the side as well a more level hairline is a positive. You can also see that there is a new angle of growth at the top of his hoof capsule. This change will become more apparent over the next couple of weeks.
Not the best angle, I am afraid, but again the heels and frog are better than on day one.
An even worse angle - sorry - but the hairline gives us a clue that the digital cushion on this foot, as on the RF, is slowly building up.
No footage today as he is still landing toe first but as soon as we have something to show you I will post it.
4 comments:
I learned a lot from this post. Your descriptions of what to look for were so helpful. I have a question on the fourth set of photos and your comments:
"From the side as well a more level hairline is a positive. You can also see that there is a new angle of growth at the top of his hoof capsule. This change will become more apparent over the next couple of weeks."
I can see the new angle of growth at the top of the hoof capsule, but I don't see/get the "more level hairline is a positive." When you say it's more level, do you mean to the ground?
I have your book and am getting tons out of it.
Thanks for any info you have time to provide re: my question above.
I learned a lot from this post. Your descriptions of what to look for were so helpful. I have a question on the fourth set of photos and your comments:
"From the side as well a more level hairline is a positive. You can also see that there is a new angle of growth at the top of his hoof capsule. This change will become more apparent over the next couple of weeks."
I can see the new angle of growth at the top of the hoof capsule, but I don't see/get the "more level hairline is a positive." When you say it's more level, do you mean to the ground?
I have your book and am getting tons out of it.
Thanks for any info you have time to provide re: my question above.
Sorry Karen, I mean its more even in terms of being a smooth line along the hoof capsule, not collapsing towards the ground at the heels or being pushed up or down at the quarters by uneven hoof balance.
Hope that helps and so glad you are enjoying the book!
Thanks, Nik. That's helpful. Now I get it.
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