tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post3104903842730794597..comments2024-03-14T06:57:29.577+00:00Comments on Rockley Farm: Asymmetry - is the horse doomed?Nic Barkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-52710375159324500292013-05-06T10:54:56.669+01:002013-05-06T10:54:56.669+01:00I found this really interesting, not only from an ...I found this really interesting, not only from an equine point of view but personally too. I have scoliosis and am far from symmetrical, and yet I have no trouble with balance when riding horses. I always worry that I am hurting a horse through not being symmetrical, and yet numerous physios, chiros, EMRTs etc who may have treated mine or horses I have ridden have never found any evidence to support this fear. Visually I am completely unbalanced but physically I am fine, and suffer little to no back pain.Frithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06278941303580813527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-46830707329620330772013-05-02T17:04:14.654+01:002013-05-02T17:04:14.654+01:00Very interesting, Jassy, and agree if it ain't...Very interesting, Jassy, and agree if it ain't broke...I think we too often are ready to jump in and intervene when we don't know enough about why something is the way it is...Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, after all...Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-33800819669415501582013-05-02T12:39:18.745+01:002013-05-02T12:39:18.745+01:00Interesting re teeth. Can see your logic Jassy. An...Interesting re teeth. Can see your logic Jassy. And if it isnt broken, I would hesitate in trying to fix it. Interested to hear what your second opinion says. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424937741300892002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-46115324404472740542013-05-02T08:27:31.517+01:002013-05-02T08:27:31.517+01:00LOVE this blog post, Nic! And it is a topic that h...LOVE this blog post, Nic! And it is a topic that has been weighing on my mind in more than one way because the equine dentist who I've been using for the past few years (and has become more and more enthusiastic about the use of power tools) has now informed me that both my boys need power tool work done - both on the incisors - the 6yo, Msasa, apparently has a slight diagonal bite that is not resolving, and the 14 yo's upper incisors are starting to dominate. I am seeking a second opinion on this rather than going ahead with it, because if the horses are completely happy in their work, have no bitting problems, are chewing their food well - WHY does he want the mouths to be perfect? I am not a fan of achieving perfection at the expense of a balance that the horse might find necessary - Msasa has very squiffy feet and if they were trimmed symmetrical, he'd be as lame as a dog! It's for exactly the same reason that I am worried about the dentist carving him a 'perfect' mouth, rather than simply doing what is necessary to keep him eating and working comfortably and effectively.Jassy Mackenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05437246131687393120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-58408097635851846422013-05-02T07:02:22.767+01:002013-05-02T07:02:22.767+01:00Most of the horses who come here have a lameness w...Most of the horses who come here have a lameness which blocks to the palmar hoof (heel region) so you are in good company! What else is diagnosed depends on whether x-ray or MRI is available but the location of the problem is almost always the same place. <br /><br />You'll have seen from the photos that strengthening and rebuilding this area out of shoes is a key objective with the rehab horses. <br /><br />Remedial shoes are also aiming at supporting this area but are doing it from the outside, whereas we are looking at improving the internal and external structures (frog, DC, heels) in order to help the hoof function more effectively. <br /><br />Its always useful to look at how these horses are landing and loading their feet so filming your horse and slowing it down can be a good way of checking whether things are improving. <br />Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-77722937743066121392013-05-01T22:40:27.445+01:002013-05-01T22:40:27.445+01:00Hello Nic, longtime reader and first time commento...Hello Nic, longtime reader and first time commentor here. Cindy above and my mare have the same problem. Heel pain. Do you have some insight into this opinion-heavy topic? Any advice on what really is the best solution to achieving useful soundness for a horse with this affliction? My mare has bone degeneration and a cyst in her RF and no cyst, but still suffers heel pain in the LF as well. My vet and farrier agree on the protocol so far, and she is better, but not rideably sound. She is on aluminum natural balance shoes with raised heels, her toes are squared and short, with the shoes set back for breakover improvement, which is supposedly to achieve less pull on ligaments attached to the navicular bone. I would appreciate any and all insight you've gained in this area. Thank you.C-ingspotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17744931697050670013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-91968381636780656572013-05-01T21:44:10.959+01:002013-05-01T21:44:10.959+01:00Ah, time to change something then..a year is too l...Ah, time to change something then..a year is too long...Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-22336995090466654302013-05-01T18:01:05.611+01:002013-05-01T18:01:05.611+01:00Yes but I am over a year into it, and she isn'...Yes but I am over a year into it, and she isn't getting any better. So right now I am pretty darn frustrated and I hate seeing her in pain. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-70837274165860227722013-05-01T15:29:02.415+01:002013-05-01T15:29:02.415+01:00Well you are already doing the important first ste...Well you are already doing the important first step, Cindy, of listening to what your horse is telling you. That's where we all started from, so you aren't in a bad place :-)Nic Barkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06885459438592023135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8415492346905673232.post-90440481547724133792013-05-01T14:52:09.509+01:002013-05-01T14:52:09.509+01:00You have no idea how badly I wish that we were on ...You have no idea how badly I wish that we were on the same continent. <br /><br />I really think that this very subject has much to do with what is going on with my mare. Unfortunately I also think that I am the only one who sees it, and I have zero knowledge when it comes to trimming. So she remains lame and I continue my quest to find some one who can help her. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.com