Hi Fran,

I've added mark-ups to Ford's album:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/echistory8/photos/albums/1214900120

Overall, there's been good progress made in getting the huge flares under control and the toes and heels backed into better positions. The orientation of the coffin bone is not quite as flat as it was due to the heels being moved into a more supportive position under the bony column. Soles are still thin, toes still too far out in front which are interfering with the efforts to gain more sole depth. It looks like the medial-lateral balance on the LF may have been a tad off, with the medial side a bit taller. Know that you had recently introduced pea gravel - the positive effects can be seen in the way the soles are exfoliating and there is generally more definition to the underside. This in turn is highlighting just how over-exuberant those bars still are.

LF lateral xray: The two yellow lines denote some sinking that is present - (1) is the coronary band and (2) is the extensor process. These two points should align or at least be close together. The distance between them denotes that there is some distal descent, so the bony column is sitting deeper inside the hoof capsule than is optimal. Blue line is the bony column alignment - note how the axis slightly broken back. The sinking and out-of-position heels are both contributing factors. Purple is where the CB wants/needs to break over in motion. Green is where the toe needs to come back to and get a strong bevel. RF is generally the same but med-lat balance appears ok.

LF lateral: Green line highlights that the toe is still a tad too far out in front.

RF sole: Got into the big box of crayolas here - hope it isn't too confusing. Green is where the entire hoof capsule needs to come in to - toes back, separating walls in. The built-up, crumbling sole at the toe, which covers the white line, is a RED FLAG that the toe is still too long. Yellow is where the heel buttresses need to be, just a bit further back than they currently reside. Blue circles are where the wall-bar juncture appears to be. Follow the blue arrows to see where it actually is, at the yellow "V" adjacent to the buttresses. Need to concentrate on gently opening this area up by removing the overgrown bar material that is crowding everything else and pushing all the structures to the outside. Purple is the overgrown bars that are leaning and pooling and making a general nuisance of themselves. Exfoliate the cracking, peeling material, esp on the top leading edge of those bars, to gain control of them over time. This will encourage them to stand straighter, allowing the heels to remain upright and centered under the bony column where they belong. Red is the true tip of the frog.

As I said before, there have been a lot of the right things happening. Many times it's the final stages, when things start getting close, that make feet pros get jittery cuz in their heart of hearts there is still that little voice that does the Mr. Bill "Oohh, Nooo!" thing. The knee-jerk reaction is to think you can't possibly back that toe anymore unless there is going to be a shoe added. Trouble is, shoes are only a band-aid when applied to a less-than-perfect trim as they will magnify the negative aspects while temporarily masking the detrimental effects. That's not to say that at times, a well-placed composite shoe cannot be a helpful bridge for a horse in need of that extra bit of support and comfort. Just that it cannot replace the necessary correct trim basics.

Lavinia, Dante, George Too and Peanut
Jan 05, RI
EC Support Team