laminitis rotated coffin bone

Question
QUESTION: hi i have wrote to you before about my 14 year old gelding that i use for barrels the xray showed lamaitis with a 7 1/4 degree coffin bone rotation he is on 2 meds and a special diet with rocker shoes on the front my question is will he be able to return to barrel racing with out hurting him my vet said to race him now. just dont shoe him rite before a race my shoer said he would not race him he would give him some time off so that is what iam doing he seams better with the shoes is that degree of rotation bad and will i ever race him again iam a little confused  thank you laura

ANSWER: HELLO LAURA...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

FIRST OFF...Something is being TERRIBLY MISSED, OR you have some "WRONG" information !!

For 34 of my 40 yrs. shoeing, I've worked on laminitic & foundered horses. Was taught by
some of the best and the late-legendary Burney Chapman (Lubbock,Tx.) helped me on 3 occasions. I've worked on to date 1,083 cases and have only lost 22 hd.
The experience with him put my career forward with lameness problems!!

We use millimeters, Not degrees for accuracy. The rotation you speak of is VERY extreme and will and in the future be non-athletic. IF THE INFO is true and accurate, the horse could in time rotate through the sole and would have to be destroyed !!
AGAIN...IF the rotation is accurate. NO Veterinarian ( I work for 29 on call & know about 80/90) would say "Go ahead and run your horse !!???

The farrier saying "Give him some time off??!" IT WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF ITSELF!! The hoof WILL
remodel with the affliction and sole (many times) will calluse and can get thicker in time...BUT EVERY case is different and NO guarantees !!

Rocker-toed shoes is ALL he's wearing ?? NO other support?? What meds?? Painkillers??

NOT trying to be the messenger of Bad news, but something doesn't sound Good??

IF you are NOT comfortable with the situation, Please ask around your area & get some other
help so YOU know ALL the truth !!

I'm a "realist" and just hope you are getting accurate information.

Best to You...
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I double ck with my vet and he said they measured in degrees he is on isoproxiprene and thyroid for 90 days no pads just rocker shoes is there any way I could mail you a copy of his xray so you could see what is going on. I don't want to hurt him and he dosnt seam to be in. Pain I would apprelaciate yourtime

Answer
HEY LAURA...

Isoproxiprene is a vasal-dialator...to improve circulation. It WAS used alot in the past
15/20 yrs. My travels in 5/6 states, it has A LOW percentage of success. MAYBE just my opinion,
but after seeing 100-140 horses on it...couldn't see "any difference".Most top equine
vets don't use it for the same reasons.

Thyroid meds #Thyro-L# is one brand, is for overweight,cresty neck and generally obese horses.
Most barrel horses are NOT obese ??!

NO PADS is a GREAT thing. You want no pressure on the lower circumflex artery. MANY a hoof
was compromised and lost, because of lost circulation!!

There is no "support to the coffin-bone/P-3" ???

YES... my e-mail address is ironhorsejpm@hotmail.com... please do and I'll evaluate the
radiographs.

AGAIN...DO NOT work your horse at this time. He needs NO stress or concussion to his hooves.

Joepaul