Heels

Question
QUESTION: Hi Joepaul, I was reviewing some pictures of wild horses with no foot care.  It seems that the heels of these horses are always low?  I think if keep my guys maybe a little high, how low is too low and how high it too high?  

I was also noticed that looking at a lot of hooves, that it seems the sole defines the hoof level.  So when I file feet I bring the hoof wall down to the sole level or just a little above and then round the edges.  If I looking at this right, no hoof wall should be extending past the sole for a good level trim?  Is this right?

And the bars?  I leave them level with rear hoof wall, I have seen other farriers cut them level to the sole?  which is best?  I have read that the bars are weight supporting and should not be level with sole since you take away from weight support?

thanks,

Rick

ANSWER: HELLO RICK/SAM...

FIRST of all...we CAN learn in my opinion, from the wild horses,
but comparing domestic equine with wild is like "apples and oranges".
They travel many miles a day in "ideal" conditions and wear there hooves to their conformation and the terrain they live in. Domestics
don't. WE CONTROL there lives and environment.

A horse as I've mentioned before in my replies, needs and should be trimmed according to his/her conformation. Anterior/posterior( front
and rear) Lateral/medial (outside and inside). There is static and dynamic balance also. Horses that are evaluated standing and in motion. ALL THAT has to be considered.

Balance which we as farriers try to achieve, means symmetry. Meaning...all parts being equal. That IS the dilemma ! To say this or
all of your horses should be "lower" in the heel or "higher" is
wrong in my opinion. "MOST" of the time ( there are NO absolutes!!)
looking at the horse from a side view "laterally", the shoulder angle
(scapula) and the pastern angle will be the same. That will help greatly with how much to lower or raise the heels.The shoulder will remain the same...the heels or buttress of the hoof capsule will
raise or drop with how you trim the heels and what angle you change that horse.

Like yourself...I like the word level not "flat". A barefooted horse HAS to have alittle hoof wall below the hard/horny sole. For comfort and protection. The bars should not be "cored-out" like I've seen
many times. Like gussets for support of a building...the bars function with strength and stabilize the heels and sole. They
SHOULD not be destroyed for looks. Many people trimming without proper knowledge, get "crazy" with a hoof-knife and over use it. Removing valuable sole and bars not only weaken hooves, but open the opportunity to soreness and lameness.

I hope I've helped you see what I see...
Thank you and Best to you!
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.


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

QUESTION: Thanks for good info, I am a little confused about the shoulder comment.  I have never looked at a shoulder before when looking at feet angles, I am sure this is hard to explain over email, but if have a pic that would be great.  The second thing is the bars and sole, I don't use a knife except to trim the sole a little (Another thing I see farriers to is cut big angles on the frog to keep mud and rocks out) I just trim hanging pieces and don't angle??? is that wrong?  Since I am not a farrier and only train myself from reading and pictures, I always do less.  The way I figure, when helping horses that get no foot care, trimming off a little can't be worse than letting them flare, split, and curve up on sides and toe.

The bars meet the heel and make that little angle or point, from what I have read, that should be flat and even with the sole, so if dirt or it grows out, you should file it level with the sole so that is no ridge there?  Do you agree with that?

thanks again,  FYI, I have never made a horse lame from trimming have trimmed my two guys feet for the past 4 yrs or so, I also have a farrier, once a year, inspect and clean up any areas I miss, so far they all seem to say, I am doing not bad.....not sure if that is good, but I try..  :)

Answer
NORMALLY...I am not going to give lessons through e-mail. If you ARE
sincere, the "farrier" you know "once a year" should tell you that
even a short course would be better and far more educational to you, than "practicing/whittling and using your two horses as guinea-pigs.

Iam NOT being rude or hateful...but I've seen too much bad,shoddy
work in my 36 years in business, because people don't want to spend the money and get a good job done.

Again...leave the bars of the hoof alone. They are support to the heels and keep the integrity of the sole.
Trimming "some" of the commissures/sides of the frog is good to keep the frogs heathy.

Understand something...just because you have been "lucky" and NOT
crippled one of your horses, doesn't make it a good thing.
With a  lack of knowledge, you wouldn't know if the horses were right or wrong...except "once-a-year" as you said. What about the other 11 months where a mistake could have been made and the horses just
"made-it-thru" on their own??

You are confused about the shoulder angle. That is exactly why I could write pages and you would not understand without proper education. This is a forum to help and explain...NOT to give free
farrier courses.

No horse deserves to have problems because of our short-comings.

Thank you for your time...
Joepaul Meyers, C.J.F.