posted by Jean Luc Cornille from United States on 28.01.12 17:32
One cannot be an expert on everything and I do not pretend to be an expert in shoeing or trimming. There are very good studies published on both barefoot trimming and shoeing techniques. Emotionally, the thought of not having to put shoes on is attractive but the reality is different. I have students who have bare foot horses and others who have horses wearing shoes. When the situation allows bare foot, it is great but the footing has to be perfect, both in the training ring and the turn out. I know a few situations where perfect footing allows barefoot horses to train at grand prix level. When you have to show in different and not always best conditions, the luxury is not possible. There are also many instances where the situation is not as great and the rider has to deal with rocks, or abrasive footing like sand. When I receive a horse in training which does have shoes, I do not change unless it is necessary for the restoration of correct kinematics. Same when I receive a horse that is barefoot. I follow the research with interest and see great discoveries but also utopic and unfounded theories. I am not impressed by big names. I believe in factual documentation. I also believe in listening to the horse. You have to understand that cases that are presented to us for soundness issues, are in their last stretch; everything else has already been attempted.
Often, as we explain how we restored soundness, we receive infantile comments such a fitting the saddle or removing the shoes. All that has been attempted long before the horse come s to us. The reason why we succeed is first because we focus on the source of the problem. We have understood, such as for navicular syndrome, that the sole real cure is to suppress the cause of the abnormal stress. The other reason is that we respect the findings of previous experts. We do not try again the same thing if a competent vet or trainer already did it and did not succeed. Many trainers who pretend to reeducate horses are doing the same thing than the previous trainer did. They have so much ego that they think that this time it will work because they are who they are. If it was not playing with the horse’s soundness, it would almost be funny. Are we following the evolution of barefoot trimming. Yes certainly. Are we following the evolution of conventional shoeing, yes we do. Are we ready to risk the horse’s soundness or chance of recovery because we want to devote our faith to one solution only, no; absolutely not. The next immersion is going to have one day focusing on shoeing technique and how they influence the horses’ limbs kinematics. This includes good influences and bad influences. This demands a farrier who has an extensive experience and is knowledgeable enough to answer pertinent questions and sustain intelligent discussion. We are planning to have later another day presenting the same approach with an expert on barefoot trimming.
Good question. Thank you.
comments (7)
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COMMENTS
[ posted by Ann Green, 30.01.12 07:25 ]
I'm a hoofcarespecialist and would be interested in any documentation on the navicular-case you have on your site.
The theory you have that it is the deep flexor tendons tress on the navicularbone that cause the lameness is simply not possible. The tissue in tendons cannot shorten,only lengthen/strech, about 7 %. It is the muscle that are attached to the tendon that contracts. This occurs, other than when the horse moves ofcourse, when the coffinbone is not groundparallell and there is imbalance between the deep flexor tendon and the tendon on the front of the leg. The cause of navicular pain is not the deformation of bonetissue (as it has no nervetissue) but pressure on soft tissue right above the bars and lateralu on the heals. The cause of pressure is contracted hooves booth sideways and in depth- high bars and deep collateral groves. It takes ONE correct trim to release the horse from this pain. Allthough it is most commonly accompanied with other damagaes as well and this take longer time to treat and heal.
With this I'm not saying that it is not possible for lameness to occur from deviation in the spinal cord. I'm just saying that "navicular syndrome" is strongly related to dysfunctional hoof form- that is incorrect trimming.
If the horse suffers from coffinbones that are not groundparallell you interfer with all the other angles in the limb as well. Especially in the front this is obvious as the leg is not attached to the spine other than with soft tissue.
Because of this it would be very intersting to se documentation of the hooves from the horse you say you cured from navicular lameness adressing the spine.
Best regards
Ann Green
greenhorse.se
[ posted by jean Luc, 30.01.12 09:51 ]
It is not surprising that as a hoof care specialist you believe that proper trimming can fix the problem. The fact is that without proper shoeing reeducation is not possible. The horse we have received have been properly taking care long before they arrive to us. Proper shoeing has been of course the first thing done. Unfortunately, this was not enough. The deep digital flexor tendon is effectively a thick tendon which transmit the force created by the muscle. When the fetlock translate down, the muscles resist impact forces, which are attraction of gravity and inertia. Increase tension on the tendon increase the pressure between the distal sesamoid bone and the deep digital flexor tendon. This has been the topic of many studies starting with James Rooney in 1969. Some talk about vibrations, others about pressure. The kinematic abnormality causing the pressure is never one single direction, which is hoof imbalance. The other problem is the influence on incorrect mechanism of the vertebral column on the kinematics of the hind and front limbs. When abnormal kinematics create excessive pressure the cells involved in remodeling process shut off and degeneration occur. This part of the problem cannot be fixed from correct shoeing alone. The horses that we have reeducated were of course well taking care about shoeing. Before, during and after their reeducation. The shoeing alone did not resolved the problem before but the reeducation would not have been possible without correct support. You want to believe that it is impossible, this is find with me, they became sound and I only personally reeducated 4 of them. All the others have been reeducated by their respective riders and trainers after I did the initial analysis and elaborated a training program once the source of the gait abnormality has been identifies. Each one of their riders and owners are glad to have not believed that it was impossible. In fact, When Ostblom published in 1982 the result of his study suggesting that navicular syndrome was a remodeling issue instead of a degenerative problem, it was strong comments saying, that is was impossible. The black horse who is executing the series of tempi changes on our introductory video was the first one reeducate through this approach. The vet who diagnosed the horse on the first place watched the horse perform 2 years later shaking his head and repeating for himself, that is impossible.
Jean Luc
[ posted by jean Luc, 30.01.12 17:28 ]
Coming back from riding, I look again at your letter and have to tell you that you are plain wrong. For your education, you have two different muscle tendon systems with the deep digital and superficial flexor tendons. The architecture if the deep digital muscle allow the muscle to lengthen and shorten and having the force produces transmitted to the coffin bone through a strong, thick and moderately elastic tendon. The architecture of the superficial muscle is designed to have the force transmitted by a more compliant tendon. The thickness of the deep digital flexor tendon and moderated elasticity in relation to the superficial flexor tendon is precisely why the pressure on the distal sesamoid bone can be quite intense. By refuting this fact you are questioning the results of Thousands of scientific studies spread over four decades. There is actually a PhD Equine Vet and Researcher who is working on a DVD about the development of navicular syndrome based on our documentation. I would suggest that you purchase the DVD when it will be out. You say that you can fix such problem with One correct trim. Obviously Here is the real purpose of this letter, self promotion. I wish it was that simple. This would give a chance to the thousand of horses that are put to sleep each year for navicular syndrome. JLC
[ posted by Ann Green, 06.02.12 11:55 ]
An anatomicaly correct trim is the cure to the symtom "navicular syndrome". With shoeing you can only hide the problem by desensing, never cure.
Many clinical, documentations are done.
In 1996 in german vetrinary magazin you can read about it by a PhD eq vet H Strasser.
Tierärztliche Umschau 8/1996
"Neue Aspekte zur Strahlbeinlahmheit" ("New Aspects of Navicular Syndrom")
and
Zeitschrift fĂĽr Ganzheitliche Tiermedizin 2005, 19, 138-142
Fallbeispiel "Heilung einer angeblich unheilbaren Strahlbeinlahmheit"
Tierärztliche Umschau 2/07
"Zusammenhang zwischen dem Schulterwinkel bei Pferden und Schmerzen in den Hufen - ein Beitrag zur Lahmheitsdiagnostik"
It has not been contradicted by any PhD yet.
There is an english translation of her book on navicular coming soon.
To bad you don't want to know. Maybee your nameless PhD might want the info before this person digs down into a dead end.
[ posted by Helyn Cornille, 06.02.12 13:03 ]
No Ann it is to bad you do not want to know...read all the bad studies you want that will not change the FACTS and reliable studies.
Think best you stay in your narrow world. Sorry for all the horses that fall your way.
Helyn
[ posted by Jean Luc, 06.02.12 15:09 ]
Ann, Too bad you are not capable to look and think higher than the hoof. Your lost.
Jean Luc
[ posted by Cheryl Lord, 16.03.15 19:14 ]
posted by jean Luc, 30.01.12 17:28 ~ There is actually a PhD Equine Vet and Researcher who is working on a DVD about the development of navicular syndrome based on our documentation.
Dear Helyn & Jean Luc,
Has the PhD Equine Vet & Researcher of which you speak published the DVD about navicular syndrome, I have a percheron mare whom is now disabled by navicular problems and knowing more is my one desire for her. She is in constant discomfort even in the paddock with her mates,
thank you for any and all help you are able to give,
Cheryl