Off The Wall Transitions

Monk

Monk is a 7 yr old ex racehorse owned by Vicki Martin.
 Monk had extremely large hooves that had grown out without splitting or breaking off, suggesting that the hoof wall in this particular horse was of a very strong quality.
 When his Natural Trimming programme began each front hoof had formed into a ridge down the dorsal aspect where continual abscessing had helped distort the hoof wall.
 Monk had excessively long under run heels. Almost all of the connection between the wall and the sole was lost with stretching of the white line up to 1 inch wide around the entire hoof
 The blood vessels in the coronary region were enlarged as were the blood vessels in his legs, showing the strain his system was under.
 The extremely long toe was placing severe lever forces on the front portion of the hoof in the coronary band region resulting in constant abscessing.

March 2003

Bringing Monks hooves back to a more normal shape has taken a long time.
 Trimming started in December 2002 at 4 weekly intervals but this was not enough to have an impact on the extraordinary rate that this particular horse grew hoof horn.
 He continued to abscess regularly in the early months of trimming until I realised the abscessing was due to the long breakover causing damage.
 Monk went on to a more regular trimming schedule and with the exception of a few lengthy periods when he could not be trimmed due to abscessing, Monks progress sped up dramatically.
 He now has front hooves that are much smaller than when he was first trimmed with a far tighter white line now showing.
 His heel is nowhere near as under slung and while still a little high, the horn tubules are on a better angulation.
 His last abscess was 3 months ago.