© By Gordon Adair
Professional barefoot horse trimmer
Below is a radiograph that I was asked to evaluate for an owner, and I often see in my barefoot trimming business showing a deformed coffin bone, high heel, long toe, and thin sole. I’ll describe what I see and how I try to help the horses. This is based on the radiograph only, another evaluation is done on a visual of the hoof.
Above is a deformed coffin bone and below is a normal coffin bone for comparison.
Above the blue line shows the near ground level base of the coffin bone.
Below the blue lines shows the different angle bases of the coffin bone.
The coffin bone over time will deform to help support the skeleton system of the horse. The two blue lines to the left show the front of the coffin bone deformed for a ground parallel support, and the blue line at the right shows the original bottom base.
Above is a video that discusses this coffin bone condition ( Coffin bone deformity and heel height )
Below is a human comparison of what happens to horses.
Trimming to help the horse
The yellow line is an estimated cut line to lower the heel of the original angle of the base to ground parallel.
No trimming should be done forward of the yellow line, this area needs to grow downward to lengthen the yellow line angle.
I placed the red line angle off the cornet to determine the proper toe angle. The hoof to the left of the red line shows a stretched toe that needs to be backed up over trims for proper break over.
Above is a video that discusses this stretched toe condition
Always trim to keep all concavity on the bottom of the foot. A specialist should be contacted for this problem.
Gordon Adair began his professional career in 1977 learning horse training and farrier work. Applying his training and farrier knowledge Gordon has developed a successful trimming system that aids in training performance and rehabilitating lameness, founder, laminitis, and navicular. Gordon Adair barefoot horse trimming business is in the Ocala Florida area.
