Lameness & Therapeutic Farrier Services

"Clinical Lameness" is a term that refers to lameness that can be seen by a layperson or untrained observer.  Usually the most obvious sign of clinical lameness is a "head bob."  In other words, even a casual observer can tell which leg has a problem.

Sometimes a horse does not appear to be "lame" but still something does not seem right.  Perhaps ol' dobbin is not taking one of his leads or has begun refusing jumps.  Often what appears to be a behavior or performance problem turns out to be a subtle lameness problem that nobody seems to be able to figure out.  We refer to this situation as "Subclinical Lameness."  We are not veterinarians, therefore we cannot provide a medical diagnosis.  What we do provide is gait analysis to look for gait anomalies. 

During a gait analysis session we observe horses in motion at liberty and under tack from a pure mechanical perspective.  We look for subtle irregularities in different phases of the stride. Sometimes we discover a performance problem that we can solve mechanically by changing the way the horse is trimmed, the type of shoe, or modifying the position of the shoe on the foot.  Sometimes we discover that the mechanical performance problem is a symptom of a possible medical problem.  With the results of our gait analysis, a veterinarian will be able to more efficiently isolate the problem with medical diagnostics such as as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, (MRI), nerve blocks, and neurological exams in order to deliver a definitive diagnosis. 

Our objective is to work together with veterinarians as a team in order to deliver a combined medical and mechanical solution.  This kind of team effort serves the best interest of the horse and often provides superior results, which are seldom achieved by an individual farrier or veterinarian working on their own.

We accept lameness and therapeutic farriery referrals from other farriers and veterinarians on a case-by-case basis. We are not experts on every kind of lameness. However we have enjoyed a very high degree of success with some areas of therapeutic farriery including the following:

White Line Disease, Hoof Wall Disease, Wall Separations and Hoof Cracks

Navicular "Syndrome" and Caudal Foot Pain.

Subclinical Lameness and Gait Anomalies

Laminitis & Founder

Negative Palmer Angle

Crushed heels, Under-run Heels, Long Toe/Low Heel

Contracted Heels

Flexural Deformities i.e. club foot and contracted tendons (SIC)

If you contact us about a case that we believe is beyond our expertise, we will refer you to someone in our professional network who is better qualified to deal with that specific problem.

Before we agree to take on a lameness case, we will require you to put us in DIRECT contact with the attending veterinarian. As much as possible we would like to have a complete history on the horse including direct discussion with the veterinarian regarding radiographs MRI or other diagnostic imaging, treatments, and medications which have been done to support whatever medical diagnosis has been made.

Again we emphasize that our objective is to cooperate with the veterinarian in a team effort to help your horse. Therefore we insist on direct communication between professionals.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss a lameness problem or a performance issue.

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