Indy is a cross Percheron Draft / Quarter Horse / Polish Arabian gelding. I bought him in January 2000 as a 3½ year old and had him evaluated by a vet at purchase. Indy came to me shod on all four feet and had trouble coming under himself on the right hind due to a previous injury to the outside at the coronet band on the right hind. He had 30 days training on him and I began riding him while my farrier continued shoeing him.
In January of 2003 Indy kept pulling the right hind shoe and with the vet's ok we took both hind shoes off because my farrier thought it would work for Indy. This actually fixed his problem of not coming under correctly on the right hind and he tracked-up straight and his canter improved.
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By July 2005, Indy had pulled the left front shoe off 3 times in less than 3 weeks and there was not enough foot to hold a shoe.
We were at the end of our rope with shoeing and had no where to go! I was told by a friend about Steve Karshner, a farrier who could balance a hoof and handle lameness, and if there was a way to save Indy's life I was going to give it a try.
Steve started his natural hoof treatment on August 3, 2005. As I watched him evaluate Indy's feet, I wondered.... Did we have a chance? Could Indy be relieved of the pain? The look in Indy's eyes... months of spiraling downward.
Steve began by balancing each foot. He then had me use Boa Boots on both front feet. Indy and I were together again. I was really surprised that within the first month there wasupward progress. |
On April 28, 2004 I came out to his stall and found him lame on the left front. I called my vet, who thought at first that it was a bruise or an abscess. I soaked it for 5 days, twice a day, with no improvement.
The next step was x-rays. After that, it was nerve blocks. Finally it was a trip to Alamo Pintado at the end of May 2004. Alamo Pintado did a nuclear bone scan and x-rays and diagnosed the left front coffin bone as 'hot' with bone inflammation moving up his fetlock, knee and scapula; coffin bone rotation; pedal osteitis; and mild laminitis. By now, I had noticed that his left scapula was increasing in size (larger than the right). Their prescription:
Bute
Aspirin
Isoxsuprine twice daily
Cut the toes off and shoe with pads,
all held together with polyurethane
Hand walking daily
Re-set the shoes in 5-6 weeks
Lay-up several months.
We did this and at the end of the 6 weeks my farrier took over and followed the shoeing prescription on both front feet. About 5 months passed and he was walking ok.... not perfect but walking without a limp.
On March 2, 2005, I moved to Tehachapi and found a farrier who tried everything he knew to keep a shoe on the left front foot.
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It's now September, 2008 and Indy's hoof capsule looks different. The way he moves is beautiful to watch. To feel him beneath me is a dream come true… balanced floating impulsion! NO SHOES. NO DRUGS. Steve still has more to do with Indy but we are most definitely headed in the right direction!
I am so grateful and my heart is full because of what I feel and see when I walk out to the barn to feed and care for my friend, Indy.
I truly appreciate that Steve cares about my horses and all horses. His knowledge and skill are invaluable.
Thank you Steve
Ruth B.
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