The last area of concern when discussing the low heel syndrome as a whole package is to look to the opposite rear leg and foot of the affected front. If the front left foot is the one with the low heel problem you need to look to the opposite hind, the right rear leg and foot.
The reason that this point is so important is that in over 90% of instances where there is a front foot and leg issue and the opposite rear leg is overlooked the affected horse tends to come up lame within a two-week period. The lameness issue is due to the fact that front foot and leg that were affected by the initial low heel problem have become out of balance to the same degree or amount.
One thing that needs to be pointed out here is that there can be other situations beside the low heel syndrome that can cause these problems to manifest themselves. The most common is one leg is shorter than the other, now when I say that one leg is shorter than the other I am not talking about a major difference; it can be anything up to 3/4 of an inch difference. Here you may or may not have an actual low heel situation, but you will have is here is knees that are not parallel to each other, you will also have a dropped shoulder, the pushed out rib cage and a need to have shoeing adjustments to the opposite hind foot to compensate for that difference.
If the proper procedures are not followed here what you will receive, just as in the case of a true low heel syndrome, is the same; lameness, it can be off and on or even constant, but be aware that the correction has to continue onto the opposite rear foot and leg and both you and the horse will be a lot happier.
Either one of these situations are treated the same way in the rear; try different shoes and/or pads, it is not a major change in the way that the horse is cared for, but it is a change that has to happen.
Until next time “Ride for the Brand”.
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About Bob Burdekin
Bob Burdekin grew up in the mid-western United States where his family raised Arabian horses. His first structured riding lessons began at the age of three to learn forward seat. This early love for horses solidified at the age of sixteen when he first began to learn the farrier's craft from former US cavalrymen.
A keen desire to expand his knowledge took Bob on a 40-year journey from Montana, across eleven western states and Canada, until finally settling in California. Along the way he learned pathological and corrective farrier skills from Scott Simpson (American Farriers Assoc.; inductee, Farriers' Hall of Fame); insights from Gene Overnick (developer of the Equine Digit Support System and creator of the Natural Balance shoe) and equine anatomy and physiology from noted veterinary specialists, Drs. Richard Scott, Bob Clark and Dean Essex.
In Canada, Bob was licensed to shoe Thoroughbreds at the racetracks in British Columbia, and all across Canada for Standardbred racing. There he met and was mentored by Bob Marshall, Sr. (a well known 3rd generation English farrier and father of noted farrier clinician Bob Marshall, Jr.). He also received additional training for work with hunter/jumpers and dressage horses from Kevin White, farrier for the Canadian Olympic Equestrian team. Bob was back-up farrier for Mr. White while he resided in Canada.
Upon returning to the United States, Bob was licensed by the California State Horse Racing Commission to work on race tracks throughout California. He was also on staff at UC Davis as the relief supervisor for the farrier staff at their veterinary medical teaching hospital.
Bob Burdekin's career has given him extensive experience in all facets of the horse industry. From backyard pleasure horses, cutters, reiners, 3-day eventers and dressage competitors to driving, halter and gaited horses, Bob has improved the comfort and performance of thousands of grateful horses.
Bob’s extensive knowledge base grew and expanded whenever he worked with horses, whether it be shoeing, ground work or riding. Bob made it his number one goal to learn to understand horses and learn what allowed them to become part of their society. Taking this approach allowed Bob into their world and an acceptance was realized that working with horses was learning their rules and learning to work within them.
Not satisfied with shoeing and corrective farrier work, Bob has devoted years to research and development of an educational program for horse owners, trainers, veterinarians and farriers to enable them to treat the whole horse with prevention of injuries and overall wellness in mind.
