Q: This is something that
I am not aware of. Two days ago my 16 year old Arab mare was diagnosed with
severe laminitis/founder/"dropping". The onset [I believe] was apx. 2
weeks ago [a very unfortunate vet. misdiagnosis]. I tried to read everything I
can concerning this horrible condition and came across your mention of the
adjustable heart bar in one of your question/answer sections. This is something
that I am not aware of. Are these adjustables handmade, or are there any
"pre-fab" adjustables?
A: Your question was, Are there
any pre-made adjustables? No, to the best of my knowledge there are not. The
adjustable heart bar shoe must be hand made to fit the individual foot and must
be applied only by a farrier working with radiographs in conjunction with a
veterinarian consultant. Improperly applied, they can do more harm than good. I
have had a better than 98% success rate with laminitic foundering horses by
using adjustable heart bar shoes.
Your terminology of founder "dropping" leads me to believe that you
are referring to a horse whose coffin bone is sinking within the hoof capsule.
If so, this is the most difficult type of founder there is and this horse's
condition should be considered grave. Very few "sinker" horses are
saved, even with adjustables.
At the top of this page there is a picture of an adjustable heart bar shoe. The
one pictured was a keg shoe modified into an adjustable heart bar shoe for a
particular horse. The horse that this shoe was applied to hobbled into my shop,
and walked out 85% improved. Within 3 weeks time he was walking and trotting
with no head bob. In 2 months time he was walking, trotting and turning with no
head bob. See also Founder: Resection
& Shoe.
I understand that you are the person that made inquiries into the benefits of
MSM. It is what I said it was, which is that it seems to help heal soft tissue
and act as a natural anti-inflammatory, but it certainly is not a cure for
laminitis.
Obtain the best farrier and veterinary services you can afford to try and save
this animal. I wish you good luck and my thoughts and prayers will be with you
and your horse. I hope your horse makes it.
***We offer an
information package on the adjustable heart bar shoe for sale to
qualified experienced farriers only. The package includes instructions
for constructing, applying and making the frequent and necessary
adjustments to the shoe as well as many indispensable
hints for insuring the best possible results. Call 541-459-2609 (preferably at 8 PM Oregon time) or send
e-mail message for purchase information.***
Respectfully,
Geronimo Bayard
The American Blacksmith
Oakland, Oregon