Ric Redden, DVM follow up clinic 6wks rechecks

We had a great day resetting and rechecking many of the cases we used as demo's during Dr. Ric Redden's in depth equine podiatry lecture and demonstration.  We had some return students and some new ones attending.  I want to thank Clyde Brown and Animal Health Supply for allowing us to congregate at their place of business.

 Below is several follow up images and short discussion of each case.  Also look back at the previous blog entry for initial images and therapeutic shoe applied.  October clinic images link



White line disease Case:  Sole depth improved by 4mm but white line lesion failed to grow down at same rate and decision was made to remove hoof wall to expose oxygen and allow cleaning.  Owner reports that he is running around like a youngster again and is more comfy than is has been in a long time.

6wks post intial rocker rail note 4mm increase in sole depth in a horse that hasn't grown any sole in years.

Reset image

First image Oct 6 pre shoe

Hoof wall resection to allow cleaning and oxygen to penetrate

Club foot case:  This horse lost the rocker rail shoe applie to the foot opposite the grade 3 club (which is also a club) and regular farrier applied a flat steel keg shoe to keep foot protected.  Note the horn lamellar zone divergence.  One could call this rotation which would be non specific.  The divergence is created by the club syndrome stretching to lower horn to bone attachments.  This is confirmed by evaluating the dermal-epidermal junction and measuring the horn zone compared to the lamellar zone.  If the lamellar zone was larger than the horn zone one could conclude a laminitis as this is lamellar swelling.  In this case it is chronic stretching of the lamellar bone secondary to the constant pull of the deep digital flexor unit.

The Grade 3 club grew more sole in the rocker rail than did the lower grade club in a flat shoe.  This information tells us that placing the tendon sling in freedom with the rocker shoe allows better nutrient and blood circulation through unloading of the sole via reduced deep flexor tension.  We placed the grade 2 club (Left Front) in a rockered trim with rockered steel keg shoe to also place the tendon sling in release.  We will be to see a more rapid sole mass recovery in this hoof as well at the next reset.  Owner reports excellent comfort and has adjusted very well to the new shoeing approach.

Pre shoe radiograph Oct 5

Left front shoe that regular farrier had replaced with flat keg shoe for protection

Rockered keg shoe

6 wks post rocker rail application additional 4mm of sole and cup starting to form.  All this due to unloading of the deep flexor pull 

Chronic Lamintis case:  Farrier was a student and he reports horse is moving very nice.  Horse was able to stand comfortably for each shoe reset.  Turning and moving very nicely.

Pre Rocker shoe oct 6

6 weeks post rocker rail with addition of 4mm of sole and less bulge of sole at apex of frog.  

Oct 6th pre rocker 

Left front 6wks post rocker rail.  Rocker shoe was removed prior to getting a radiograph.  Added 5mm of sole

Nov 17th reset with rocker rail.  

Post nov 17th reset rocker rail.

Navicular case:  Owner reports she was able to work a pattern for the first time in 2 years.  The Owners farrier was present and we helped him reset the rocker rails.  We plan to maintian the higher palmar angle for the next shoe cycle then began to lower the mechanics/palmar angle.  I expect to achieve similar comfort with lower mechanics as the horse remained comfortable even with losing a few degrees of palmar angle secondary to growth.  The history is very important here.  If horse became more lame at the end of the cycle as the palmar angle decreased, this tells us the hot spot becomes loaded at the lower palmar angle and may require a longer period of higher mechanics.

RF pre reset on nov17th

Post shoe nov 17th

Post shoe nov 17th

Pre shoe reset on nov 17th

6 month chronic laminitis case:  Owner reports horse is very comfortable, has a much better appetite and very willing to move freely.  This case demonstrates the importance the deep digital flexor tendon force applied to a failed lamellar bone.  With the loss of the lamellar suspension of the coffin bone, it is allowed to compress the sole at the apex of coffin.  No blood, No growth and recurrent abscessation as has occurred in this case. The fragile rim of the coffin bone becomes loses its blood supply and acts like a foreign body.  I haven't been able to achieve this level of success with any other approach.  Doubling sole depth from 10mm to 20 mm in a matter of 6 wks in chronic laminitis is astonishing. 

I do not recommend a tenotomy for every laminitis case and only do so if the venogram shows the circumflex artery at or above the level of the tip of the coffin bone as described by Dr. Ric Redden.  However I do recommend considering the forces applied by the ddft to the coffin bone and often use "mechanics" (rockering/wedging) to lesson the tension on a failing system to aid in re-establishing vascular supply.

Immediately post derotation and deep flexor tenotomy oct 6

Note the rapid growth of sole at dorsal portion of hoof and loss of palmar angle.  addition of 10mm of sole

Post reset to re establish a zero palmar angle with the shoe.  This is necessary to prevent over correction resulting in a negative palmar angle 

Immediately post derotation and deep flexor tenotomy on oct 6

6wks post derotational shoeing and deep flexor tenotomy.  No reset required as even sole growth is occuring and resetting the shoe does not add any benefits mechanically.

Pictures from the 5 day Podiatry class with Dr. Ric Redden

Well it was an exciting and educational week spent at Dr. Ric Reddens equine podiatry 201 clinic in Versailles Kentucky.  Attendees where largely international with teams from Switzerland, Germany, Costa Rica, Texas and of course Oklahoma.  Dr. Redden, his wife Nancy and his staff create a hospitable, laid back environment for easy learning.  We had several cases ranging from club feet, acute and chronic laminitis and navicular cases.  Mornings where spent in lecture covering topics with great detail that where relevant to the afternoon cases.  Dr. Amy Rucker of Midwest Equine in Columbia, Mo a long time student of Dr. Redden's, and popular lecturer regarding laminitis treatment and venogram study was also present assisting in the educational process.  It was very exciting to see the world wide interest that Dr. Redden has inspired through his multiple lectures across the world.  I plan to post several pictures in which more information will be in the caption below.  A special thanks to my team members, Frank the German Brendan Frost from Stillwater Ok.  It was a great pleasure meeting everyone and getting to spend valuable time with Dr's Redden and Rucker.  

Large Draft with grade 3 club and white line disease.  Slight rockered flat shoe handmade by the Swiss Team

Grade 3 Club with a toe crack.  We placed a rockered full rocker and a toe band while the foot was unloaded to prevent pinching of underlying laminar tissue.

After class play in Dr Reddens self made log blacksmith shop.

Rockered Rail shoe for a Navicular horse

Frank the German and myself.  This is the first time for Frank to drive a bid Dodge diesel.

Dr. Redden demonstrating his quarter crack lacing technique to Kyle from Texas and Jorge from Costa Rica in Brandon O'neals Purdy Built F3 trailer.

P3 Fracture in a weanling

Walking horse with contracted DDF and SDF and very thin soles.  Rocker rail placement to facilitate better sole mass and comfort

Steffan from Switzerland, European style with an assistant to hold the leg for you.  I tried it and I would have to relearn how to trim and nail!

Rocker rail for navicular case to release deep digital tendon pressure.

Finished rockered full rocker and toe band



Don't miss your chance to learn an in depth approach to many common ailments from Dr. Ric Redden, DVM we all see and deal with this October 14-15 in Tulsa Oklahoma.  For more information contact me a 918*235*1529

Follow up Venograms and Radiographs of the Backyard Mare project.

. Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying this site and potentially learning something as well.  Please feel free to ask any questions in the comment segment.  So we are just a little over four weeks into this shoe cycle with the low score mechanical rocker shoe.  In the plain film soft tissue farrier friendly radiograph we can measure right at 14 mm of sole depth in the left.  We started with 8mm of sole depth when we pulled her out of the pasture with bare feet and slightly tender on the rocks.  She has been ridden fairly regular which does slow down foot growth.  Again, what I am attempting to demonstrate is how the rocker shoe application enhances the  foot mass noted by increase in sole depth and the accompanying venogram changes. In my experience and the experience of many others, the rocker shoe is the fastest method available to regain foot mass and quality.  We are getting close to normal sole depth  of 15mm after 4wks in the rocker shoe.  I find that many foot ailments and lameness' improve drastically with added foot mass.

 The first image is today's and the second is the initial radiograph March 8, 2011.  Notice the great improvement in sole depth.

The Most notable change here is the terminal papillae are getting longer.  These are the little finger like projections.

In this view the terminal papillae continue to become longer and  more robust.  This will continue as sole depth increases.  When we achieve a healthy sole depth of closer to 20 mm we should have a very prominent terminal papillae and a vascular depth of around 10 mm.  

Below I am going to post a recent venogram on a chronic laminitis case.  This gives something to compare to.  Note the severe lack of contrast over to face of the coffin bone and below the apex of the coffin bone.  Just to refresh the memory the white tree branch like things you are seeing are the arteries and veins within the hoof.  In the image below there is no blood flow below the coronary band in the front (to the left).  There is still slight filling of the terminal arch which is supplying the coffin bone its nutrients and is keeping it from completely dying.  There is considerable bone resorption as almost 1/2 of the coffin bone is gone due to the lack of normal blood supply.  

 Keep checking the blog as next week I will be rechecking the Severe white line disease case that I have already posted.  We will be repeating radiographs and evaluating response to the rocker rail application. 

We hope everyone is enjoying the Spring.  

We are in the planning stages of hosting Dr. Ric Redden of International Equine Podiatry Center of Versailles, Ky for a 2 day lecture and live demonstration on October 14 and 15.  I will post the details when we get them nailed down.  

We will also be traveling to Magnolia, Tx to help renowned farrier Jimbo Stewart put on a clinic demonstrating radiographic technique, how to treat common foot problems and to read radiographs.