--- In barefoothorses@yahoogroups.com, Rachel Terranella
<mysunnangel@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks everyone.Here is a side view I will try to get better ones
> tommorrow.I watched a short film with a natuarl trimmer teaching
to trim the
> bars.She exsplained that when the bars are left long not trimmed
that sole
> builds up to the bone inside the hoof & has no place to go so the
next step
> is it causes pressure against the wall which leads to seperation?

I think I've watched that video too. That part made no sense to me
when sole isn't that strong compared to wall horn.

From what I can remember of that video it looked more like it was
the heels that were causing the quarter wall separations and bending
the bars.


> I guess I
> am concerned because my trimmer is not trimming the bars.I have an
> appointment this weekend so I plan to talk to her about it
then.The women
> who trimmed the bars in the film thinks when bars are left & not
trimmed it
> can be one of the reasons for a contracted heal.When I look at the
wild
> horse hoof pictures I notice the bars are not long so I guess I am
wondering
> if this can be a possible factor in the slow process.Thanks it
good to go to
> those who have the knowledge.It may be the simple fact she is just
a slow at
> opening her heals.I guess in my mind a year & a half I should see
her heals
> opening some but maybe I need to be more patient.Her heels are
high I think
> too they have been that way for years.I will take more
measurements &
> pictures after the trim.She is past due the weather has been
killing our
> schedule.I will stop at the Pete Ramey website thanks.

Bars can cause problems that could lead to contraction but high
heels raises the biggest red flag for me. When heels are high they
force more of the horse's weight onto the toes. With less weight on
the heels they can close in tighter. My horses used to have high
heels when my farrier was caring for their feet. I learned to lower
them and they were able to adjust to the lower heels. Of course, I
had to do more than just lower the heels. I trimmed the bars level
with the sole just like what you see in those wild horse feet.

Terry
>