Category: Case Studies

In 2013, Cedar Lawns Abby, lovingly known as Abby, was diagnosed with chronic subluxation of the coffin bone in her right front hoof and severe ringbone in her left front hoof (see photos A and B). A previous farrier had been using reversed metal horse shoes in an attempt to give her some relief (see photos C1-C3). Dr. Harrison had been injecting the right coffin joint in an attempt to give some stability to the foot and fuse the joint.

In May of 2014, a dark mass was identified inside Sintar’s hoof. The vet diagnosed it as a keratoma in need of immediate removal. Following the surgery Sintar was on stall rest with limited hand walking only, the recommended protocol for keratoma surgeries. In late October, Sintar was still lame. Further radiographs showed that the entire keratoma had not been removed. A second, more aggressive surgery took place (see photo A).

Farrier Dave Giza of Genesis Farriers in Culpepper, Virginia began treating the 25 year-old paint mare, Cricket, for laminitis and founder. She had been untreated for three years and because of the severe pain she was in, she had confined herself to a 10 square foot area. She was practically immobile. Giza had to enroll both owners to literally hold Cricket up because she couldn’t stand on three legs. “There was dried blood encapsulated in the hoof wall,” said Giza. “This had caused bruising on the hoof, which led to abscesses. Cricket was in a lot of pain and barely walking.”

Farrier Dave Giza of Genesis Farriers has been treating Cali, a 26 year-old Thoroughbred mare, for four years. Due to metabolic foundering, Cali suffers from acute laminitis in both front feet causing consistent abscesses in both hooves and chronic pain. Over the years, Giza has tried many types of shoes on her, including steel, aluminum and Soft Ride boots, but nothing could alleviate Cali’s pain.

For the past two years, Butterfly, a beautiful black and white paint Dutch Warmblood cross, has suffered from a bowed front tendon with collateral ligament damage. Butterfly was on a tendon/ligament supplement, joint supplement, with bute or Previcox for pain management, as well as cold hosing, standing wraps and various liniments. Since late May of 2015, she had been on stall rest with hand grazing only.