Caught part of a podcast where a vet said most lameness starts in the foot

I was driving to a client's barn this morning and had a farrier podcast on. The guest, an equine vet from Kentucky, said something like 'if you're looking for the source of a front end lameness, start at the ground and work up.' He mentioned that in his practice, over 60% of the cases he sees that are labeled 'shoulder' or 'knee' issues actually have a primary cause in the foot or hoof balance. It made me think about how often I get a call for a 'corrective' shoeing on a horse that's just been off for a week. Maybe we should be pushing for a vet check first more often? How do you guys handle it when an owner asks you to fix a sudden lameness?

2 comments

2 Comments

keithpalmer3d ago

Tbh that sounds a bit over the top to me.

lucas9723d ago

Ever have a client call you out for a "quick fix" shoeing on a lame horse? I got one last month, and I flat out told them I wouldn't touch the horse without a vet seeing it first. It felt awkward, but the vet found a subsolar abscess, not a balance issue. Keithpalmer might think that's over the top, but it saved everyone time and pain for the horse. Now I just explain that my job is to keep a sound horse sound, not to diagnose why one went off.

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