Conference noted::equitation

Sounds like your horse "overstepped" and caught the back of his front fetlock
with his hind foot.  Bell boots will protect the bulbs of the heel and
back of the lower pastern area.  If your horse's cut is on the fetlock
joint itself then bell boots won't protect this area.  

I use exercise bandages on all four legs (using polo or racing bandages),
and wrap under a part of the fetlock joint -- without inhibiting the fetlock
joint action.  

I used to have a mare who overstepped and I used felt bell boots when
it was dry ground and rubber ones when I expected wet ground.  I prefer felt
bell boots because the edges don't irritate the lower pasterns.

I can't help but mention this -- Overstepping generally means the horse
is not using himself correctly and careful dressage work should eliminate
the problem over time.

	My farrier called it "connecting"; from time to time you could
	even here the shoes clink together! So the farrier trimmed his
 	feet differently (raised his heels? I'm not sure, but your
	farrier's sure to know) and he's never done it since. This was
	over a year ago, and it was a serious problem.

	-julie

    
    I RAISE BELGIAN DRAFT HORSES AND WE CALL THIS PROBLEM "FORGING".
    NO
       MATTER WHAT IT IS CALLED, A GOOD FARRIER CAN USUALLY CORRECT
    THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, EITHER THROUGH TRIMMING
    OR SHOEING TECHNIQUES. AS FAR AS HEALING, I USE FUROZENE, A SMALL
    GAUZE PAD, AND VETRAP TO COVER EACH NIGHT AND REMOVE DURING THE
    DAY. IF THE FEET COME IN CONTACT WITH MUD, ETC., YOU MAY WANT TO
    LEAVE THE INJURY WRAPPED, BUT CHANGE IT DAILY. IF THE CUT REOPENS
    WHENEVER THE JOINT FLEXES, IT MAY TAKE AWHILE TO HEAL. I HAD ONE
    INJURY OF THIS TYPE THAT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO FINALLY HEAL.
    

    Its very common for horses which are being used to cut up their
    feet depending on what you are doing.  If you are schooling a young
    horse or one which is not well conditioned you increase the chances
    of this happening.  Shoeing will improve the situation but will
    not totally remove it.  There are lots of different ways that they
    can cut themselves including forging, interfering, and clipping.
    When working our show horses we always use bell boots and leg wraps
    for protection but make sure you take the time to wrap properly.
    At a show last weekend, I was in a hurry and didn't do a good job.
    One of the wraps came off and spooked my normally very hot english
    pleasure horse forcing me to do one of my famous "Flying Dismounts".
    The crowd around the ring thought it was pretty funny when they
    saw no one was hurt but it didn't do much for my ego.  At least
    I landed on my feet.  You can also get splint boots which can be
    used in place of the leg wraps.
    
    Bob
    

Thank you for your comments. The farrier was out last Wednesday and
he did not feel that the horse was interfering. He trimmed all
four feet and put shoes on the front. (I've only been putting
shoes on the front for this horse.) Then he had me lead the horse
around a bit, and ride him at different gaits. After all of this,
he decided that the horse was not interfering and that he would
shoe him "normally". He thinks that the injury was probably caused
by something else - like a slip or horse play.

The wound has healed quite nicely, and he has not shown any
recurrence of the lameness.

/ed

    
    Bell boots are so cheap and easy to use - why don't you buy apair
    anyway. My horses forages when her feet get long - before the
    farrier comes. Also felt boots- protection that's cheap and
    works for forageing, overreaching or horse play. 
    
    What's the old saying - an ounce of provention is worth a....
    
    Nancy