Owners need to know about the "Plastic Sheet"

This pony was trimmed and re-shod less than a week before I saw him. He was slightly foot sore and had palpable digital pulses.

	I called to see the farrier, gave him a plastic sheet and my notes on the use of the plastic sheet and my opinion on how the chronic founder foot should be trimmed. 29/12/05
	Seen again 070206, and the pony had been trimmed and re-shod less than a week before. The feet were again trimmed with between 15° – 20° pedal bone rotation and shod to the deviated dorsal hoof wall.

If the pony continues to be trimmed and shod this way:

The dorsal hoof wall will continue to separate from the pedal bone due to the delayed breakover from the "long" toe. This will weaken the laminal support of the bone at the toe and increases the likelihood of infection getting in through the weakened and stretched laminae.

There will be increased forces down the dorsal surface of the pedal bone that will increase the pressure of the extensor process on the coronary band, affecting the hoof growth. This will cause the hoof growth at the toe to be slower than at the heel which will mean that the rotation of the pedal bone will increase further during the period between trimming.

The increased forces down the dorsal wall and the weakened support will mean that both stretching of the laminae and pressure on the sole are more likely. If there are increased forces due to exercise, or if a further laminitis episode occurs then the pony is more likely to show signs of instability and foot pain.

I need the help of owners to point this out to their farriers. It is your horse or pony that will continue to suffer if trimmed in this way.