This TB colt had been described as being over at the knee, or tied-in, and that this was genetic and conformational and therefore nothing could be done about it. After his first trim (at about 1 yr old) he stood with both front legs straight. In the photo below at 1.5 yrs, (one month into the trim, with long bars) he is standing with cannon bones slightly behind the vertical. Right after being trimmed, he stands more squarely. His conformation critique also stated his pasterns were a little long. The angle and therefore the apparent length, has been improved by trimming (photo 8).
At 6 mos. At 1.5 yrs.
Before barefoot trim One month after trim Right after a trim
The TB gelding, bred for the track, was born in Mar ’05. He was receiving a farrier pasture trim during his first year which rasped the toes handsomely but removed no sole, or bar. His heels were reasonably low. The young gelding lives in an ideal environment: 24/7 turnout in a rural area 100 miles north of New York City, in a herd in large pasture with a natural water source and on a variety of terrains, mostly hard and rocky.
At about one year old, he was becoming very inactive for a TB colt, standing around a lot and not getting much movement. The owner was concerned he might have contracted Lyme’s disease and had the vet run tests which were negative, thus, the vet conlcuded it was “just the way he was”. Soon after he received his first correct barefoot trim which included removing very large amounts of severely overgrown bar (about twice what is shown inphoto 4), lowering the heels, and shaping the toe. Immediately after the trim he ran off bucking, at a gallop and to the great relief of the owner.
May ’06 Oct ’06
LF 1. 
2. 
RF 3. 
4. 
5. 
before trim after trim
LH 6. 
7 . 
LF 8. 
Six weeks after the first trim the foot appeared to double in width, more than what could be attributed to normal growth. The long and deep bar seemed to be impinging the growth of the foot. Now, the coffin bone will be able to develop to its full genetic potential. There is also a significant increase in width visible in the six months from May ’06 to Oct ’06 (compare 1. to 2. and 3. to 5.)
The hind foot also shows correct development, in that it is not becoming as wide, but the spade shape of a hind foot is becoming more apparent as the horse develops (6. to 7.)
