Aiden pictured BEFORE initial trim. All toes were excessively long.

FRONTS BEFORE TRIM

LEFT FRONT BEFORE TRIM

LEFT FRONT AFTER TRIM

AIDEN IN INDOOR AFTER FRONTS TRIMMED.
(Lens got dirty from dust.)

AIDEN UNDER SADDLE READY FOR TRAIL RIDE JUST AFTER 1ST TRIM.
NO LAMENESS EXHIBITED ON GRAVEL DRIVE OR PATH.

Aiden presented as a relatively healthy QH with an amiable disposition and in good condition. He did not appear depressed nor did he appear acutely lame. He had no shoes on. Owner reports he lost a shoe last week and had the other pulled yesterday. He had several "hot" spots around the C2 and C3 as well as the withers on both sides and the loins on both sides. His heart girth was also hot on both sides. The muscles around his withers presented tense and lumpy.

Aiden seemed worried at first with the handling of his hooves but settled down and relaxed after the first raspings. He lifted his hooves with little resistance on all 4's. The left front hoof was reported to be the "worst one" for Navicular. It is illustrated to the left.

The toes were taken back on all 4. The heels were taken down on all 4 and soles were leveled. It was evident that the bars had been left long for some length of time as they had folded over and had formed a false sole. Under the false sole there was a fair amount of concavity on the right front and good amount on the left. The right front false sole was difficult to remove so was not pared whereas the false sole on the left front was removed easily.

After the front hooves were trimmed as described and the toes rockered and mustang rolled, Aiden was turned loose in the indoor ring whereupon he bucked and cantered around. Owner reported that she could never get him to canter before.

Trimming of rear hooves was uneventful and minimal.

MEDS:  White Willow Bark, 3 tbsp. X2 daily
PRN.

Recommended weekly tweaking and full trim in 4 weeks.

NOTE:  Owner inquired as to when she could ride Aiden again. Because Aiden was exhibiting no lameness after the trim on hard or soft ground he was tacked up immediately after his trim and proceeded to go for a trail ride. Suggested that small circles be avoided.

UPDATE AS OF 11/04: The trimmer who last saw Aiden as a follow up to my care reported that Aiden is doing "wonderfully". He is comfortable and is being ridden regularly. More to come with owner's report.