DR. HARDY EXPLAINS WHY A GOOD FARRIER (BLACKSMITH) IS LIKE A GOOD FOOT SPECIALIST WHEN IT COMES TO CUSTOM ORTHOTICS

UNLIKE PEOPLE, HORSES HAVE 4 FEET (HOOVES) TO BE CONCERNED WITH FOR BALANCE AND LOCOMOTION.  THE HOOVE HAS EVOLVED FROM THE FINGERNAIL IN MAMMALS.  IT FORMS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS AND IS CONSTANTLY GROWING. IN THE WILD HORSES ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE IN THE OPEN RANGE AND WEAR DOWN THE HOOF FROM CONSTANT MOTION AND DO NOT TO BE TRIMMED.  IN CAPTIVITY AND MANY TIMES CONFINED TO A STALL THE HOOVES NEED TO BE TRIMMED EVERY 6 TO 8 WEEKS BY THE FARRIER IN ORDER TO KEEP THE HORSE HEALTHY.

HORSES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO A BEVY OF AILMENTS REGARDING THE HOOF AND HOW DO I ONLY KNOW, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER BLOG.  THE INFORMATION THAT I WANT TO IMPART IN THIS BLOG IS HOW PROPER HOOF TRIMMING AND SHOES ARE SIMILAR TO CUSTOM ORTHOTICS IN A PATIENT.

I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL THOROUGHBRED HORSES OVER THE YEARS.  THE ONE I CURRENTLY HAVE IS NAMED 'TODDLES' AND WAS A GIFT FROM FRANK STRONACH SEVERAL YEARS AGO.  HE HAD A RIGHT HIND HOCK WHICH CAUSED TOEING IN OF THAT HOOF.  IN ORDER TO CORRECT IT THEY USED SPECIAL HOOF TRIMMING AND SHOEING WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.  UNFORTUNATELY FOR MR. STRONACH 'TODDLES' DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART AND WAS NOT 'CRAZY' ENOUGH TO MAKE IT AT THE TRACK AND I ACQUIRED A LOVELY PET.  WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A FIVE ACRE FARM IN SCARBOROUGH ON THE BLUFFS ON MORNINGSIDE AVE.  WE HAVE 100 OF ACRES OF PARKS AND SHORELINE IN WHICH TO RIDE.  PROBABLY ONE OF THE NICEST PLACES TO RIDE IN THE PROVINCE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SKILLED BLACKSMITH YOU CAN END UP WITH PROBLEMS WITH YOUR HORSE WHEN MAYBE THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY.

WHICH LEADS ME TO MY SEGWAY TO A SKILLED CHIROPODIST.  CUSTOM ORTHOTICS ARE VERY IMPORTANT BUT HAVE TO MADE FROM A CORRECT ASSESSMENT AND MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY BY A QUALIFIED LAB FROM A CORRECT CASTING.  THERE ARE MANY STEPS WITH WHICH THE FINISHED PRODUCT MAY BE COMPROMISED.  ONLY BY CONSULTING A SKILLED CLINICIAN WHO INVESTS IN A QUALITY LAB IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEIR PATIENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY CUSTOM ORTHOTICS WILL YOU BE ULTIMATELY SATISFIED.

THE FOOT SPECIALISTS AT ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS WILL ALWAYS GO THE 'EXTRA MILE' TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PATIENTS RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM ORTHOTICS.   IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE HONEST, COMPETENT ADVICE OR FOOT CARE FROM A HIGHLY EDUCATED AND SKILLED FOOT SPECIALIST, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS AT 416-465-8737 TODAY!