He uses spreaders with the expansion shoe about every eight to ten days. Borium at the toe is mandatory, to save the rivets from wearing out. Foal Radiographs Radiographing foals' legs before sales is becoming increasingly common according to figures quoted by Dr. Paul Thorpe of Hagyard Davidson McGee Equine Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. Dr. Thorpe's presentation on periosteal elevation included mention that in 1986 he radiographed the knees of 400 foals. This year, he did 500 foals.
Basic physics are at work when a foal's foot grows in a certain way after trimming.
The effects aren't immediately obvious when you're doing the work, and traditional methodology may be getting in the way of helping a lot of foals, advised Dr. R.F. Redden at the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium. The hoof works th same way. The more vertical the hoof wall is, the more weight it can carry. The opposite of a straight wall is a flare. If a foal toes out, lower the flared side and relieve the weight on rununder heels.