I must tell you that I removed some QuixShoes that Robert applied on a hack out at the Riding for the Disabled. This horse was donated from my stable and I battled with it for two years PQ (pre Quix). It never grew any heel and they were always crushed. I tried rolled toe, natural balance and it never got any better. Rob put some QuixShoe with a slight belly rocker in them.
I was shocked when I took them off after 6 weeks. The heels which I had never seen before stuck out like little thumbs. I was able to trim the toe, keep the heel and improve the PA by at least 5 degrees from when I used to shoe her. It really gave me renewed faith in this system and would love to prove that we can regenerate the digital cushion.

Here is a picture of a horse that had a QuixShoe on for 3 weeks. I am keeping photos of this one all the way until I nail shoes on again, then see if I can maintain the heel. Although conformation dictates this condition, nailing shoes on does destroy the heels and ultimately the digital cushion.

I cut the photo and reversed the one so we could get a real nice look.
It appears to have some growth . . .
. . . not a lot, but it is only 3 weeks.

I am hoping for great heel.

_________________
Bradley SaintJohn
How would you like a job where, if you made a mistake,
a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacques Plante
1st Choice Horseshoeing
37websites.com

With all long toe low heel horses the biggest thing is that the coffin bone falls into a negative plane and starts tipping backwards. What this does is cause more leverage to break over and also compresses the digital cushion. Along with that we loose the normal expansion and contraction capabilities which are important in the blood movement in the circumflex artery. No blood = no nutrients to feed the laminae and then everything starts falling apart.

I have had much success in lifting the PA (palmar angle of the coffin bone) with the QuixShoe. Attached are some pictures to explain.

Picture 1. Long toe low heel with a history of lameness and feet falling apart when in full work, the heels just collapse. I have had it barefoot since the end of last season and it is now time to go back to the track.

Picture 2. The QuixShoe blank applied and the QuixShoe normally increases the PA about 2-4 degrees automatically, but in this case not enough

Picture 3. The solar surface with Soleguard filling the entire sole and giving the much needed support to stop the frog from prolapsing.

Picture 4. I then took the blank mold and applied it again on top of the existing blank and soleguard, and as when wedging made sure the toe was lower than the heels (really pull the mold back at the toe and visualize the wedging of the mold itself before injecting)
The new angle is better and HPA is lined up and break over increased. You can apply a shoe upon a shoe until you get the angles right. I have gone up almost 10 degrees on some of the foundered and post arthrodesis horses.
On this side view of the shoe and you can see the wedge shoe if you look closely. As this horse is only trotting on sand for now, I will not nail a shoe on top of this until I feel the wear is to much or it starts breaking up.

Picture 5. The solar view and you can see the wedges created. You can rasp them to level and taper more if needed.

I have used Equipak but find sole guard better as it really stick to the sole. You can either fill up the entire sole or taper from the heel to the toe. If the soles are sensitive then only add a very thin layer. This will still support the frog as it becomes almost a sling from heel to heel that supports the frog.