When it comes to pre-purchase exams, Theo’s journey has left no stone unturned! What began as a routine exam for a potential adopter quickly evolved into a comprehensive lameness evaluation. Dr. Lewis from Rainland, our trusted vet, stepped in with her expert eye and the assistance of a lameness locator. She pinpointed the source of Theo’s discomfort to his left front leg, where X‑rays revealed an imbalance: a shearing effect on the medial side of his hoof, causing an eight-degree lateral difference.
In simple terms, Theo was wearing down the inside of his hoof more than the outside, leading to an uneven stride and additional pressure on his joints. Fortunately, our skilled farrier, Lisa Fite, was able to rebalance his hooves with corrective shoeing. Just a week after his first shoeing, Theo’s improvement was remarkable. He could comfortably pick up his left lead at the canter, and his hind leg lead-swapping issues disappeared immediately.
Throughout this process, Theo has undergone extensive exams, including X‑rays, flexion tests, and ultrasounds on his joints and hooves, all of which are available for his future adopter. The findings are excellent: all his X‑rays and an ultrasound of an old injury came back clean. Typically, buyers spend thousands on these types of exams for a new horse, but SAFE has already covered these costs, which will be a huge benefit to Theo’s future home. Whoever adopts him will be lucky to have such detailed and positive health records in place.
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- Pre-shoes
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- Post 1st set of shoes
Since his corrective shoeing, Theo has been in light work, moving comfortably and consistently picking up his leads. His most recent pair of shoes was set in conjunction with the vet, meaning that he was able to get the most accurate trim possible for his balance, since Lisa was able to trim alongside his current radiographs as well as vet recommendation. Following this appointment, Theo received a clean bill of health, paving the way for a fresh start!
