07/31/2026
🚨✨Case of the Month! - White Line Disease ✨🚨
An American Saddlebred show horse presented for lameness and white line disease of the left front. The naturally upright hoof capsule showed significant medial/lateral imbalance and dorsal dish visually and P3 rotation and medial listing confirmed radiographically. A large WLD tract was resected with apparently clean margins reached approximately 20mm below the coronary band. A fully encompassing (wall and sole) wall cast over orthopedic felt was chosen due to the extent of missing hoof wall. Due to the instability and historically poor medial wall growth, a laterally placed Soft Rider Gel Max orthotic was applied to increase ground force reaction over the healthier (faster growing) side of the hoof and reduce those forces medially while offering increased mechanical efficiency and general cushioning. Rechecks at 5-6 week shoeing intervals showed improvement in medial growth and radiographic alignment. Approximately 5 months after presentation, the horse was placed in a Sigafoos cuff riveted to a base leather pad and nailed rockered toe show package for re-introduction to work. That package was repeated until month 10 where the horse was put back in a traditional double nailed show package that maintains the rockered toe to reduce leverage. The horse has responded well and is back winning classes.
