b'VIEWPOINTPublisher: Marla Bickel STEPHANIE L. CHURCH, Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie L. Church @TH_StephLChurch Managing Editor: Alexandra Beckstett Digital Managing Editor: Michelle AndersonArt Director: Brian Turner Web Producer: Jennifer WhittleInside the Capsule Marketing Manager: Victoria BennettEDITORIAL DEPARTMENT2365 Harrodsburg Rd #A200Lexington KY 40504-3331E-MAIL Editorial@TheHorse.comI ve stared at a lot of photos of hooves lately. In working with PaigeAll letters must include the writers name, address,Poss and Dr. Robert Bowker on stories from the 11th Northeastand daytime phone number for verification.Association of Equine Practitioners symposium (see page 28), L etters: Letters@TheHorse.com, or by mail. F arm Call: FarmCall@TheHorse.com, or by mail. held last fall in Saratoga Springs, New York, I have pondered theAcross the Fence and Behavior Columns: structures, their placement, the angles, and the mechanics at playEditorial@TheHorse.com, or by mail.more than I have in 25 years. New Products: Products@TheHorse.com,or by mail.When I was a teenager my momwithin the hoof capsule. Vets andEDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDdrove me to an equine anatomyfarriers around me listened carefully clinic. Inside the dimly lit teachingand marveled at the images. Scott Anderson, DVM; Sarah Barr, DVM; Anthony room stood several 6-foot banquetThats when I really began to un- Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS; Ann Dwyer, DVM; tables covered in horse limbs. It wasderstand how dramatically hoof careBenjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT; Jenifer R. Gold, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC; Kyla Ortved, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; a macabre sight, but learning aboutimpacts the foot. For instance, PossDebra Taylor, DVMthose legs was a valuable experience.showed a video in which she twisted While I was familiar withthe bonesa healthy pale-yellow digital cushionEducational Partnership Disclaimer: The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), one of The Horses partners of the limb, Id never seen the softbetween her hands. It appeared ro- in equine health, has no involvement regarding editorial tissues and their interplay with thebust and flexible enough to manipu- management or advertising content within this publication and thereby does not endorse any editorial or advertising content skeleton. I now understood how thelate with some effort. She repeatedunless so acknowledged within the individual articleextensor tendon contributes to a flipthe same exercise with an unhealthy,or advertisement.of the hoof here, how the deep digitalcompressed digital cushion. TheEXPERT ADVISORSflexor tendon sustains a tear, andlatter was noticeably thinner and cannot do its job, there. resembled a tenderized steaklightSue McDonnell, PhD, Cert. AAB;The clinic helped me prepare forbrown, limp, and easily maneuvered.Milt Toby, JDmy upcoming Pony Club certifica- It offered little to no support to the tion but didnt get into pathologyback of the hoof, she explained.FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS(disease or damage). Ive been aShe said hooves like this are moreChrista Lest-Lasserre, MA; Katie Navarra; Stacey Oke, student of equine anatomy everlikely to distort and not functionDVM, MSc; Diane Rice; Heather Smith Thomas; Doug since, referring to illustrations andoptimallythink underrun heelsThal, DVM, Dipl. ABVPphotos and examining preservedand contracted heels and frogsandADVERTISING SALES AND SERVICES cross-sections of limbs on display atexplored possible causes, from ge- advertise@TheHorse.comveterinary conferences. Ive alwaysnetics and environment to constant been struck by the mystery of howcompression or lack of stimulation.Advertising Executive:these relatively small structures canPoss has learned about hooves notYvonne Long handle the weight and movement ofonly by what she sees but what she859/276-6701ylong@TheHorse.coman 1,100-pound horse.feels. Then I went to the NEAEP sym- I encourage you to read theSales Support:posium where Poss, a longtime hoofNEAEP articles and look at photosNicol Hunt, 859/276-6740 nhunt@TheHorse.com care provider who has studied anato- to better understand whats going on my and performed thousands of hoofin your horses feet, and have discus- PUBLISHED BY dissections, showed us beautiful pho- sions with your farrier and veteri-tos and associated videos of caudalnarian about how you can change structures (TheHorse.com/182896)themif neededfor the better.hOWNED BYTOBA MEDIA PROPERTIES @TheHorse @TheHorse @TheHorseMag Board of Directors:Everett Dobson, Dan Metzger, Rosendo Parra,Dr. J. David Richardson, Peter WillmottBAD PONY CREATIVE EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY6February 2020The Horse|TheHorse.comViewpoint_Feb.indd 6 1/3/20 9:58 AM'