Hoof Care–Addressing the Individual
Scott E. Morrison, DVM
November 15, 2011
The manner in which we deal with equine hoof problems (shoes/no shoes) depends on the individual case.
The manner in which we deal with equine hoof problems (shoes/no shoes) depends on the individual case.
Healthy hooves are paramount to a horse’s soundness. This fact sheet lists some common hoof problems, such as hoof abscesses, quarter cracks, bruises, navicular syndrome, underrun heels, and thrush, and how to identify, manage and prevent them.
A horse’s genetics, trimming, and diet have a great impact on bare foot health.
Buttercup needs special glue-on shoes that only attach to the outside of her foot to provide support to her
Lameness caused by quarter cracks is a nemesis of horses and owners, and treatment is often complex.
Dr. Scott Morrison of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital discusses the different shoeing needs of high-performance horses.
Foot lameness in horses was the topic of two separate Table Topics during the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., in early December. About 100 veterinarians attended each session.
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Knowing how the hoof is built and what it is capable of can help you understand what it needs to stay healthy and recover if compromised.
Evaluating what trimming/shoeing these horses need requires a combination of gait evaluation; hoof tester examination; discussion of the horse’s history with the owner, trainer, and veterinarian; and evaluation of the wear patterns of the old shoes.
Researchers examined the effects of uneven feet on equine performance and linked this to other faults.
“Breakover (defined as the moment the heels lift off the ground) is very much affected by the surface the horse works on,” began Hans Castelijns, DVM, Certified Farrier, of Cortona, Italy, during the “Putting Science into Farriery” session at th
Glue-on shoes and other materials are indicated for cases of poor hoof quality or repeated shoe loss, or for crack repair, rebuilding a hoof, and preventing wear, began Bryan Fraley, DVM, of Veterinary Podiatry Associates in Harrodsburg, Ky., wh
Equine practitioners are often asked for their opinion and input because owners often read or are told that having a horse barefoot is far superior to having him shod and that it’s the only acceptable method of hoof care.
Belknap remarked on the latest research showing that laminitis is an intense inflammatory injury of the foot and is no longer believed to be solely a blood flow problem.
Why might one horse suffer from injury to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in the navicular area while another doesn’t? A recent study suggests that the angle of the DDFT as it passes over the navicular bone might have a lot to do with it.
There are many kinds of horseshoes; try to select shoes well suited to your horse’s work. While a horse with a problem may need a farrier to create a special shoe, many horses get along fine with factory-made shoes.
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