Page 1135 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

Foot Care and Farriery 1101

Any one or a combination of the above factors may Finally, the surface upon which the horse is kept and
dictate the necessity for shoes. The decision also depends exercised influences the wear on the feet. A hard or
VetBooks.ir tions, and the type of hoof care the horse receives, espe­ soft, deformable footing.
abrasive surface, such as sand, is not as forgiving as a
on the intended use of the horse, the owners’ expecta­
The need for traction on certain ground conditions
cially during the transition period from shod to barefoot.
Much of the horse industry is involved in competitive such as wet grass can also dictate the choice of barefoot
athletic disciplines, and the question arises, “Can this vs. shod. Shoes themselves act as a traction device by
horse compete and perform at a given standard without providing additional cup to the horse’s foot. Shoes, and
shoes?” various traction devices that are added to shoes, allow
Wear vs. hoof wall growth takes into consideration horses to hold their footing, prevent slippage, enhance
the genetics and breed of the horse, structure and con­ propulsion with the hindfeet, and improve overall per­
formation of the hoof, working surface, farriery prac­ formance in competitions such as eventing, jumping,
tices, and, most importantly, the horse’s intended use, all steeplechase racing, and polo. Winter equestrian sports
of which influence wear of the feet. The quality and such as fox hunting are aided by traction devices because
integrity of the structures of the foot is usually the deter­ of the diverse weather and footing conditions. Traction
mining factor. devices protect the horse and give the horse and rider
Maintaining the horse barefoot is best accomplished confidence while performing. Often overlooked is the
when—or potentially when—the hoof wall is thick and fact that they also protect the rider, whether trail riding
solid, there is good sole depth, and there are soft tissue or competing. Borium or studs provide additional safety
structures in the palmar/plantar section of the foot that from slippage and allow a horse to be ridden, to pull a
are of sufficient mass. Breeding practices have influ­ carriage up and down hills, or to pull a sleigh on snow
enced the structure of the feet, and unfortunately, this and ice.
has not always been for the better. Quarter horses have Sliding plates used in reining horses may be consid­
been bred for fashion, whereas Thoroughbreds have ered anti‐traction devices because they decrease the fric­
been bred for speed, and the result is often poor‐quality tion between the ground and the hoof.
feet. Usually, and especially in Thoroughbreds, the foot Finally, therapeutic shoeing generally is a component
is often prevented from growing and maturing into a of or sometimes even the entire treatment for lameness
so‐called good or functional foot due to husbandry or localized to the foot. Lameness results from repetitive
training practices. 14 stresses or overload placed on a given structure(s) of the
Hoof development, particularly during the first 3 hoof capsule or within the hoof, leading to damage.
years, depends on stimulation from regular exercise and Shoes can be used to change the forces/stresses on a
turnout. Yearlings are often shod for sales for purely given structure and unload damaged areas of the foot.
cosmetic reasons or in an attempt to alter faulty foot They are used for realignment of the distal phalanx in
conformation. The majority of racehorse’s feet remain laminitis, provide continuity of the hoof capsule after
healthy until the time they are broken and enter train­ resection in white line disease (WLD), stabilize hoof
ing, usually as 2‐year‐olds. As training begins, the hoof cracks and distal phalanx fractures, and provide protec­
capsule and its related structures are still immature, the tion following a puncture wound or foot surgery.
animal is confined to a stall or small paddock with exer­ Angular or flexural deformities in young horses may be
cise severely limited, a rider is placed on its back that treated or aided by several types of shoes.
leads to additional weight‐bearing on the feet, and the A transition period to allow the foot to adapt is gen­
horse begins to work. Training leads to abnormal erally needed when changing from shod to barefoot.
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stresses being placed on an underdeveloped foot along The hoof wall must toughen and the sole must become
with excessive wear. Next, the horse shows discomfort, thicker and stronger to compensate for not wearing
and shoes are then placed on the feet for protection. The shoes. Horses are much easier to maintain in a barefoot
first thing that happens when shoes are applied is that manner if they have never had shoes. Another factor in
the solar surface of the foot loses contact with the the transition period is the length of time that the horse
ground and its ability to adapt. Furthermore, the method has worn shoes; this affects the length of time needed for
of foot trimming and the size and placement of shoes by the horse to develop the necessary sole protection once
the farrier must be considered. the shoes are removed. Often, the foot structures have
The combination of the above factors can and often inadequate mass or are irreversibly damaged and thus
does change the structures of the foot forever, or the fac­ incapable of adaptation.
tors can lead to a weak foot that is hard to maintain The horse should be taken out of work if a decision is
without shoes. Taking a digital photo of a horse’s foot at made to remove the shoes. The author recommends a
the start of training and then taking another photo 6 30‐ to 90‐day transition period during which time the
months to a year later and comparing the difference can structures of the horse’s feet can toughen and adapt to
confirm this observation. The feet are often over‐ going without shoes. At this point hoof care changes
trimmed and shoes are placed on young horses too early from trimming the foot to shaping the foot. The only
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and often unnecessarily if just a few modifications were tools necessary are a wire brush and a rasp. Nothing is
made to the farriery and the training program to allow removed from the bottom of the foot. Using a rasp, the
the feet to continue to develop. heels are moved back to the base of the frog (when pos­
The anticipated exercise program is also a key factor. sible) such that the heels of the hoof wall and the frog
Many horses fare well without shoes, if they are not are on the same plane. Unlike when applying shoes, the
asked to perform. Whereas light riding of barefoot hoof wall is rasped on an angle (instead of a flat plane)
horses may be feasible, competition may not be possible. to create a rounded edge. The angle of the hoof wall is