Can I ride my horse while he is transitioning?
I'm often asked, "can I ride my horse?" when I've explained the damages inside the hoof that we will be trying to heal. Generally, if your horse is lame, he is better off moving. The blood circulation that comes with movement can heal faster than any medicine. But you have to use common sense. If there is obvious heat in the feet, I suggest leading them as extra weight can put stress on the weakened heated lamina. Use the Davis soaking boots and carry a bottle of cool water for refilling to keep the water in the boot from getting too hot. Even when the horse looks like he can't take a step, he will feel better when he has some exercise, and moving the blood in and out of the hoof is restorative to the tissues. But remember, NO TIGHT TURNS. That would torque the lamina. And LEVEL, FIRM, SMOOTH GROUND. Pavement works great. You will find your horse will object to rough pavement but be very happy on smooth pavement. Use boots with an insert if you can't find smooth pavement. I'm lucky to live next to a high school with a rubber track (see photo) Soft wet ground is not good for rehabbing. Think of the fact that what you want is for the hoof capsule to expand upon weight-bearing.
You can ride your rehab if his feet are not hot and you are relatively light-weight. As the new connection begins to lift the coffin bone, you will see an obvious concavity and the horse will feel alot better. DO NOT jump or gallop until at least three or four months from the time when you see this concavity. The new connection will take two months to grow a half inch which is usually enough to lift the coffin bone but the connection is still fragile. If I have trimmed your horse to de-contract, this creates instability in the hoof capsule's attachment to the coffin bone and does not need an extreme weight-bearing event (like landing from a jump or gallop) which would damage the fragile attachment. And remember, even a healthy footed horse can founder from galloping or jumping on hard ground when they are not used to it. Think of conditioning only after the connection has fully grown in. Then you need to know how much coffin bone you have left to provide performance. More than 20% coffin bone loss means that the horse will never be a performance horse but will be fine for light riding. This can be determined by an Xray.
One of my favorite rehab riding places is from Gibson Park on Wendover West between I-40 and Penny Road. It is a paved trail that goes through woods and beside a creek. It has some hills and you will see bikers and hikers but it is great for smooth paved trail. Even with healthy footed horses, I like the fact that I can ride on these type trails and help condition my horses feet.
You can ride your rehab if his feet are not hot and you are relatively light-weight. As the new connection begins to lift the coffin bone, you will see an obvious concavity and the horse will feel alot better. DO NOT jump or gallop until at least three or four months from the time when you see this concavity. The new connection will take two months to grow a half inch which is usually enough to lift the coffin bone but the connection is still fragile. If I have trimmed your horse to de-contract, this creates instability in the hoof capsule's attachment to the coffin bone and does not need an extreme weight-bearing event (like landing from a jump or gallop) which would damage the fragile attachment. And remember, even a healthy footed horse can founder from galloping or jumping on hard ground when they are not used to it. Think of conditioning only after the connection has fully grown in. Then you need to know how much coffin bone you have left to provide performance. More than 20% coffin bone loss means that the horse will never be a performance horse but will be fine for light riding. This can be determined by an Xray.
One of my favorite rehab riding places is from Gibson Park on Wendover West between I-40 and Penny Road. It is a paved trail that goes through woods and beside a creek. It has some hills and you will see bikers and hikers but it is great for smooth paved trail. Even with healthy footed horses, I like the fact that I can ride on these type trails and help condition my horses feet.
Why is my horse so sensitive to little rocks?
Most of the time, when I begin trimming your horse with significant necrotic tissues within the hoof, there will be times when they are very sensitive to point pressure: rocks. When the foot is in a contracted state, the laminar and solar corium are very deprived of circulation. In order to have nerve function, there must be circulation. In order to have healthy tissues, there must be circulation. Owners of shod horses have enjoyed riding their horses, which have very little if any sensation in their feet. It may take several years for shoes to produce the kind of damage which leads to navicular syndrome, founder or other lameness. Then they learn about healing their horses by going barefoot they have to learn about circulation and nerve function. This can be a very involved rehabilitation for a very damaged hoof. As the body begins rebuilding corium in the sole, frog and laminar regions, it can be excruciatingly painful. We know that the internal structures of support for the horse's weight is the velcro-like lamina. This laminar horn is created by the laminar corium which is a capillary bed that has nerves. The sole corium also has nerves. In fact, Dr. Bowker, a researcher who studies horse's feet, has made the discovery that there are more nerves in the foot than there are in the brain! Just like the human body, these nerves only function with good circulation. So while your horse may seem overly sensitive to rocks while making the transition to good barefoot health, keep in mind that his body is reconstructing important tissues!
Why is your trim different for different horses?
Most of the time, I am trimming a foot for a horse that does not have good attachment or suspension of the coffin bone. I have to adjust my trimming for the individual horse AND the owner.
It all boils down to balance and health of all parts of the hoof and horse. This includes not only the visible wall horn, bar, sole and frog, but the laminar horn, the coriums, bone and soft connective tissues as well. A healthy hoof is not invincible! I still recommend boots if the horse is not accustomed to extremely rocky ground. And it doesn't matter what trim you use or even if your horse has shoes, they are still vulnerable to toxins which can cause laminitis or injury. The difference is how quickly they can bounce back from a bout of laminitis or injury and grow back in a healthy attachment.
The photos below show the difference in a few months of trimming and rehabilitation soaking and walking. You can clearly see the dead-looking black pinched frog and bulb in the first photo. The second photo shows the nice pink healthy tissue of the bulbs and some decontraction as well. This kind of transition from necrotic to healthy tissues is brought about through trimming for good flexible hoof function. ( the improved foot still has a long way to go!)
It all boils down to balance and health of all parts of the hoof and horse. This includes not only the visible wall horn, bar, sole and frog, but the laminar horn, the coriums, bone and soft connective tissues as well. A healthy hoof is not invincible! I still recommend boots if the horse is not accustomed to extremely rocky ground. And it doesn't matter what trim you use or even if your horse has shoes, they are still vulnerable to toxins which can cause laminitis or injury. The difference is how quickly they can bounce back from a bout of laminitis or injury and grow back in a healthy attachment.
The photos below show the difference in a few months of trimming and rehabilitation soaking and walking. You can clearly see the dead-looking black pinched frog and bulb in the first photo. The second photo shows the nice pink healthy tissue of the bulbs and some decontraction as well. This kind of transition from necrotic to healthy tissues is brought about through trimming for good flexible hoof function. ( the improved foot still has a long way to go!)
Why are the bars trimmed?
Some trim methods leave too much bar material and this can lead to impacted bars. There is the mistaken belief among farriers and some barefoot trimmers that the horse should be weight-bearing on the bars, even while standing; that they support the horse's weight. When the bars are correctly trimmed on a healthy foot, they are below the level of the wall horn. The bars are supposed to act as a stop and to add traction to the heels. They keep the hoof from over-expanding upon landing from a jump. The anatomy of the foot, the circulation to the bar horn growth corium is very good while the circulation to the toe horn laminar corium must travel through the coffin bone and if the heels and bars are too high or long, this pinches the circulation thru the coffin bone. In wild areas like the American west, feral horses do not need their bars and heels trimmed because they are moving constantly over abrasive ground. But in our soft grassy pastures, bars are like teenagers...give them and inch and they'll take a mile!
When the bar horn continues to grow without being worn away by abrasive ground, they continue to grow. Because the horn tubules can slide up and down, the bars can be pushed up higher in the hoof capsule than can be seen easily. It is important to take the hook of the knife and pull the frog back so that the full length of the bar can be seen.
In severely contracted feet, the bar can fuse with the sole and frog. Until the foot begins to expand, the amount of bar pushed into the hoof cannot be accurately determined. Also, in under-run heels, the bar tubules can fuse with the sole horn tubules forming a mix of bar and sole horn which may fan out over the sole forming a "false sole". Specific trimming techniques are necessary to allow the bar to grow in it's proper position and porportion.
Bar pain superscedes all other pain in the foot! (Except a very large abscess)
This means that a horse will choose to walk on his toe, even with his coffin bone coming through the sole, before landing heel-first on painful bars. WHY? Because there is more nerve function and circulation in the back half of the foot than there is in the toe. And, as soon as the heels are even moderately high, the blood circulation to the toe is cut off. Nerves do not function without blood circulation. That is how your foot can go numb when blood circulation is temporarily cut off from pressure. As soon as circulation returns, the tingling of nerves can be felt.
A shod horse has the blood circulation disrupted by both pressure, temperature and the angle of a high heel. Since metal conducts cold, metabolism (blood flow, nerve function, exchange of nurtients and waste products in cell tissue) cannot function. Tissue dies. Since the hoof contains some of the most vascular areas of the horse's body, this means death for many parts of the corium.
So-called "orthopedic shoes" put even more pressure and create more damage but cut off circulation even more so it's not felt.
A barefoot horse will be able to feel the pain of ingrown bars like we feel ingrown toenails.
Unfortunately, heel pain is called "navicular disease" and most veterinarians are not schooled in holistic hoof care. They tend to leave hoofcare to the farrier.
And farrier's know that most of their income comes from shoeing lame but usable horses. (see American Farriers' Journal editorial November 2000) In this article, Walt Taylor, World Farrier's Association president states that of the world's horse population, no more than 10 percent are clinically sound. 10 percent are lame and unusable while the remaining 80% are "lame but usable" That means that 90% of all domestic horses in the world are lame!
If I simply trim the excess bar horn, the horse becomes relieved of heel pain, circulation returns to the toe, and damage there can begin to heal. It is simple and inexpensive. It is holistic.
The bar should NOT be weight-bearing unless the horse is landing from a jump or gallop stride, in which case, the bars act a skid brakes, keeping the hoof capsule from over-expanding.
In rehab cases, there may be specific instances where the bar is trimmed very shallow to allow the hoof to de-contract. This is the precise condition in which my experience and education prepared me to handle.
When the bar horn continues to grow without being worn away by abrasive ground, they continue to grow. Because the horn tubules can slide up and down, the bars can be pushed up higher in the hoof capsule than can be seen easily. It is important to take the hook of the knife and pull the frog back so that the full length of the bar can be seen.
In severely contracted feet, the bar can fuse with the sole and frog. Until the foot begins to expand, the amount of bar pushed into the hoof cannot be accurately determined. Also, in under-run heels, the bar tubules can fuse with the sole horn tubules forming a mix of bar and sole horn which may fan out over the sole forming a "false sole". Specific trimming techniques are necessary to allow the bar to grow in it's proper position and porportion.
Bar pain superscedes all other pain in the foot! (Except a very large abscess)
This means that a horse will choose to walk on his toe, even with his coffin bone coming through the sole, before landing heel-first on painful bars. WHY? Because there is more nerve function and circulation in the back half of the foot than there is in the toe. And, as soon as the heels are even moderately high, the blood circulation to the toe is cut off. Nerves do not function without blood circulation. That is how your foot can go numb when blood circulation is temporarily cut off from pressure. As soon as circulation returns, the tingling of nerves can be felt.
A shod horse has the blood circulation disrupted by both pressure, temperature and the angle of a high heel. Since metal conducts cold, metabolism (blood flow, nerve function, exchange of nurtients and waste products in cell tissue) cannot function. Tissue dies. Since the hoof contains some of the most vascular areas of the horse's body, this means death for many parts of the corium.
So-called "orthopedic shoes" put even more pressure and create more damage but cut off circulation even more so it's not felt.
A barefoot horse will be able to feel the pain of ingrown bars like we feel ingrown toenails.
Unfortunately, heel pain is called "navicular disease" and most veterinarians are not schooled in holistic hoof care. They tend to leave hoofcare to the farrier.
And farrier's know that most of their income comes from shoeing lame but usable horses. (see American Farriers' Journal editorial November 2000) In this article, Walt Taylor, World Farrier's Association president states that of the world's horse population, no more than 10 percent are clinically sound. 10 percent are lame and unusable while the remaining 80% are "lame but usable" That means that 90% of all domestic horses in the world are lame!
If I simply trim the excess bar horn, the horse becomes relieved of heel pain, circulation returns to the toe, and damage there can begin to heal. It is simple and inexpensive. It is holistic.
The bar should NOT be weight-bearing unless the horse is landing from a jump or gallop stride, in which case, the bars act a skid brakes, keeping the hoof capsule from over-expanding.
In rehab cases, there may be specific instances where the bar is trimmed very shallow to allow the hoof to de-contract. This is the precise condition in which my experience and education prepared me to handle.
Why are shoes so bad?
A shod horse has the blood circulation disrupted by both pressure, temperature and the angle of a high heel. Since metal conducts cold, metabolism (blood flow, nerve function, exchange of nurtients and waste products in cell tissue) cannot function. Tissue dies. Since the hoof contains some of the most vascular areas of the horse's body, this means death for many parts of the corium.
So-called "orthopedic shoes" put even more pressure and create more damage.
A barefoot horse will be able to feel the pain of ingrown bars like we feel ingrown toenails.
Unfortunately, heel pain is called "navicular disease" and most veterinarians are not schooled in holistic hoof care. They tend to leave hoofcare to the farrier.
Lameness is the number one loss-of-use reason for insurance claims. According to the World Farrier's Assoc. president, 90 % of all domestic horses are lame! 80% of those are usable (as long as they are shod so that they can not feel their feet!).
So-called "orthopedic shoes" put even more pressure and create more damage.
A barefoot horse will be able to feel the pain of ingrown bars like we feel ingrown toenails.
Unfortunately, heel pain is called "navicular disease" and most veterinarians are not schooled in holistic hoof care. They tend to leave hoofcare to the farrier.
Lameness is the number one loss-of-use reason for insurance claims. According to the World Farrier's Assoc. president, 90 % of all domestic horses are lame! 80% of those are usable (as long as they are shod so that they can not feel their feet!).
Why is barefoot better?
Not only do healthy feet absorb 80% of shock (metal shoes INCREASE shock!), they also metabolically function to support the kidneys, liver and heart. Heart attacks are common among horses that were stalled and shod most of their lives, especially performance stallions. I know of 3 stallions that died at the ages of around 14 yrs. from heart attacks. The majority of horse professionals have yet to make the connection that a stall kept stallion in shoes, when taken barefoot and to the breeding shed, is at risk of heart attack or stroke. The damage done to the heart by shoeing and stall-keeping is often irreversable. Many horses suffer from joint problems at an early age if they are shod. And shoeing before the age of 5 permanently deforms the bones of the feet similar to the effect foot binding has on Chinese children. Barefoot horses on average live 3 times as long as shod stall-kept horses!
Barefoot horses can do anything that shod horses can do. The difficulty most people have understanding about barefoot is in understanding how the hoof should be trimmed and the length of time it takes to transition from poor hoof shape and health, to good hoof shape and function.
And unfortunately, most horses, even ones that have been barefoot but trimmed infrequently or incorrectly, OR that have been kept in soft ground conditions with little movement, ALREADY have seriously pathologically deformed feet. Also there are other factors affecting the hoof horn and quality that are often a result of some kind of toxicity in the horse's body. And genetics DOES play a factor in the quality of hoof horn. Just like some people have weak fingernails and some people have strong ones; likewise some horses have weak hooves and some have hard ones. I have found that horses with very fine haircoats and thin skin also have weak hooves. Every effort should be made with these kinds of horses that they be fed the kind of supplements that will help their body to produce quality horn.
Barefoot horses can do anything that shod horses can do. The difficulty most people have understanding about barefoot is in understanding how the hoof should be trimmed and the length of time it takes to transition from poor hoof shape and health, to good hoof shape and function.
And unfortunately, most horses, even ones that have been barefoot but trimmed infrequently or incorrectly, OR that have been kept in soft ground conditions with little movement, ALREADY have seriously pathologically deformed feet. Also there are other factors affecting the hoof horn and quality that are often a result of some kind of toxicity in the horse's body. And genetics DOES play a factor in the quality of hoof horn. Just like some people have weak fingernails and some people have strong ones; likewise some horses have weak hooves and some have hard ones. I have found that horses with very fine haircoats and thin skin also have weak hooves. Every effort should be made with these kinds of horses that they be fed the kind of supplements that will help their body to produce quality horn.
What is Toe Height?
A foot that lacks toe height
This hoof is very flat with under-run heels. The horn quality is weak and the foot is prone to injury due to lack of toe height.
A foot that has good toe height
This hoof has good quality horn and good concavity. The coffin bone is well-suspended.
What is TOE HEIGHT? Not to be confused with toe length, Toe height is a measurable way you can determine the suspension of the coffin bone. When a hoof has good toe height, it has good concavity, good laminar attachment and general health. With the other measurements in place (30 degree hairline, and a toe angle of 45 to 50 on fronts and 55 hinds) one cm (about 1/2 inch) of concavity, as well as a good toe/coronet angle (105 fronts and 95 hinds) then you should have good toe height.
Why would you not have good toe height? If the coffin bone has been tipped forward, it shears the laminar attachment and sinks down. You can see the hairline at the toe/coronet is dragged down in these cases (see the photo just below). Also, if there has been a significant inflammatory event (inflammation of the lamina can come from retained placenta, drugs, vaccinations, wormer drugs, too much feed, too much green grass or unusually hard use) laminar attachment is lost and the coffin bone can sink (to a lesser or greater degree).
How do I determine Toe Height? there are specific bone landmarks as well as the hairline and other measurements mentioned above, that determine toe height but looking at the hoof from the side (photo) helps.
How can I get Toe Height once it has been lost? That's the sometimes difficult task! If the coffin bone has been significantly destroyed and the lamina stretched through many laminitis events, it becomes increasingly difficult. On very flat footed horses with under-run heels, it is really difficult. It requires frequent knowledgeable corrective trimming and clinic or clinic-like conditions. The bars and heels in a flat under-run hoof have to be trimmed very short so that they can be trained to stand up. The tubules and the papilla that grow the tubules of horn must be reoriented towards the ground. It may seem counterintuitive to trim a flat hoof's heels and bars so low but with the toe height being short, you have to get the angle of the coffin bone ground parallel in order to grow the tighter attachment which will lift the bone up. When the toe is backed up to keep the breakover from pulling on the laminar attachment, you have to be sure to leave the toe quarters intact. These kinds of corrections can be virtually impossible to maintain on abbrasive ground. A boot can be used to keep the toe quarters from wearing while allowing the breakover to be eased back if a clinic is not in the budget. Still constantly readjusting the trim is necessary.
Why would you not have good toe height? If the coffin bone has been tipped forward, it shears the laminar attachment and sinks down. You can see the hairline at the toe/coronet is dragged down in these cases (see the photo just below). Also, if there has been a significant inflammatory event (inflammation of the lamina can come from retained placenta, drugs, vaccinations, wormer drugs, too much feed, too much green grass or unusually hard use) laminar attachment is lost and the coffin bone can sink (to a lesser or greater degree).
How do I determine Toe Height? there are specific bone landmarks as well as the hairline and other measurements mentioned above, that determine toe height but looking at the hoof from the side (photo) helps.
How can I get Toe Height once it has been lost? That's the sometimes difficult task! If the coffin bone has been significantly destroyed and the lamina stretched through many laminitis events, it becomes increasingly difficult. On very flat footed horses with under-run heels, it is really difficult. It requires frequent knowledgeable corrective trimming and clinic or clinic-like conditions. The bars and heels in a flat under-run hoof have to be trimmed very short so that they can be trained to stand up. The tubules and the papilla that grow the tubules of horn must be reoriented towards the ground. It may seem counterintuitive to trim a flat hoof's heels and bars so low but with the toe height being short, you have to get the angle of the coffin bone ground parallel in order to grow the tighter attachment which will lift the bone up. When the toe is backed up to keep the breakover from pulling on the laminar attachment, you have to be sure to leave the toe quarters intact. These kinds of corrections can be virtually impossible to maintain on abbrasive ground. A boot can be used to keep the toe quarters from wearing while allowing the breakover to be eased back if a clinic is not in the budget. Still constantly readjusting the trim is necessary.
Toe dragged down by coffin bone being tipped forward
The excess long lateral wall and heel can be seen here. That along with high bars has led to an imbalance in the hoof capsule. Along with insulin resistance, which led to inflammation that has weakened the attachment and a wrinkle in the hoof wall can be seen at the hairline. Below is after the trim to rebalance the coffin bone within the hoof. The heels, bars and medial and lateral walls were trimmed and the toe was rasped back.
How Often Should I Have my Horse Trimmed?
I highly recommend trimming a healthy foot at least every 4 to 6 weeks. Many people touch up their horse's feet every two weeks. In pathological cases where we are trying to return a horse's foot shape to a more functional one, then it is necessary to trim at least every two weeks if not more often. In these cases, if the owner can learn to keep the toes back and heels down in between my visits, then there's no reason why that can't work. Mainly the owner needs to understand that the trim is only a part of the rehab picture. Walking, soaking and supportive therapies like massage and chiropractic are also necessary.
Wall horn generally grows at a rate of 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month (bar horn even faster). If there is inflammation due to pathology, then it is necessary to trim more often due to faster growth, which is usually uneven (heels grow faster than toes). Joint adaptation can compromise the ability of the hoof to hold the correct shape. The joints will need therapy to allow them to cope with the more correct and healthy hoof shape. This therapy usually is in the form of lots of movement on firm, smooth level surfaces. I like to use a rubber running track if possible but it may be necessary to take your horse to a paved road and use boots. Also the hoof needs to be soaked frequently to allow it to be as flexible as possible so that the road work will more easily reshape the foot.
Shod feet have reduced metabolism and growth due to the cold and restrictiveness of the metal shoe. The problem with returning the hoof to health is that more damage can be done to the internal structures, particularly the coffin bone, if the foot goes too long between trims. Introducing blood flow to damaged structures causes the dead material to be abscessed out. While the foot was shod, the dead material wasn't ad by the body. Then when blood is reintroduced, the body's defences attack the dead material with white blood cells. Often an x-ray of a shod foot shows bone that is dead. When the blood returns to that area, it dissolves the dead bone away. The balance of the foot must be maintained or the constant change in balance from going too long between trims causes deformation and dissolving of the coffin bone.
Wall horn generally grows at a rate of 1/4 to 1/2 inch per month (bar horn even faster). If there is inflammation due to pathology, then it is necessary to trim more often due to faster growth, which is usually uneven (heels grow faster than toes). Joint adaptation can compromise the ability of the hoof to hold the correct shape. The joints will need therapy to allow them to cope with the more correct and healthy hoof shape. This therapy usually is in the form of lots of movement on firm, smooth level surfaces. I like to use a rubber running track if possible but it may be necessary to take your horse to a paved road and use boots. Also the hoof needs to be soaked frequently to allow it to be as flexible as possible so that the road work will more easily reshape the foot.
Shod feet have reduced metabolism and growth due to the cold and restrictiveness of the metal shoe. The problem with returning the hoof to health is that more damage can be done to the internal structures, particularly the coffin bone, if the foot goes too long between trims. Introducing blood flow to damaged structures causes the dead material to be abscessed out. While the foot was shod, the dead material wasn't ad by the body. Then when blood is reintroduced, the body's defences attack the dead material with white blood cells. Often an x-ray of a shod foot shows bone that is dead. When the blood returns to that area, it dissolves the dead bone away. The balance of the foot must be maintained or the constant change in balance from going too long between trims causes deformation and dissolving of the coffin bone.
What is the role of the frog? I've heard it is a "blood pump"?
The most common misconception is that the frog pumps blood. If you ever have an occasion to see a dissection on a cadaver hoof, you will see that the frog has no significant circulatory pumping mechanism. It is not a blood pump!
It's purpose is as an expansion joint for the hoof capsule. As the horse weights the foot, the walls of the hoof capsule expand outward. Internally, above the frog, is the digital cushion. This is made of fiberous tissue which connects the lateral cartilages and acts as a sling for the descending deep flexor tendon, the short pastern and navicular bone. Imagine one person representing the short pastern falling backwards into a towel representing the digital cushion, being held on either side by two other people representing the lateral cartilages and you get a visual idea. So this structure, the deep digital cushion or some would prefer it be called the 'digital sling', is very important to the expansion of the hoof. The problems come when the hoof is not allowed to expand via shoes, improper trimming, contraction issues and/or high bars. It's kind of a "use it or lose it" thing.
The frog horn is often compared to the pad of other mammals, like a camel. But that is somewhat misleading too. In equines, the frog is less a pad than it is an expansion joint. In horses that evolved in wetland or soft ground environments like draft horses, the frog is full and weight-bearing as the hoof is easily expanded and a wider foot is better for distributing weight on soft ground. The frog horn protects the deep digital cushion and so needs proper circulation to grow healthy. If the bars grow high or long, this pinches the arteries that feed the frog. Anytime there is damage or poor circulation to any living tissue, there is necrosis (death) of the tissue. This dead tissue is the perfect food for bacteria and fungi. Much like various fungi grows on dead limbs of a tree, it is important to prune this material away. and treat the tree with a fungicide. With the horse's hoof, the important thing is to re-establish good blood flow to the area by trimming the bars and heels to allow proper balance and function of the foot. Soaking in a weak solution of apple cider vinegar (about 1:5 ratio) and water for a while each day will kill the bacteria and fungi, while providing the proper pH for healthy tissue regeneration. It is important to get the fungus and bacteria under control as damage from thrush can be the cause of lameness.
It's purpose is as an expansion joint for the hoof capsule. As the horse weights the foot, the walls of the hoof capsule expand outward. Internally, above the frog, is the digital cushion. This is made of fiberous tissue which connects the lateral cartilages and acts as a sling for the descending deep flexor tendon, the short pastern and navicular bone. Imagine one person representing the short pastern falling backwards into a towel representing the digital cushion, being held on either side by two other people representing the lateral cartilages and you get a visual idea. So this structure, the deep digital cushion or some would prefer it be called the 'digital sling', is very important to the expansion of the hoof. The problems come when the hoof is not allowed to expand via shoes, improper trimming, contraction issues and/or high bars. It's kind of a "use it or lose it" thing.
The frog horn is often compared to the pad of other mammals, like a camel. But that is somewhat misleading too. In equines, the frog is less a pad than it is an expansion joint. In horses that evolved in wetland or soft ground environments like draft horses, the frog is full and weight-bearing as the hoof is easily expanded and a wider foot is better for distributing weight on soft ground. The frog horn protects the deep digital cushion and so needs proper circulation to grow healthy. If the bars grow high or long, this pinches the arteries that feed the frog. Anytime there is damage or poor circulation to any living tissue, there is necrosis (death) of the tissue. This dead tissue is the perfect food for bacteria and fungi. Much like various fungi grows on dead limbs of a tree, it is important to prune this material away. and treat the tree with a fungicide. With the horse's hoof, the important thing is to re-establish good blood flow to the area by trimming the bars and heels to allow proper balance and function of the foot. Soaking in a weak solution of apple cider vinegar (about 1:5 ratio) and water for a while each day will kill the bacteria and fungi, while providing the proper pH for healthy tissue regeneration. It is important to get the fungus and bacteria under control as damage from thrush can be the cause of lameness.
What is the "scoop" and how is it used?
First, a scoop is the cut into the lateral and medial walls that arches the wall. Scoops were first noted in wild horses' feet and were "instituted" into the Strasser trim method back in 2003. The lateral and medial walls should have ground contact when the horse is fully weight-bearing on that foot. A shallow scoop would be all that a healthy hoof needs. But a hoof that needs a deeper scoop may have an arched up hairline. The important thing to remember is to understand the difference when the lateral hairline is arched up and when the toe hairline is dragged down due to the coffin bone being tipped forward.
Also, too deep or long a scoop in a shallow hoof with limited concavity can cause a loss of toe height. Toe height is very important. The toe quarters should only be trimmed very rarely. They are the pillars of support for the front half of the foot; so much so that some horse shoes are designed to use these points as the breakover. Most horses feet suffer from not enough toe height. Unless they are seriously over-grown or very contracted, concavity in the hoof is something that needs to be preserved. Which is why we need to make sure the scoop doesn't go to far forward.
Also, too deep or long a scoop in a shallow hoof with limited concavity can cause a loss of toe height. Toe height is very important. The toe quarters should only be trimmed very rarely. They are the pillars of support for the front half of the foot; so much so that some horse shoes are designed to use these points as the breakover. Most horses feet suffer from not enough toe height. Unless they are seriously over-grown or very contracted, concavity in the hoof is something that needs to be preserved. Which is why we need to make sure the scoop doesn't go to far forward.
What is concavity and why is it important?
True concavity is dictated by the height at which the coffin bone is held up within the hoof capsule and the concavity in the coffin bone itself. Now, I have had foundered horses that I know they no longer had any concavity left in their coffin bones! Check out Cody's feet. But ideally, you would like to preserve the coffin bone's natural concave shape and have a nice tight laminar connection with good suspension.
Many people wrongly believe that their hoof is concave when the bars have pushed the coffin bone forward. When the bars are high or long, and the heel is high or folded under the hoof, you will see the hairline arched up (sometimes this hairline arch can occur with excess lateral horn too. If that is the case, as soon as the scoops are made, the horn tubules will slide down and even out the hairline). This indicates that the coffin bone is pushed forward. Another indication is when you can see the lateral cartilages pushed up out of the hoof capsule. Since the laminar horn is attached to the coffin bone in the front half of the foot, farriers believe that there is no movement in the front half and that only the back half where the hoof wall is attached to the lateral cartilages moves. So that is their reasoning for saying shoeing doesn't do any harm to mechanism because they believe only the back half moves.They also have the conventional idea that blood is pumped out of the hoof during weight-bearing whereas in the Strasser model of mechanism, the blood is sucked into the laminar solar coriums.
In the Strasser model of hoof mechanism, the hoof capsule moves outward from the toe to the heels. Also as the horse's weight sinks into the hoof, an arch in the hoof that is made up of both the concavity and the scoops on the lateral and medial walls and the trimmed bars, help the blood enter all parts of the laminar and solar corium, including the dorsal part of the hoof. These hoof mechanism models are still debated. But you can see for yourself what happens to the blood in the lamina of your own fingernail. Do the demonstration of pushing down on your fingertip. Watch as the blood enters when you put weight on the finger. Hoof mechanism works the same way! Now take your thumb and forefinger and push directly against the edge of the demo finger. Now you can see that the blood is pushed out as opposed to being pulled in. So if your horse is shod or hitting the ground toe first in a non-flexible hoof, the blood doesn't enter. If you've ever had fake fingernails put on your fingers you will know how that damages your nail lamina.
So if you have a balanced coffin bone that is well attached to the laminar horn with good toe height and concavity, and you have your barefoot trimmed to produce mechanism, the blood will enter all parts and help to grow a healthy hoof!
Many people wrongly believe that their hoof is concave when the bars have pushed the coffin bone forward. When the bars are high or long, and the heel is high or folded under the hoof, you will see the hairline arched up (sometimes this hairline arch can occur with excess lateral horn too. If that is the case, as soon as the scoops are made, the horn tubules will slide down and even out the hairline). This indicates that the coffin bone is pushed forward. Another indication is when you can see the lateral cartilages pushed up out of the hoof capsule. Since the laminar horn is attached to the coffin bone in the front half of the foot, farriers believe that there is no movement in the front half and that only the back half where the hoof wall is attached to the lateral cartilages moves. So that is their reasoning for saying shoeing doesn't do any harm to mechanism because they believe only the back half moves.They also have the conventional idea that blood is pumped out of the hoof during weight-bearing whereas in the Strasser model of mechanism, the blood is sucked into the laminar solar coriums.
In the Strasser model of hoof mechanism, the hoof capsule moves outward from the toe to the heels. Also as the horse's weight sinks into the hoof, an arch in the hoof that is made up of both the concavity and the scoops on the lateral and medial walls and the trimmed bars, help the blood enter all parts of the laminar and solar corium, including the dorsal part of the hoof. These hoof mechanism models are still debated. But you can see for yourself what happens to the blood in the lamina of your own fingernail. Do the demonstration of pushing down on your fingertip. Watch as the blood enters when you put weight on the finger. Hoof mechanism works the same way! Now take your thumb and forefinger and push directly against the edge of the demo finger. Now you can see that the blood is pushed out as opposed to being pulled in. So if your horse is shod or hitting the ground toe first in a non-flexible hoof, the blood doesn't enter. If you've ever had fake fingernails put on your fingers you will know how that damages your nail lamina.
So if you have a balanced coffin bone that is well attached to the laminar horn with good toe height and concavity, and you have your barefoot trimmed to produce mechanism, the blood will enter all parts and help to grow a healthy hoof!
Heard bad things about the Strasser trim?
Me too. Probably the most common criticism is that it is "invasive". Well, it is when employed to correct a pathologically damaged hoof! So is most conventional shoeing and veterinary treatments for lameness! But it is important to understand the difference in re-establishing health in the hoof and just covering over existing damage. Some veterinary treatments include surgery. How invasive is that compared to trimming the hoof?!?
But the stigma of Strasser's trim being invasive remains in people's minds. Both before and after I took the Strasser Hoof Professionals course I heard rumors of former SHPs in disagreement with some of her trim parameters. After several years of putting that trim method and mindset into practice, I can now say that I feel I know both the pros and cons. I don't do things exactly as I was taught and many of the SHPs do things differently.
First, I do believe the Strasser model of hoof mechanism is the way the hoof works. The blood ENTERS the coriums when the foot is fully loaded. This is contrary to several other models which show that the blood EXITS the hoof when the foot is fully loaded. You can demonstrate this with your own fingers. (see experiment above) When a hoof is shod and contracted with the coffin bone tipped forward pushing against the dorsal hoof wall, the latter model of blood exiting is probably true. The only corium that gets blood in the shod model is the coronary corium that feeds the hoof-wall-producing papillae. That is probably why the hoof wall can be in good shape while the laminar horn suffers. Since we have wild horses that demonstrate the ideal model of hoof shape, I believe it to be the most natural healthy shape. However, we do not keep horses in a similar environment as wild horses so we have to look to another model. The Strasser model is great for getting a hoof to recover from damage as a result of poor hoof form BUT once the hoof has recovered, I believe the Strasser trim may be too severe to keep a horse sound.
What about the Strasser trim parameters? (see my diagram on the Hoof Trimming page)
First the ground parallel coffin bone. I think that for most horses, a close to ground parallel coffin bone is healthy. However, an increase of 2 to 5 degrees for me is acceptable and desirable. Why? Because I believe that when the coffin bone is perfectly ground parallel in an x ray, the coffin joint may be hyperextended upon landing from a jump. I think that if you have a hyper-extended state every time the horse takes a step, you can have damage done to the various ligaments and tendons including the ones attaching the navicular bone. I believe that the bars are designed to stop the over-expansion of the hoof capsule and that as they do so in an extreme weight-bearing situation, the coffin bone should then reach its ground parallel moment. U don't see the Strasser model as a healthy hoof. It's just too flat.
One of the things I have discovered is that the Strasser trim parameters destabilize the coffin bone's dorsal attachment to the hoof capsule IF its already compromised. This is becoming more and more something I don't want to do. If the dorsal attachment has already a history of poor health, either through founder or shoes, I think it is best to be very careful not to remove all of the underpinnings of excess bar and sole as the Strasser trim does. Reversing contraction is a considerable undertaking. Of course if the coffin bone is already sunk in a hoof that is presented to me to trim, then I do employ most of the trim methods to reconnect the hoof.
One other thing. While de-contracting a foot, it is possible to fracture the palmar process. Never mind that this type of fracture is a common occurrance in shod horses (!?!) The fact that it may be a side effect of correcting a pathologically contracted hoof is not considered by Strasser to be of serious significance. For comparison, consider this scenario: if you had a child with deformed bones in her foot due to your forcing her to wear shoes that were too small and the doctor told you that in order to have her foot function properly as an adult, she would have to undergo a procedure which would essentially break the bone so that it could heal in a healthy direction. Would you do it, knowing full well that your child would suffer pain and have to go through rehabilitation? Some parents would and some wouldn't.
But the stigma of Strasser's trim being invasive remains in people's minds. Both before and after I took the Strasser Hoof Professionals course I heard rumors of former SHPs in disagreement with some of her trim parameters. After several years of putting that trim method and mindset into practice, I can now say that I feel I know both the pros and cons. I don't do things exactly as I was taught and many of the SHPs do things differently.
First, I do believe the Strasser model of hoof mechanism is the way the hoof works. The blood ENTERS the coriums when the foot is fully loaded. This is contrary to several other models which show that the blood EXITS the hoof when the foot is fully loaded. You can demonstrate this with your own fingers. (see experiment above) When a hoof is shod and contracted with the coffin bone tipped forward pushing against the dorsal hoof wall, the latter model of blood exiting is probably true. The only corium that gets blood in the shod model is the coronary corium that feeds the hoof-wall-producing papillae. That is probably why the hoof wall can be in good shape while the laminar horn suffers. Since we have wild horses that demonstrate the ideal model of hoof shape, I believe it to be the most natural healthy shape. However, we do not keep horses in a similar environment as wild horses so we have to look to another model. The Strasser model is great for getting a hoof to recover from damage as a result of poor hoof form BUT once the hoof has recovered, I believe the Strasser trim may be too severe to keep a horse sound.
What about the Strasser trim parameters? (see my diagram on the Hoof Trimming page)
First the ground parallel coffin bone. I think that for most horses, a close to ground parallel coffin bone is healthy. However, an increase of 2 to 5 degrees for me is acceptable and desirable. Why? Because I believe that when the coffin bone is perfectly ground parallel in an x ray, the coffin joint may be hyperextended upon landing from a jump. I think that if you have a hyper-extended state every time the horse takes a step, you can have damage done to the various ligaments and tendons including the ones attaching the navicular bone. I believe that the bars are designed to stop the over-expansion of the hoof capsule and that as they do so in an extreme weight-bearing situation, the coffin bone should then reach its ground parallel moment. U don't see the Strasser model as a healthy hoof. It's just too flat.
One of the things I have discovered is that the Strasser trim parameters destabilize the coffin bone's dorsal attachment to the hoof capsule IF its already compromised. This is becoming more and more something I don't want to do. If the dorsal attachment has already a history of poor health, either through founder or shoes, I think it is best to be very careful not to remove all of the underpinnings of excess bar and sole as the Strasser trim does. Reversing contraction is a considerable undertaking. Of course if the coffin bone is already sunk in a hoof that is presented to me to trim, then I do employ most of the trim methods to reconnect the hoof.
One other thing. While de-contracting a foot, it is possible to fracture the palmar process. Never mind that this type of fracture is a common occurrance in shod horses (!?!) The fact that it may be a side effect of correcting a pathologically contracted hoof is not considered by Strasser to be of serious significance. For comparison, consider this scenario: if you had a child with deformed bones in her foot due to your forcing her to wear shoes that were too small and the doctor told you that in order to have her foot function properly as an adult, she would have to undergo a procedure which would essentially break the bone so that it could heal in a healthy direction. Would you do it, knowing full well that your child would suffer pain and have to go through rehabilitation? Some parents would and some wouldn't.
Horses are not cows!
So don't feed your horse like a cow. A cow has 4 stomachs. A horse has a very poorly designed digestive system and cannot cope with some of the things a cow can. For instance, a cow can do very well on rich lush pasture while a horse or pony will likely colic or founder. A cow can eat moldy hay and not suffer too much while it may kill a horse. The horse digests most foods in the cecum, which is like our appendix but its a huge structure in the horse. Food (which for the horse is mostly cellulose) enters and exits through the same small opening of the cecum. It sits in the cecum where it is fermented and broken down by the good bacteria. However, before food gets to the cecum, it must go through the stomach and small intestines, where much of the nutrients are absorbed. The horse's stomach is not very big. A cow has 4 stomachs and much of the cellulose is digested there. The horse can have difficulty digesting mass quantities of dry grain when it swells in the stomach. The grain may turn toxic and the horse may colic and die.
Grass is the natural food for horses but it is not natural for grass to be fertilized and lush in the horse's ideal environment.
I also put this photo in because it shows white horns on a black cow. All horn is either black or white unless mixed with blood or pus when formed. The horn material itself is modified hair.
Grass is the natural food for horses but it is not natural for grass to be fertilized and lush in the horse's ideal environment.
I also put this photo in because it shows white horns on a black cow. All horn is either black or white unless mixed with blood or pus when formed. The horn material itself is modified hair.
What are the different kinds of horn in the hoof?
Horn is modified hair. Like a rhinoceros horn or the horns on a cow, the horn of hooves keeps growing and can be very hard. All healthy horn is either white or black. (There is no difference in horn quality based on this color difference.) The so-called white line (laminar horn) is really a darker beige (not white) than the sole and can be seen as a thin line between the sole and wall/bar horn. It is the laminar horn growing out and when you clean the hoof with a pick, scratching on this horn flakes off as a white substance.
The frog horn and the bulb are softer horn. Hoof horn is made of of different types of horn depending on the density of the hairlike tubules. There is the hardest, which is wall and bar horn, (the bar is a continuation of the wall) Like your fingernails, wall horn grows in layers. The next hardest, sole horn, is flexible and is basically like your skin. The next softest horn is frog horn. It should be hard and rubbery. The softest horn is laminar and periople horn. Laminar horn is the feathery attachment between the wall horn and the laminar corium. It is like the glue that holds the hoof on the foot like your fingernail is held on by a similar laminar horn. The laminar horn can be seen on the bottom of the hoof and is called the white line but its only white when the hoof is dirty and you dig in it with a hoof pick. When it is damaged, it will often leave a space. It is damaged by inflammation of the laminar corium. It is this damaged horn and the space which allows bacteria and fungi to grow. If chronic, it is called "white line disease". The periople is the softest horn and is similar to your cuticle. When the hoof stays wet in the rain you will see this horn as white just at the coronet and around the bulbs. All horn needs moisture to stay healthy but more than anything, the hoof needs good blood flow from within. You can soak and soak a dried-out "dead" hoof with poor circulation and not get it to become as flexible as a healthy hoof with good circulation.
Why does my Paso Fino have a different shaped foot than my warmblood?
Horses genetically adapted to different environments early in their evolution. Paso Finos have a very tight hoof because their ancestors lived in rocky arid regions where a tight hoof has an advantage. Draft type horses lived in soft wet climates where a wide flatter hoof was better adapted. But even a softer-hooved horse can adapt to a hard ground given time. It is harder to get a hard-hooved horse to adapt to soft ground.
Feral horses adapt to areas like the outer banks of the eastern coast and the harsh western states. But just because they CAN adapt, doesn't mean that a particular environment is the most conducive to a healthy foot. The outer banks region is not the ideal environment for horses to live. They are stunted and their lifespan is short. Their hooves are flat with long bars and walls which chip and tear off. Horses in the American west have very hard hooves which are thick and well-worn. They live relatively longer lives even with harsh winter conditions and sparse grazing, but they are not immune to injury or situations where they suffer damage from laminits. A wild horse brought into captivity can suffer the same problems as domestic horses.
Our domestic horses must deal with captivity and limited movement. We must trim to simulate wear as well as condition their hooves to the various terrain we would like to ride on. If we haven't the time or ability to condition the feet, we can use hoof boots. I believe boots are that ounce of prevention that is worth a pound of cure!
The frog horn and the bulb are softer horn. Hoof horn is made of of different types of horn depending on the density of the hairlike tubules. There is the hardest, which is wall and bar horn, (the bar is a continuation of the wall) Like your fingernails, wall horn grows in layers. The next hardest, sole horn, is flexible and is basically like your skin. The next softest horn is frog horn. It should be hard and rubbery. The softest horn is laminar and periople horn. Laminar horn is the feathery attachment between the wall horn and the laminar corium. It is like the glue that holds the hoof on the foot like your fingernail is held on by a similar laminar horn. The laminar horn can be seen on the bottom of the hoof and is called the white line but its only white when the hoof is dirty and you dig in it with a hoof pick. When it is damaged, it will often leave a space. It is damaged by inflammation of the laminar corium. It is this damaged horn and the space which allows bacteria and fungi to grow. If chronic, it is called "white line disease". The periople is the softest horn and is similar to your cuticle. When the hoof stays wet in the rain you will see this horn as white just at the coronet and around the bulbs. All horn needs moisture to stay healthy but more than anything, the hoof needs good blood flow from within. You can soak and soak a dried-out "dead" hoof with poor circulation and not get it to become as flexible as a healthy hoof with good circulation.
Why does my Paso Fino have a different shaped foot than my warmblood?
Horses genetically adapted to different environments early in their evolution. Paso Finos have a very tight hoof because their ancestors lived in rocky arid regions where a tight hoof has an advantage. Draft type horses lived in soft wet climates where a wide flatter hoof was better adapted. But even a softer-hooved horse can adapt to a hard ground given time. It is harder to get a hard-hooved horse to adapt to soft ground.
Feral horses adapt to areas like the outer banks of the eastern coast and the harsh western states. But just because they CAN adapt, doesn't mean that a particular environment is the most conducive to a healthy foot. The outer banks region is not the ideal environment for horses to live. They are stunted and their lifespan is short. Their hooves are flat with long bars and walls which chip and tear off. Horses in the American west have very hard hooves which are thick and well-worn. They live relatively longer lives even with harsh winter conditions and sparse grazing, but they are not immune to injury or situations where they suffer damage from laminits. A wild horse brought into captivity can suffer the same problems as domestic horses.
Our domestic horses must deal with captivity and limited movement. We must trim to simulate wear as well as condition their hooves to the various terrain we would like to ride on. If we haven't the time or ability to condition the feet, we can use hoof boots. I believe boots are that ounce of prevention that is worth a pound of cure!
To Boot or not to boot, that is the question?
There are reasons to boot your horse. When you are transitioning to protect the existing horn that is of poor quality can be a time when boots help. When your horse is not conditioned to a rougher terrain than he has in his pasture is another. If the the horse has a compromised coffin bone suspension, the horse may need boots and pads. There are many boots on the market now. I think the Old Mac G2s are the best. I do not like the Boas or the Easy boots. I would a lot rather put a boot on my horse than I would nail a shoe on.
Some horses just have poor conformation feet. If the feet are very flat and you can't get any toe height, they might be a candidate for boots when they must traverse rocky ground.
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Some horses just have poor conformation feet. If the feet are very flat and you can't get any toe height, they might be a candidate for boots when they must traverse rocky ground.
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Is there a fungus amongus?
Think about it...does a fungus grow on healthy or dead stuff? Generally dead. But once established, it can start working on the healthy stuff too. White line disease and thrush are an anerobic bacterial infection. Many times, the white line horn (the laminar horn) is bruised or damaged during rehabilitation. Also the frog is often damaged from lack of circulation or when the hoof is in the process of de-contraction. To make matters worse, horses are often living in areas that are not perfectly hygenic. Its hard to keep enclosures perfectly clean.
So what do you do? What I do is utilize the Davis boots and some regular soaking in antibacterial soapy water. Then I apply an athelete's foot remedy you can buy at any drug store. Or you can soak in a solution of vinegar (1 to 5 parts water) or effective micro-organisms.
For skin fungus, there are several products on the market. But understand this: fungi grows on dead cells. If there is a fungus, it means there is dead material so find the cause of the dying cells.
So what do you do? What I do is utilize the Davis boots and some regular soaking in antibacterial soapy water. Then I apply an athelete's foot remedy you can buy at any drug store. Or you can soak in a solution of vinegar (1 to 5 parts water) or effective micro-organisms.
For skin fungus, there are several products on the market. But understand this: fungi grows on dead cells. If there is a fungus, it means there is dead material so find the cause of the dying cells.
Do vaccinations and worming cause laminitis?
YES!!
Please do not vaccinate your horse if he is prone to founder or has any compromised health issues like transitioning from shoes! (Did you know that 40% of veterinary income comes from giving vaccinations?) Many, many horses do fine without vaccinations. Please read Dr. Madalyn Ward's take on vaccinations, even with your healthy horses. I have not vaccinated my horses in over 3 years and have not had any sicknesses from flu virus's or other things.
Worming is pretty necessary if you have your horses on a pasture with little room. Horses will usually eat in "lawns" leaving the areas of manure to grow up high. I try to move my horses from one pasture to another every month or so. Also I mow and drag the pastures when they are off them. I use Ivermectin because its safe and it gets everything (Ivermectin Gold gets tape worms too) I worm about every 3 to 4 months. It is best to do a fecal and determine what worms your horse has. Also after worming, give your horse a good fiber laxative like Metamucil to help rid the gut of the dead worms. There are other detoxifiers that can be used after worming to help re-establish good health. A probiotic is good or you can use effective micro-organisms.
Please do not vaccinate your horse if he is prone to founder or has any compromised health issues like transitioning from shoes! (Did you know that 40% of veterinary income comes from giving vaccinations?) Many, many horses do fine without vaccinations. Please read Dr. Madalyn Ward's take on vaccinations, even with your healthy horses. I have not vaccinated my horses in over 3 years and have not had any sicknesses from flu virus's or other things.
Worming is pretty necessary if you have your horses on a pasture with little room. Horses will usually eat in "lawns" leaving the areas of manure to grow up high. I try to move my horses from one pasture to another every month or so. Also I mow and drag the pastures when they are off them. I use Ivermectin because its safe and it gets everything (Ivermectin Gold gets tape worms too) I worm about every 3 to 4 months. It is best to do a fecal and determine what worms your horse has. Also after worming, give your horse a good fiber laxative like Metamucil to help rid the gut of the dead worms. There are other detoxifiers that can be used after worming to help re-establish good health. A probiotic is good or you can use effective micro-organisms.