Foot Care and shoeing

Aims Be able to undertake horse care tasks and to maintain the health of the horses – Objectives Identify the frequency a horse needs its feet attending to. Reasons for shoeing and trimming horses. Consequences from incorrect shoeing and trimming. Identifying when a horse requires re-shoeing or trimming.

What makes hooves grow? Nutrition - the foundation for hoof health and performance Environment and exercise - to strengthen and stimulate hooves Trim - to balance hooves and optimise wear

External hoof structure 1. Coronet Band 5. Quarter 2. Periople The hoof itself is made of modified skin cells which are similar to claws and horns. The outer part of the hoof has no blood vessels and is not sensitive. It is made up of the wall, the sole and the frog. 4. Toe 3. Hoof wall

External hoof structure 10. Lateral cleft of frog 1. Bulb of heel 9. Central cleft of frog 8. Bars 2. Frog 3. Sole 7. Seat of corn 6. White line 5. Toe 4. Hoof Wall

Break over

Farrier Hooves grow about a quarter inch each month, and need trimming to stay even and to prevent breakage Horse needs attention from the farrier every 6-8 weeks. Occasionally needs more frequent attention. Shouldn’t go any longer than eight weeks, as it can impact on the soundness of the horse.

The aim of shoeing horses To provide the horse with a well balanced foot . To help maintain the hoof shape. The use of horse shoes can give the horse a secure grip, due to the groove called a fuller which runs around the surface of the shoe, Grip can also be aided when the use of studs are correctly used. Horses with hoof ailments and poor conformation can be assisted with the use of specific horse shoes which are specially designed to help with that ailment.

Hot shoeing Hot Shoeing In hot shoeing the old shoe is removed The hoof is expertly trimmed and re balanced. Then a new shoe is chosen and assessed against the hoof for suitability. The shoe is then placed into the forge and when removed the farrier can then work the steel into the correct shape as required and be placed back into the forge again if necessary. To obtain the perfect fit the shoe is lightly placed onto the hoof to assess if it is the correct fit and it is this process of holding the hot shoe onto the hoof for a few seconds which burns the insensitive structure and causes all the smoke and smell. The shoe can then be altered again using a hammer and anvil until it fits the horses foot exactly. By using this process the shoe is made to fit the hoof with great precision. Once the shape of the horse shoe is correct it is placed into cold water to cool it down and then nailed onto the hoof so that the shoeing process can be continued.

Cold shoeing Cold Shoeing With cold shoeing no forge is used in the actual shoeing process. After the old shoe has been removed and the hoof has been expertly trimmed and re balanced a pre prepared shoe of the correct size and shape is used. It takes a great deal of skill to match the correct shoe to the hoof as making alterations is not as easy on a cold shoe. Once the correct shoe has been chosen it is then nailed onto the hoof so that the shoeing process can be completed.

Signs that the horse needs re-shoeing nail clenches raised. overgrown toes. foot not balanced. shoe physically loose. Shoe twisted. shoe excessively worn. shoe fallen/ cast Signs of bruising/ soreness.

Lameness after shoeing If the horse is lame immediately (1-5 days) after shoeing contact the farrier for advice. Nail bind-Bruising to sensitive laminae Nail prick – Penetrated the sensitive laminae Footy – Shoes “pinching”

Effects of poor hoof care and its consequences ABCESS BRUISED SOLE CORNS LONG TOE HOOF WALL CRACK THRUSH

Pictures of specialist shoes Heart bar Often used for horses with Laminitis Racing shoes Light weight Straight bar Protects the heels, prevents bruising. Concave fullered shoe Polo shoe Reduces risk of speedi -cutting Egg bar Increases ground bearing surface at the heel. Suitable for Navicular . Rolled toe Improves break over and reduces pressure on the toe.

What A Well Shod Hoof Should Look Like The well shod foot should allow the internal and external structures to expand on impact and therefore assist in lower limb circulation. There should be no restrictions to movement caused by the fitting of shoes. The angle of the hoof wall in relation to the floor should be at 45 degrees on the forelimbs and on the hind limb this should be 55 degrees, these measurements follow the angles of the coffin bone. The coronet band should form and approximate 30 degree angle at the heel. All the clenches should be at the same height and flush with the hoof wall. The horses action and way of going must be taken into account when shoeing a horse. An imaginary line drawn across the underside of the hoof should show symmetry. An imaginary line if drawn directly down the centre of the hoof would show both halves the same. There should be no flaring out of the hoof wall at the bottom. There should be ample hoof to support the heels. Provide the horse with the appropriate shoe for the chosen discipline to be undertaken. The shoe should in no way cause lameness or discomfort. (BHS,2009)

A well-trimmed, sound hoof, showing the direction of wall growth

Group task In general terms describe the following… Newly shod foot Shod three weeks Shod six weeks (due for shoeing)

Aims Be able to undertake horse care tasks and to maintain the health of the horses – Objectives Identify the frequency a horse needs its feet attending to. Reasons for shoeing and trimming horses. Consequences from incorrect shoeing and trimming. Identifying when a horse requires re-shoeing or trimming.