The United Kingdom Horse Shoers Union
The voice of the farrier.
Posterior Third Lameness.
Part Six: Trimming and shoeing.
The method of dorsal wall preparation needed to fit the described rolled toe shoe has been modified for fitting the normal clipped shoe.
The system is based on maintaining the integrity of wall hoof structure, and especially at and above clinch level. Setting aside the very occasional need for flare dressing, the removal of wall horn above clinch level has been found to be disastrous, and in the long term totally contraindicative to the animals well being, it always compounds run forwards toes and heel collapse in the mid third and late shoeing cycle. It is the authors belief that any perceived improvement seen at the time of shoeing, when the mid or upper part of the hoof wall is reduced is purely cosmetic, and that the removal of the strong health horny wall above clinch level should be resisted. Horn removal in the mid wall and coronary area takes six to twelve months to regain its full thickness, and can only repair by downwards growth from the coronary corium. Removal of the high dense outer crust of the horny wall leads to de-hydration, shrinkage, cracking and nail failure due to the breakdown of horn around the clinches. Unnecessary wall toe horn removal definitely is a strong contributor to the formation of dorsal depression as it gives the strong and rigid solar plate a far easier task of shunting the toe area forwards.
In this text reference is made to bilaterally collapsed flat front feet which due to the way the animal propels itself along proved in the long term impossible to stabilise. The paper demonstrates that animals with locomotion problems, leading to a premature breakover, go through a series of progression, leading to a mechanically induced laminitis condition. Long term instability is still proving to be a problem, however a recently adapted method has been found to be a great asset when trying to effect an improvement in the hoof wall pastern axis of animals with chronically run forwards toes. Ian Lindsay (FWCF Thesis), demonstrates a 95% success rate by fitting a reversed shoe, (open toed bar shoe), as early as 24 hours after the initial laminitic insult. The author finds that the short term use of this type of shoe, on horses suffering chronic distortion of their front feet following laminitis both relives the motion pain associated with this condition and rapidly changes the progressive and ongoing distortion of the dorsal wall. It is not suggested that improvement effected by this type of shoe has a permanent effect on the hoof capsule, only that whilst the shoe is place the dorsal wall will rapidly back up, and that the open toe will soften the tension on the toe laminal structures at the time when it breaks over.
If one is to effect a permanent backing up of the dorsal wall a remedy has to be found for the impaired rear end drive which is the exciting cause.
A cautionary note regarding the reversed shoe: it is not suggested that this type of shoe has a long term application, only that it will induce a window in the hoof capsular distortion associated with rear end impaired horses. The reversed shoe has a very powerful effect and if it is left in place for longer than shoes in the normal shoeing cycle, and after the dorsal wall has backed up and realigned itself to the pastern axis, (it definitely will), the animal will suffer discomfort. This observation matches the cautionary note made by the craft committee of the worshipful company of farriers printed in the forge magazine, (December 97 issue), which refers to fitting the four point shoe. It is hoped that these cautions demonstrate the need for regular monitoring of all equines feet, that are fitted with corrective devices, whether nailed or glued. Failure to undertake such monitoring will now surely be deemed negligent practice .
Following a recent conversation with a local veterinary surgeon, (C Hamblin) I feel it is appropriate at this point to mention a problem that has been noticed this year (97/98), in horses that are out wintered. It appears that frosty conditions seem to have dramatic effect on their soundness: there was a high number of lame or very foot sore horses, which appears to demonstrate the presence of cold induced serum under their soles , and / or up their dorsal walls, and around the coronary area, (sub-solar, laminal, coronary seroma), the long term effect of this is that it leaves a yeast filled pocket under or within the horny structure. In the solar and wall area these will often form an abscess. This condition appears to be most serious in animals that have suffered a previous laminitis, and / or are kept on land that has a sandy surface, especially greensand. The simple remedy is to remove the animal from the land, and stable it on a deep and therefore insulated bed for the time that the ground is actively frozen.
The author thanks you for slogging through this series of articles, and hopes they have raised many more questions than they have answered. The papers represent some of my experiences of the last three decades. A paper by Tom Ryan, published in Forge 97, prompted me to publish. I hope the questions raised will stimulate other written responses in our magazine.
To conclude - a sobering thought. In these small islands (Great Britain) , some 2,500 men spend 5 million hours each year studying the "Text", of the unspoken language "Equis Pedis". The book is there to be read, and a translation must be sought.
Acknowledgments:
1. Paul Farrington, Veterinary Surgeon. For his time, advise and his strong views on vet / farrier involvement in horse welfare.
2. Alan Bailey AFCL., Farrier / Lecturer. For his help and massive understanding of equine anatomy.
3. P V Preece, Freelance Editor. For his help with the Queens English.
4. Pye and Kessy. Two dear friends without whose bequest this paper would not have been possible.
5. My thanks are extended to all the persons named in the text, and many others, who spent time talking to me and sharing with me their experiences and knowledge.
First published in Forge Magazine 1998. Copyright Peter N Baker.