Farriery Flashcards
Why are horses trimmed?
-To correct for conformation or uneven wear (remove distortion)
-therapeutic reasons
-horse doesn’t naturally wear down the hoof enough, or they are wearing faster than they grow
-to protect bandaged, and to protect from fracturing or breakage on edges
-to remove diseases, deteriorated, or necrotic areas
- to improve base of support
On average, how fast does a horses hoof grow?
6-10 mm/month
What factors can affect the growth of a horses hoof?
-Time of year (spring grasses- abundance of nutrition, in winter put energy into other things)
-Disease pathology- change in hemodynamics
-Nutrition
- Job of horse: if on abrasive terrain wears away faster, more exercise=more growth
-genetics
What two nutrients are the most vital for hoof growth?
Biotin and methionine
Why do horses wear shoes?
- protection: wearing away faster than growth
-to increase/decrease traction
-to alter their gait or increase animation
-therapeutic reasons
What are some of the negative consequences that can occur from wearing horse shoes?
-can be used as a weapon, can damage the wearer
-alters normal hoof mechanics (increases shock and concussion to the distal limb)
-can lead to traumatic hoof wall loss
-puncture wounds from clips/nails
-nail can be placed too close to sensitive structures leading to lameness
If you dumb farriery down, what is the main rule?
load the healthy structures, unload the unhealthy structures
If trimming for a horse to go in a shoe, how should you trim differently than you would if trimming for barefoot?
Trim a bit shorter than you would, trim to a sharp edge
What are the main goals of farriery?
-Achieve a matched hoof pastern axis (P1, P2, P3 all in alignment with the dorsal surface of hoof wall matching that axis as well as the dorsal aspect of the distal phalynx)
-heel should be roughly the same angle as the dorsal hoof wall (often slightly lower though-underrun heels)
What are the benefits of a matched hoof pastern axis?
Load evenly distributed throughout the bony column and soft tissue structures of the distal limb
Define underrun heels.
Hoofs with >5 degree difference between the dorsal hoof wall angle and angle of the heel
How long should the heel be in relation to the dorsal hoof wall?
1/3 the length
What should take up the bulk of the horses foot?
The frog
- should be about 60% of the length of the foot
T/F: From the widest point of the horses foot, should have half of the base of the support in front of this, and half behind
True
What is the distance that should be present between the dorsal aspect of the distal phalynx and the dorsal hoof wall?
15-22 mm
What should the horses palmar angle be?
0-10 degrees
-increased lameness associated with <0 palmar angles
What is the center of rotation of a horses foot?
Middle of the distal condyle of P2- line down from here should divide the horses base of support
-should correlate with the widest part of the foot
T/F: a horse with a short upright pastern should have a long upright foot?
False- they should both match (short and short)
What is the difference between broken back and broken forward conformation?
Broken back- pastern is steeper than horses hoof wall
-base of support shifted back
Broken forward- when horses hoof wall is steeper than the pastern
- base of support shifted forward
which side of the hoof wall is usually more upright on a front foot?
The medial side
Describe the base wide presentation
Feet set out
- will overload medial side leading to upright medial hoof wall, flared lateral hoof wall
-distal phalynx will no longer be parallel to ground
How should a nail travel through the hoof?
Should start in white line, travel up through nonpigmented and pigmented stratum medium and exit hoof wall
- no contact with sensitive structures
What is the difference between direct glue or indirect glue on shoes?
Indirect- glue on the dorsal hoof wall
Direct- glue goes on bottom of hoof
When are soft rides and cloud boots the most helpful?
For therapeutic uses- laminitis, thrush, white line disease
-not designed for work
What is the difference between the cloud shoes and soft rides
Soft rides are more breathable, but dirt and debris can breach
clouds have no air penetration- lots of moisture
What are pads used for?
Used along side shoes for therapy
-provide protection and support
recruit the sole and frog into load sharing
-increase overall foot length
-align the hoof pastern axis
-protect wounds
-act as artificial sole depth
-aid with shock dissipation
What are some potential complications with using pads?
Can trap dirt/debris, can create anaerobic environment encouraging bacterial growth
-can result in pressure and pain
-increases overall foot length
-can reduce traction
What are some of the pad types?
Leather, plastic, urethane, metal, closed cell foam
*=most common
-can be full (covers hoof completely), rim (open to middle of foot), bar (rim pad with heels connected), wedge (various increases in angle), frog (increased thickness over frog)
T/F: you always need packing material to go in between the pad and the foot when using pads
True
-types include urethans (equi-pak), silicones, impression materials, oakum
What is a good material to add to packing materials to reduce risk of infection?
Copper sulfate-broad spectrum antimicrobial
Describe the properties of silicone as a packing material
-soft packing material
-must be used under pads (does not bond to sole)
-set up time affected by temperature
-mix with betadine and copper sulfate
What is the main benefit to silicone impression materials?
Easiest way to get frog and sole support into a case immediately
Describe the properties of oakum.
A fibrous hemp material
-can be mixed with turpentine and copper sulfate to form antiseptic packing
-non sealing (allows for breathability)
-good for healing abscesses, thrush, etc
-has to be covered by pad
-simply acts as a long term bandage
What is the breakover point?
The point in which the heel is off the ground and toe remains
-cant affect this much as its a phase of the stride, but can ease it
-when the navicular apparatus and DDF are under the highest tension
How does the rolled toe help to reduce breakover?
toe is bevelled at the toe (thinner at toe)
-more common than rocker toe
Describe the rocker toe shoe?
Toe is forged upward- similar to arches in our shoes
-requires adequate sole depth
When should you use square/blunt toes?
sets the shoe back off of the cranial margin of the foot
Why are bar shoes used?
They limit independent heel movement
- may provide increased palmar/plantar support
-increases surface area in back half of foot (reduces heel sinking and soft footing)
-recruits the frog into load bearing
What are the different types of bar shoes?
Straight bar- straight across heels
Egg bar- rounded in back
Heart bar- goes up the frog
Z and J bars
Fishtail bar shoes
