Farriery Flashcards
What are some things that can impact the rate of growth of a horse’s hoof?
(Time of year, pathology, nutrition, and job/exercise level)
Why are horse’s hooves trimmed?
(To remove excess length, to remove distortion, to improve the base of support, to prevent chipping, and to remove disease/deteriorated areas)
Why do horses wear shoes?
(Protection, treatment, traction, and to alter gait)
(T/F) If a horse does not fall into a typical category for why horses wear shoes (protection, treatment, traction, and to alter gait), they should not be shod.
(T, cons outweigh the pros)
What are some consequences of horse shoes?
(Increases shock/concussion to the distal limb, traumatic hoof wall loss, puncture wounds from clips/nails, spring/twisted shoe, injury when kicking, nail too close to sensitive structures)
What is the main difference in a hoof trim if you are going to put a shoe on or not?
(Shoe → trim shorter, should be flat with a sharp edge, no shoe → outer edge should be rounded to prevent chipping and should be left longer to allow for wearing)
What does it mean that you want to achieve a matched hoof pastern axis?
(The dorsal wall of the hoof will match the angle of the bony column of the foot → allows spreading of the load evenly between all structures of the foot)
What should the length and angle of the heel be in relation to the dorsal hoof wall in an appropriately trimmed horse hoof?
(Angle should match the dorsal hoof wall and the heel would optimally be about ⅓ the length of the dorsal hoof wall)
The frog would optimally extend over what percentage of the length of the hoof?
(60%)
(T/F) A positive palmar angle is optimal, average is usually 3-5 degrees.
(T, do not want a flat/negative palmar angle)
What is a broken back hoof pastern axis?
(When the angle of P2 and P1 are steeper than P3)
What structures are overloaded with a broken back HPA and what conditions can that predispose the horse to?
(Overloaded → DDFT, navicular bone, P2, and P1; conditions → navicular dz, ring bone, coffin joint inflammation, hoof cracks, and sheared heels)
What is a broken forward hoof pastern axis?
(When the angle of P3 is steeper than that of P1 and P2 → stresses the suspensory ligament in particular)
What is the main positive function of a hoof pad?
(Recruits the sole and frog in load sharing, others → protect and support, align the hoof pastern axis, protect wounds, act as artificial sole depth, aid with shock dissipation)
What substance can be added to packing material for a hoof pad that is a good antimicrobial?
(Copper sulfate)
