Hoofcare Highlights Flashcards
three regions of the hoof?
toe, quarters, heel
parts of the hoof
be able to ID these
what are the 2 types of laminae and where are they attached?
sensitive- coffin bone (blood supply)
insensitive- hoof wall (no nerves)_
how are the laminae attached to each other?
velcro like adhesion
once damaged, can the laminae ever return to normal?
no! once damaged always damaged like a hair tie
what is the largest factor affecting hoof health
nutrition
on average, the hoof grows how much per month?
1/4-1/2 inch
what are some reasons for hoof growth variation?
breed and sex, etc.
do horses hooves grow faster in the summer or winter?
summer
average trim cycle?
every 6-8 weeks unless trying to correct an issue then maybe 4 weeks
front limbs bear what % of weight? back limbs?
front-60%
Back- 40%
do oils, lotions, and conditioners help hoof health?
not really
what 5 things does the functional foot have?
parallel hoof-pastern axis
thick hoof wall
adequate sole depth
solid heel base
growth rings of equal size
explain the difference between the hind and front hoof shapes?
hind- more oval like
front- more circle like
when do you shoe a horse?
when the wear exceeds the growthq
when should broodmares be seen by the farrier?
every 6-8 weeks like a normal horse, but many people do not do this especially those with like 30 broodmares that throw them out to pasture
does a broodmare need shoes?
some can benefit from this as their weight increases, especially with past lameness or injury issues
is there a concern with broodmares having shoes?
fear of the risk of hurting the foal with the shoes
what is the eponychium at birth in foals?
the fingerlike soft projections that protect the mare at birth; they do fall off and vanish
when should a foal be seen by the farrier?
3-4 weeks of age if nothing abnormal is happening
ASAP if there is issues with the conformation
when should you begin messing with foals hooves?
immediately! the sooner the better. it’s easier when they are younger and smaller
oif a horse has super flat hoof, what can be used to help during riding? as a hardener?
scoot boots (picture shown in PP)
durasole as a hardener
products to help with thrush?
tomorrow, thrush products
what is the number 1 cause of sudden severe lameness?
abscess
how to treat an abscess
epsom salt/warm water soak and/or poultice
explain what causes white line disease
true cause unknown, but often exacerbated by mechanical stress and environmental conditions. More prevalent in warm, moist environments.
