Term
What is the "COR?"
How is it determined? |
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Definition
COR means "Center of Rotation." It is the point of the foot that does not move in the foot plane.
The widest part of the hoof/white line determines the COR. |
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Term
What does A/P Balance mean?
What is another term for A/P balance? |
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Definition
- (A) Anterior (front)/ (P) Posterior (back) Balance as viewed from the side of the foot.
- It is also called Dorso-Palmar balance |
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Term
| When assessing A/P balance, how should the cannon bone be oriented? |
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Definition
| The cannon bone should be vertical. |
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Term
| What two aspects are analyzed when determining A/P balance? |
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Definition
- The angle that the dorsal hoof wall makes with the ground versus the angle of the dorsal surface of the pastern bones.
- The angle of the hoof wall at the palmar aspect of the hoof (heel) should be the same or within 1-2 degrees of the dorsal wall. |
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Term
| What does "HPA" stand for when analyzing A/P balance? |
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Definition
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Term
| If the angle of the dorsal hoof wall is higher than the angle of the pastern, what sort of HPA does this produce? |
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Definition
| A "Broken Forward" hoof/pastern axis. |
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Term
If you encounter a broken forward HPA, how can you correct it?
What cautions should be observed? |
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Definition
- Heel height could be removed.
- Determine WHY the HPA has broken forward before removing heel. Proceed carefully and use the paper test to remove heel. |
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Term
| If the dorsal surface is at a lower angle than the dorsal surface of the pastern, what type of HPA exists? |
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Definition
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Term
- What trimming considerations can be used with a broken back HPA?
- What is the major factor for determining how much of the hoof to remove with the trim?
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Definition
- Consider removing toe flare and/or toe length to raise the angle.
- Sole depth must be adequate before removing wall length. If sole depth is inadequate, consider methods to raise the heel. |
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Term
| Can a farrier "trim in" a broken-forward or broken-back HPA? |
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Definition
| Absolutely. If the trim is done incorrectly (removing too much toe or heel) the HPA can be drastically affected. |
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Term
| When trimming, what ratio of foot are we trying to achieve around the COR? |
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Definition
| The ideal ratio is 50/50 (toe vs. heel) around the COR. |
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Term
| What is "Medio-Lateral" balance? |
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Definition
| The balance of the foot from one side to the other, when viewed from the front, in relation to the bone column. The medial (near the centerline of the body) and the lateral (situated away from the centerline of the body) sides of the foot should be in balance. |
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Term
When determining medio-lateral balance, what "lines" should be observed on the limb?
How should these lines intersect in a well conformed horse?
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Definition
- A line down the limb from the point of the shoulder to the ground, down the centerline of the leg.
- Lines parallel to the ground, drawn through the carpus, fetlock, pastern and bottom of the foot.
- In a well conformed horse, the lines through the joints should intersect at 90 degree angles with the vertical bone column. |
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Term
| When analyzing the coronary band in regard to M/L balance, what are you looking for? |
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Definition
| Note any major bulges or waves in the coronary band. These will help to evaluate limb loading. |
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Term
When mapping a foot, how is the point of breakover determined?
Is the point of breakover a trim line? |
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Definition
- Take a measurement from the heel base of support to the COR, and project that measurement forward from the COR to the toe. That will be the point of breakover.
- No. You may not be able to trim to this point. Breakover may need to be built into the shoe. |
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Term
What factors would drive the "shortest trim" for a foot?
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Definition
| If the horse is going to be shod without the shoe being smoked on for clips. |
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Term
| You plan to smoke clips onto a hoof. How should the pre-shoe trim be adjusted? |
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Definition
| Leave an additional 1/16th inch of hoof wall to accommodate the burn. |
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Term
| A horse will be left barefoot. How much wall should remain? |
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Definition
| Leave enough perimeter wall to support the horses weight, as well as adequate sole and frog. |
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Term
| What must be done to the dorsal surface of the hoof BEFORE any material is removed from the solar surface? |
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Definition
- Toe flare from nail hole one to nail hole one should be removed. |
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Term
- Why must toe flare be removed before measuring toe length?
- What is a safe toe length for most hooves?
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Definition
- A flare will distort an accurate measurement of toe length.
- 3 1/2 inches |
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Term
Is there a specific dorsal angle that all hooves should have?
Absent pathology, what should the hoof angle between pairs (fronts/rears) of feet be? |
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Definition
No. Dorsal angle is used as a reference. It will vary from horse to horse and foot to foot.
The trim/shoe package should result in the feet being within 1-2 degrees of each other. |
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Term
When trimming sole material, what material, if any, should be removed?
What area of the sole should be the primary focus when trimming? |
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Definition
- Only remove exfoliating (chalky, grainy) sole that has not come off on its own.
- Focus on the area around the white line. |
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Term
| When trimming the frog, what material, if any, should be removed? |
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Definition
- The frog is an integral part of the foot. Only remove any loose tags that you can pinch with your fingers, or any diseased material. |
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Term
| In general, on a healthy foot, where should the heels be trimmed down to? |
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Definition
| Heels should be trimmed down to the same plane as the highest, widest part of the frog. |
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Term
| When shaping a shoe, what is the first area that must be properly shaped? |
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Definition
| The shoe must be shaped to fit the toe. If it does not fit the toe, nothing else will fit. |
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Term
| What is the greatest issue with an improperly shaped horseshoe? |
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Definition
| If the she does not properly fit the perimeter of a correctly trimmed foot, the nail holes will not match the white line. This can result in either hot nailing (nailing into sensitive structures) or nailing into the wall, with resultant weakness and wall tearing. |
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Term
What does it mean to "box" a shoe?
Why should you "box" the shoe? |
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Definition
- Boxing a shoe means taking off the square corner of the stock and creating a beveled edge on the outside of the sole portion of the branch from the widest part of the shoe back to the heel.
- Removing the sharp edge allows for expansion as the limb bears weight and also reduces the possibility of the horse "stepping off" the shoe. |
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Term
What does it mean to "safe" a shoe?
Why should a shoe be "safed?" |
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Definition
- Safing means to create a bevel on the ground side of the shoe from nail hole one to the heel on the medial side.
- If the shoe hits the opposing limb, a "safed" shoe will do less damage than a sharp edge. |
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