Term
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Definition
| The relationship of bones to other bones. |
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Term
| How should a farrier analyze each horse he comes to? |
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Definition
| Develop a consistent system to look at each horse in the same way. |
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Term
| What does it mean to 'put the horse in a square' when analyzing conformation? |
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Definition
The horse should proportionally 'fit' into a square.
The square is drawn from the withers to the hip, from the chest to the ground, from the rump to the ground.
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Term
| What elements are important when looking at the horse 'in the square?' |
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Definition
- Proportions. Shoulder area, back, hind end.
- Short back, long legs? Long back, short legs?
- Head too big for neck?
- Short neck?
-Rump higher than withers? |
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Term
| What elements are important when looking at the horse 'in the square?' |
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Definition
- Proportions. Shoulder area, back, hind end.
- Short back, long legs? Long back, short legs?
- Head too big for neck?
- Short neck?
-Rump higher than withers? |
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Term
What issues occur if the hoof is out of proportion to the size of the horse?
Too small? Too Large? |
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Definition
- A hoof that is too small is inadequate for the weight of the horse.
- This can lead to a variety of lameness issues.
- A hoof that is too large often makes the horse clumsy. |
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Term
| How do the lateral and medial walls of a normal hoof usually compare? |
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Definition
| The medial wall is usually a bit straighter and steeper than the lateral wall. |
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Term
| How should a normal coronary band look? |
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Definition
- There should be an equal amount of hoof wall from the band to the ground all the way around the hoof capsule.
- The band should slope from the toe towards the heel. |
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Term
| What causes feet to flare? |
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Definition
- Uneven weight bearing
- Neglect
- Poor trimming, resulting in uneven weight bearing. |
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Term
| How should a flared foot be trimmed? |
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Definition
- Flares should be rasped down.
-Leave adequate wall thickness to support the horse remains.
- Ensure adequate wall thickness for nailing on shoes. |
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Term
| Does the thickness of a flared hoof wall change? |
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Definition
| No, it will remain constant. |
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Term
| Do sensitive laminae migrate with a flare? |
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Definition
| No, they stay in the same plane as the coffin bone. The wall may flare away from the laminae, but the laminae will not detach from the coffin bone. |
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Term
When a hoof flares, the void between the hoof wall and the laminae is filled with what material?
Is this material structurally sound? |
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Definition
- The material is called lamellar wedge.
- It is not structurally sound. |
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Term
| A horse has a significant toe flare. Should it be removed all at once, or gradually? |
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Definition
- Generally, it should be removed all at once. |
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Term
| A significant flare is removed. What important consideration comes into play when deciding to shoe or leave the horse barefoot? |
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Definition
- Depending upon how much flare was removed, there may not be enough wall left to adequately support the horse.
- The horse should be shod to support the weight. |
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Term
| When removing a large flare on a pony or mini, is shoeing necessary? |
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Definition
| Generally, ponies and minis do not have enough body weight to compromise the sole while new wall grows. |
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Term
Describe a 'wry' foot.
What is another name for this? |
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Definition
A wry foot has a significant flare on one side, and is severely underrun on the other.
It is also called a 'corkscrew' foot. |
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Term
| You encounter a horse with a severely wry foot. What should you do as a farrier? |
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Definition
- Remove the flares
- Build up the underrun side with synthetic hoof construction material. |
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Term
What causes symmetrical rings on a hoof?
Is it a sign of underlying pathology? |
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Definition
Generally, it is not a sign of pathology.
A number of things can cause this.
- Abrupt feed changes
- Hormonal changes
- weather change
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Term
| How can a farrier deal with symmetrical rings on a hoof? |
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Definition
| They can be dressed off if desired. |
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Term
You encounter a foot with rings that are wider at the heel, and narrow at the toe. They are also somewhat wavy. What does this indicate?
What should be done? |
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Definition
- The horse is suffering from an underlying, potentially chronic pathology.
- A veterinarian workup with radiographs is called for. |
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Term
| What determines if a foot is 'flat?' |
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Definition
| The point of a freshly trimmed frog blends into the sole and the foot remains flat. There is no natural concavity. |
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Term
| What must the farrier be concerned with when trimming a flat footed horse? |
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Definition
- Avoiding taking too much sole
- Concussion relief |
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Term
| If a farrier takes too much sole from a flat footed horse, what can happen? |
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Definition
- The horse can become lame from bruising or foot pain due to inadequate depth of sole. |
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Term
| You choose to use pads with a flat footed horse. What must you be careful of? |
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Definition
| Making sure that the pad does not become a barrier, pinching the sensitive laminae between the pad and P3. |
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Term
| What type of shoe can be used with in lieu of a pad with a flat footed horse? |
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Definition
Try a thicker shoe, concaved well, with clips. The thicker shoe can provide artificial concavity, and the clips will help keep the shoe in place. |
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Term
| What is a 'dropped' sole? |
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Definition
| If the sole is beyond the bearing surface of the hoof wall, it is considered 'dropped.' |
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Term
| Where does a dropped sole usually present itself on the foot? |
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Definition
| In front of the point of the frog. |
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Term
| Dropped sole is a common issue with what pathologies? |
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Definition
- Grade 3 and 4 club feet
- Chronic laminitis
- Chronic founder
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Term
| How does a dropped sole differ from a flat foot? |
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Definition
| A dropped sole will have no concavity and may even be convex in a severe case. |
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Term
| How do you shoe for a dropped sole? |
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Definition
Shoe in a similar fashion as you would for flat feet.
- Concussion relief
- Shoe for elevation/thicker shoes
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Term
What causes a horse to have 'brittle' feet?
What should be done? |
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Definition
- This is usually caused by nutritional deficits
- Have a blood workup done |
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Term
What is 'Buttress' foot?
What is another name for this condition? |
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Definition
- Bone growth (extosis) on the extensor process of the coffin bone.
- Pyramidal disease |
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Term
What causes buttress foot?
What type of shoes are recommended? |
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Definition
- Low ringbone
- A fracture of the extensor process of P3
- A rocker toe or a full roller motion shoe can help |
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Term
What are feet with thin walls and soles often called?
What are the main problems caused by this condition? |
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Definition
These are referred to as 'thoroughbred' feet.
The feet have inadequate thickness and strength to support the weight of the horse.
The walls tend to break apart, leaving the horse on its soles.
Periodic lameness due to bruising |
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Term
| What are the trimming and shoeing considerations for a thin wall/soled horse? |
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Definition
- Do not trim the feet too short. Leave wall to keep weight off of the sole.
- The horse may need shoes year-round, especially the fronts
- Use a wide web shoe that can fit a thin shank nail.
- Consider clipped shoes with pads. |
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Term
| Define an 'underrun' heel. |
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Definition
The angle of the dorsal wall is not the same as the angle of the heel. The heel will have a shallower angle vs. the dorsal wall. |
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Term
| Why is the angle of the hoof important from a conformation standpoint? |
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Definition
| It will determine both the quality of the ride and how concussive forces transmit to the limb. It also affects the loading of the bony column of the leg. |
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Term
| How does the angle of the hind feet generally compare to the front? |
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Definition
| The hind feet are generally steeper than the front. |
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Term
| What toe/heel configuration often is causal in lameness issues? |
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Definition
| A long toe and a low heel. |
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Term
| Where does a long toed, low heeled horse experience the most stress on the leg and foot structures? |
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Definition
- Flexor tendons
- Navicular bone
- sesamoid bones
- Front aspect of the fetlock due to breakover issues with the long toe
- increased fatigue |
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Term
| How does a high heel and short toe negatively affect a horse? |
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Definition
- The horse will have issues due to concussion |
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Term
| What condition can high heels lead to? Why? |
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Definition
| The horse can develop contracted heels because the digital cushion is not biomechanically engaged. |
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Term
| Your client tells you "This horse doesn't grow any heels." What would you look for? |
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Definition
| Heels that are collapsed and pushed forward. |
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Term
What does a foot 'landing with natural balance' mean?
Why is natural balance important? |
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Definition
It means that the foot touches the ground evenly without twisting, rocking, or striking one side before the other.
If the foot lands unevenly, rocking and twisting, it can result in injuries to the hoof and limb. |
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