Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Basic hoof care for performance horses to prevent lameness
By O'Grady, Stephen E·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice·2008·Northern Virginia Equine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Basic farriery for the performance horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Taking care of a horse's hooves is really important for keeping them healthy and preventing lameness, which is when a horse has trouble walking. Veterinarians need to understand the basics of horseshoeing so they can work well with farriers, who are the specialists that take care of hooves. By knowing how to spot small changes in the shape of a horse's hooves, vets can help maintain the overall health of the hoof and the structures inside it. This knowledge is especially important for performance horses, as it helps keep them sound and able to perform their best. Overall, proper hoof care can significantly reduce the risk of lameness in these horses.
Abstract
Proper farriery promotes a healthy functional foot and biomechanical efficiency and prevents lameness. Because the equine veterinarian is responsible for the soundness of the horse, a working knowledge of farriery becomes essential. A thorough knowledge of traditional horseshoeing enables the veterinarian to interact with the farrier at the farrier's level; this ultimately enhances and promotes quality hoof care. This article focuses on fundamental farriery and recognizing subtle changes in hoof conformation that can be used to preserve the integrity of the hoof capsule, along with the structures enclosed within, and thus prevent lameness in the performance horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18314044/