Farrier for Vets Flashcards
Why are horses trimmed?
Remove excess length, remove distortion, improve base support, prevent chipping, remove disease/deteriorated areas
Why do horses wear shoes?
Protection, treatment, traction and to alter gait
What are some consequences of horse shoes?
Increased shock/concussion to distal limb, traumatic hoof wall loss, puncture wound from chip or nail, sprung or twisted show, injury if kicked, nail too close to sensitive structures
What does a perfect foot look like?
-Symmetrical
-Thick bars (terminate at widest part of foot)
-Big frog takes up 60% length
-Healthy sole
Thick hoof wall
What is the key to trimming or shoeing a horse?
Load the healthy structures
How should you trim a foot for a shoe?
Flaten it (lead wall rounded (45 degree) for barefoot)
What is the ideal hoof patern axis?
Matched
What is an underrun heel?
More than 5 degree difference between the dorsal hoof wall and heel angle
(Heel 1/3 distance of dorsal hoof wall)
Growth ring matched and uniform
Where should the widest part of the hoof be?
Widest point behind the frog (3/4 to inch behind) - horse shoe half in front and behind
-Directly down from the distal condyle P2
What is key when assessing your hoof-pastern-axis?
Must be standing square
What is a broken back HPA?
When the angle of P2 is greater than the distal Phalynx
What structures are overloaded when you have a broken back HPA?
DDFT, Navicular bone, P2 and P1
How can you correctively shoe a broken back HPA?
Wedge 2-10 degree (get to any more is impovement
What is broken forward HPA
When the angle of P2 is less than that of the hoof wall
-Club foot, flexural limb deformity
What does broken forward HPA predispose the horse to?
Stain suspensory, sole bruising, stretched white line, abscesses
What is spry foot? How do you correct it?
Base wide horse/fetlock valgus makes medial side mor upright and lateral flare and more angles
-Shoe opposite side of flare
Horse have very thin walls so what is always possible when driving a nail?
Miss and hit something important or make an abscsess
What is the difference between direct and indirect glue on shoes?
Direct: glue to sole and hoof wall
Indirect: cuff or clip or tap to the outer hoof wall
What is a reason you would not want to glue on shoes?
Abscess
What are some different types of shoes?
Metal, glue on, soft ride boots, casting or wooden shoes
Why do we use pads?
Protect and support, recruit the sole and frog in load sharing, increase foot length, align the hoof pastern axis, protect wounds, act as artificial sole depth and aid with shock dissipation
What are negative functions of pads?
Pressure and pain, pressure and discomfort to issue area, pressure on navicular region, increase length, reduce traction, trap dirt and debris, anaerobic environment
What are some types of pads?
leather, plastic, urethane, metal and closed cell foam
Why are hospital pads helpful?
Can still get to sole for treatment
