NB Hoof Trimming

Shedding sole and frog can sometimes be intimidating for horse owners but it is a perfectly natural process. It’s the same as when you have a callous peel off your foot. Some horses shed frog and sole in small chunks, others wear it naturally so you don’t see the shedding process and some horses shed it all in one big dramatic slough. That is what happened here. Underneath was new healthy growth.

What effect does changing the angle of the hoof and therefore phalangeal alignment have on the soft tissue structures of the digit? I am often questioned as to... whether artificially aligning the hoof Pastern axis over loads the suspensory ligament and/or superficial digital flexor tendon and whether therefore it is not good practice. There have been studies in favour of artificial elevation and some against. Hinterhofer et al. (2001) stated there were smaller deformations of the hoof with a 5 degree increase. But acknowledged the risk of further crushing to the heels supported by the finding of increased load on the heels with wedges (Wilson et al. 1998). Thompson et al. (1993) found that the Deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) strain decreased with elevation and that the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and suspensory ligament (SL) strain were NOT affected, however strain on the extensor branch of the SL increased rapidly. Riemersma et al. (1996) also measured an increase strain in the SL. Other studies have measured increased intra articular pressure with elevation, showing that joints and ligaments are also affected by these changes in angle but that’s another question. With these findings it’s understandable why the increased load on the SL and other structures is often a concern. However what remains unclear from all of these studies is what the phalangeal alignment was at the time of an increase or reduction of hoof angle. Also what hasn’t been quantified is what the strains are of those structures in an ideal. Many studies have linked a broken back alignment with increased load on the DDFT. Broken back HPA (BBHPA), has been shown to predispose the horse to navicular syndrome. Waguespack and Hanson (2010) outlined the biomechanical considerations of a BBHPA and stated that the primary source of pressure on the navicular bone (NB) is compression from the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), Ruff et al. (2016) expanded on this, expressing the increased compressive force on the NB from the DDFT in conformations exhibiting increased dorsiflexion, this was supported by Uhl et al (2018) which stated conformations described by Ruff et al. (2016) as being mechanically predisposed to navicular and that DDFT lesions corresponded with areas of increased load. Many other papers have expressed the importance of a good HPA, (Witte (2014), Zani et al. (2015), Logie (2017), Turner (2020), Brown (2020)), outlining its importance in optimal performance and the predispositions of a BBHPA If you raise the heels in a broken alignment, perhaps you will get an increased strain reading in the SL or SDFT but the question is have you over loaded those structures or returned to a more even strain share of all the relevant structures, especially in the light of all the papers just stated. More research needs to be done to quantify what appertains to ideal strain share and whether that is obtained at aligned. But my hypothesis is that ideal strain share would correlate closely with ideal alignment. The image below shows an illustration of that theory. Aligned has ideal strain share of the 3 structures. Broken back, increased strain of the DDFT and broken forward has increased strain of the SDFT and SL. Increased strain shown by thicker lines. For more information on alignment feel free to watch and read at these links. . https://youtu.be/xggVpfmO9BI . https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com//hoof-pastern-axis-

"There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun Long before the white man and lon...g before the wheel When the green dark forest was too silent to be real * But time has no beginnings and hist'ry has no bounds As to this verdant country they came from all around They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forests tall Built the mines the mills and the factories for the good of us all * And when the young man's fancy was turnin' to the spring The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day And many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay" * Canadian Railroad Trilogy - Gordon Lightfoot Today we celebrate Canada. This beautiful nation is not perfect, none of them ever are, but it is the only home we know & we are fortunate to have been born here and to live our lives in freedom & safety.

Fantastic information on understanding sugar levels in pastures!!!