Friday 6 June 2014

Sole to Sole; taking a look at the equine’s sole with Lucy Nicholas

The July edition of Local Rider Magazine featured an article written by our very own Lucy Nicholas from Trelawne Equine taking a look at sole of the horse’s hoof. In our latest blog we take a look at some of the extracts from the article. To read the full article; pick up a copy of Local Rider Magazine today! Lucy says… “The summer months can lead to hard ground, which can give extra concussive forces to all horses’ limbs and hooves. However, the healthy horse whose bare hoof is well maintained and that has an optimised diet and a managed exercise programme should be able to cope with different terrains and surfaces. Having said that, with all horses, hoof health is a journey with peaks and troughs, and if you happen to be in a ‘trough’ when the harder ground strikes, your bare horse may become less comfortable. Here are some examples of the causes: 1. He is post injury or surgery and hasn’t had the opportunity for regular exercise to ‘toughen’ the foot. 2. His feet are fairly flat, perhaps as he is still transitioning from horse shoes to bare feet, or because he isn’t getting enough stimulating exercise that thickens the horn. 3. He is affected by metabolic issues, dietary problems or low grade laminitis that means his feet are sensitive internally, and therefore uncomfortable on hard ground. 4. His feet are still on the journey to becoming optimised (the hoof takes around a year to fully re-grow) and parts are tender due to their shape and conformation. Let’s consider the horse’s sole, and first remember that the hoof is an organ – only the animal’s liver and kidneys have a denser blood supply. The sole of a healthy hoof is ideally concave. Some breeds are more pre-disposed to flatter feet, however their management regime can influence concavity and sole thickness. In a barefoot horse, the sole should be well-stimulated by exercise, as it is an important part of the weight bearing process. Various parts of the foot should also weight bear, including the frog, heels, and water line, the light-coloured inner layer of hoof wall. (The bars, the parts of the hoof wall that turn inward beside the frog, may also weight bear, although some ‘schools of thought’ prefer to remove the bar.) However, a thin sole that hasn’t been sufficiently stimulated, a very flat foot or a hoof compromised by metabolic or dietary challenges may be challenged by this summer’s hard ground, and there’s a real risk of bruising of the sole’s live corium. This bruising can then cause sub-solar abscesses to occur. Padding Foam comfort pads worn inside hoof boots can be very beneficial in these circumstances. They help to reduce concussion, boost circulation and ultimately hoof condition, and can help improve the integrity of the hoof’s digital cushion and the internal and external structures of the hoof. Various thicknesses are available and 12mm density is the most popular pad, for everyday use. The pads are worn within hoof boots, which are used when you exercise your horse to aid comfort and shock absorption. It is important however to seek knowledgeable advice before using comfort pads, from a company experienced in their use.” For more information about hoof boots and comfort pads or to receive bespoke advice about your barefoot horse contact Trelawne Equine or to keep up with our educational blog visit the website www.trelawneequine.co.uk.