Equine Podiatry

What is Equine Podiatry?

It is most important to first note that Applied Equine Podiatry is NOT just a trim. The trim simply creates balance for the internal and external structures to recieve the proper stimulus for growth. It is the ENVIRONMENT that determines how healthy your horse's foot is. While the trim is part of the environment, there are many other factors involved as well. The application of these factors vary from horse to horse. I've listed a few below:

Turnout - muddy? Rocky? All pasture?
Nutrition and diet
Amount of exercise
Rider's balance and ability
Riding discipline

I do not simply trim during my visits but also educate the client on what to look for in a healthy foot and how to create and maintain good structure. We also assess the environment and discuss what modifications can be done to promote a healthy hoof. If a client is boarding a horse, we can talk about how to work around undesirable conditions, although horse owners committed to keeping healthy bare hooves should understand that in some cases it may be necessary to look for a more barefoot-friendly situation.

Feel Like You've Been "Missing Something" All These Years?
It is important to look at the "big picture." Often, the hoof is excellent diagnostic tool for imbalances and issues far above. I have seen imbalances in feet due to dentistry problems which translated into neck stiffness, back soreness, and ultimately the horse carrying itself in an imbalanced manner. I have seen high heels due to shoulder issues. Excessive flare due to stifle problems. Tendon injuries due to collapsed arches in the hoof. Gaiting issues due to poorly shod hooves. Knee issues due to aluminum shoes and imbalanced trims. Mismatched feet due to the horse's muscular imbalances and environmental conditions. Most all of these, depending on how much damage has been done, have been overcome to return the horse to health and performing at higher (and more correct) levels then before.

Because of this, my approach is multi-faceted. I encourage the owner to work with chiropractors, acupuncturists, and most importantly, good trainers and instructors who know how to teach you and your horse to be balanced and correct and NOT simply work in what appears to be the right "frame." On more than one occasion, pulling a horses's shoes has revealed many long-term issues that need to be corrected and re-training required for both horse AND rider. Each horse is a journey for both equine and human, myself included. This is why I continually re-invest in education - lessons, clinics, biomechanics, massage, gait analysis, etc. are all areas that I study when I have the opportunity. I currently am studying massage through Equissage and will be taking a clinic with Hilary Clayton on Equine Biomechanics and lameness in 2008.

COMMON F.A.Q.'s about Equine Podiatry and keeping horses barefoot

1.) What's the difference between what you do and what my natural hoof trimmer does? "Natural” trimmers are generally known for studying the wild hoof model and basing their trims on that. We, as Equine Podiatrists, do not. Why? Ask yourself these questions – is your horse wild? Does it move about at will for miles during the day? Have the same diet? No. Your horse's environment is probably very different from a wild horse. The environment is the stimulus for the type of foot your horse is going to have and this varies considerably around the country. So why would we try to put a wild foot on your horse? Lastly, it is our goal that Equine Podiatry continues to develop as a SCIENCE. All structures in the foot have a purpose and the development of Equine Podiatry as a science will enable us to better understand the "what," "how," and "why" of the equine foot while also getting to the root cause of a lack of structure.

2.) My horse grows no heel and would go lame if they were shorter. The first question that needs to be answered is – does your horse truly have no heel height or is it simply that they are underrun and growing FORWARD rather than down, giving the appearance that they have no height? If your horse has been shod, this is very likely the case. It is fairly easy to see where the heels are oriented by looking at the direction that the hoof wall tubules are growing - even with a shoe. Your E.P. should easily be able to show you approximately where your heels are and where they should be, from looking at the lateral view of the foot. Second, what is the quality of the frog and digital cushion? It's likely that these structures are not strong enough to handle the weight and movement of the horse and lower heels puts too much pressure on them. Third, have you been able to provide your horse with the proper environment and stimulus to grow more foot – diet included? All of these things indicate a lack of structure in the foot that the shoe has been replacing.

3.) My horse gets thrush easily and can't go without shoes and pads. Thrush is actually anaerobic – it cannot survive in air. Therefore, what you are doing by putting shoes and pads on your horse is providing a very nice breeding ground for thrush to thrive. Our recommendation is to remove the shoes and pads and give your horse a Cleantrax soak to kill the bacteria that has been trapped between the pad and the hoof. Second – assess your environment. Is it wet and muddy? Does your horse get to move around a lot? How are the manure levels in the turnout area? It is important to remove the cause of the thrush and that will start with the shoes and pads. Then, environmental changes must be made to prevent re-occurence, which your E.P. will discuss with you. Lastly, don't assume that all infection is "thrush." Your horse may also have infection in the white line and walls, even hidden under an overgrown bar.