Natural Balance Hoof Care Notes

Reliance on tools like hoof, gauges, and measuring devices for hoof balance can alter our understanding of the horses ______ for balance

Natural equation

How many horses were studied in Gene’s BLM study? How many groups of horses were studied? How many environments/terrains were studied? What were the three densities of the terrain?

65, 3, 3, soft medium and hard

What was the primary summary of findings of Genes BLM study?

Feral horses seem to rely on a large portion of the sole of the foot to bare weight and support the distal phalanx with little primary weight-bearing contribution made by the wall.

How was ground surface mass in Feral horses distributed on the horse hoof?

1/3 in front of the widest part of the foot and 2/3 behind the widest point of the foot.

What was the secondary findings of Gene’s BLM study?

A consistent pattern of four imprint marks was present on every foot.

Describe the pattern of imprint marks that was present on every foot in Gene BLM study.

The imprint marks at the toe were primarily on the soul side of the white line. A hard calloused area extended across the soul between the two to imprint marks. This calloused area of the soul was the point of break over since the hoof wall was rolled ahead of this ridge.

Describe how the three different environments affected the toe length of the feral horses in the BLM study

The horses from the harder more abrasive terrain, had the shortest toe lengths. The horses from the softer sand environment had the longest toe lengths, and the horses coming from the medium sod environment were intermediate in length.

Although the length of the heels buried between the three environments, the ____ _____ ____ was very similar.

Functional hoof angle

What structure had surprisingly little contact with the imprint board in the BLM study

The hoof wall

Horses from which environment had the deepest cup with the most hoof wall, contact occurring at the heels and the medial and lateral toe?

The softest, sand environment.

Horses from which environment had little to virtually no hoof wall contact, however the frog bars and toe callus bore imprint marks.

The Rocky environment.

What three structures of the hoof are designed to be loaded sharing structures?

The frog the bars and the sole.

what media packed deep in the commissures of the frog may serve an important role in dispersing, weight-bearing to the entire sole surface of the foot, and may be an important link to the lifecycle of the equine foot?

D1rt

How much faster do the heels grow than the toe?

Three times faster

What did Dr Bowker find out?

• Frog support, heel first landing, and proprioceptors.

• The idea of frog support and getting the horse to land, slight heel first tied in with the existence of proprioreceptors located in the back of the frog. He also found additional laminate density in the toe quarters, which seemed to support the concept of the pillars being a physiological support structure. His projects having to do with navicular disease and the lack of support and the lateral cartilages, and some of those feet, all pointed to the benefit of frog support to help overcome those tendencies.

What is a basic definition of natural balance?

Natural balance is understanding good foot function and how to achieve equilibrium around the DIP joint.

What is another all encompassing definition of natural balance?

Establishing proper foot function and preventing lameness in an ever-changing and challenging environment for domestic horses.

Definition of proximal

Nearest the trunk or head or point of origin of a limb.

Definition of distal

Farther from the trunk or head or point of origin of a limb

Definition of dorsal

Away from the ground, the front surface of the hoof wall or coffin bone.

Definition of palmar

The bottom surface of the hoof; also refers to the front limbs

Definition of plantar

The bottom surface of the hoof; also refers to the hind limbs

Definition of medial

Towards the middle or median plane of the horse

Definition of lateral

The outside of the horse or further away from the midline of the horse

Definition of superficial

Closer to the surface

Definition of deep

Farther from the surface or closer to the bone

Definition of median plane

The plane dividing the body into EQUAL right and left portions

Definition of sagittal plane

A plane dividing the body into unequal right and left portions, parallel to the median line

Definition of transverse plane

A plane perpendicular to the median plane, dividing the body into cranial and caudal parts. A transverse plane also cuts an organs or limbs long access at a right angle.

Definition for frontal (dorsal) plane

A plane perpendicular to both median and transverse planes, dividing the body into dorsal and ventral portions

What are the three groups of bones in the horses lower leg?

The metacarpals and metatarsals, the phalanges and the sesamoids.

What feature does the hind leg of a horse have that the front leg is missing?

The hock aka the calcaneus

What feature of the hoof has been called the “heart” of the foot?

The frog

Name 5 things the frog does for the hoof.

Acts as a shock absorber through hemodynamics, promotes good blood flow and circulation in the foot, helps align the pastern, encourages heel expansion, and facilitates proprioceptive function.

The frog is specifically designed to _____ the dirt in the bottom of the foot

Trap

Without dirt compaction or a good quality, frog, the frog “” like an unused muscle and leaves nothing in the foot to “”.

Shrinks and narrows. Hold the heels apart.

What creates the perfect environment for bacteria and thrush to thrive?

An unhealthy frog with creases in the central sulcus and commissures.

The largest concentration of the sensory receptors appears to be in the

Frog buttress

What are 5 benefits that the early trek immediately after a foals birth provides?

Development of mental awareness, muscle coordination, proprioception, spinal alignment and early changes in the hooves.

What are 3 benefits of early activity in foals?

Stretching muscles, straightening limbs and developing coordination.

Early development opportunities are being missed in foals that are

Birthed in a deeply bedded box stall and discouraged from too much activity.

Foal hooves undergo some very important changes during their first trek across sometimes

Rocky and Abrasive ground

The ‘’ comprises a large portion of the ground surface of the newborn hoof

Frog

The presence of the “” in a newborn hoof is minimal, so the frog must perform the task of supporting the “”

Digital cushion, Bone column

What two structures appear identical in newborn falls and only change after bearing weight?

The front And hind coffin bones

It is only after the foal bears weight during movement that the front coffin bones began to transform to a more

Rounded shape

What two things are important factors in developing optimal coffin bone size, shape, and quality?

Usage and activity

The “” responds to the hoofs needs at birth and will continue to later in life

Frog

What is the first structure to regenerate hoof to support the bone column?

The frog

If the frog can prosper and maintain a considerable presence in the foot, the “” will expand so that as it becomes harder and more brittle, it will not “” the growth capacity of the internal structures

Hoof capsule, restrict

If the hoof wall grows too tall or the activity is not sufficient to stimulate the frog, the “” and hoof capsule will contract. If it maintains this configuration once the capsule becomes more solid and rigid than it can restrict the “” from developing to its full potential.

Heels, coffin bone

Full maintenance to ensure optimum foot development is quite simple it consists of

Rasping the wall down to the level of the soul all the way around, especially the heels. Radius the outer wall all the way around to further reduce the pull on the outer wall. Do this every two or three weeks starting when they are four weeks old.

Free from noticeable deviations and the feet are pretty much directly below the origination of the leg

Straight legged

Distance between the feet at ground level is less than the distance between the limbs at the origin. Frequently pigeon toed as well

Base narrow

The distance between the feet at the ground level is greater than the distance between the limbs at the origin. Frequently splay footed as well.

Base wide

Toes point towards each other.

Pigeon toed or toed in

Toes point away from each other

Splay footed or toed out

This is when there is a medial deviation distal to the carpus. It is often interpreted as a base narrow confirmation, however, a true “” horse has a more severe angular, limb deformity, and you can see more “” from top to bottom than you do on a common base narrow horse.

bow legs, bow legged, bow

This is when there is a lateral deviation distal to the carpus. A true “” situation has a more severe angular, limb deviation, and you may often times see the toes pointed straight or even inward.

Knocked kneed

On the hind limb this is when there is a medial deviation of the hock joint. Basically the legs are base narrow to the hock and then base wide from the hock to the foot.

Cow hocked

A forward deviation of the carpets. It often times appears as though the knee is bent forward, however, for this condition, the knee is as locked into place as much as it can.

Buck kneed (over at the knee)

A palmar or a rearward deviation of the carpus (knee). A “” is bent or arched backwards, putting more strain on the inferior check ligament and dorsal aspect of the carpal joint.

Calf knee or back at the knee

An acute angulation of the hawk joints.

Sickle hock

When the hind limb is extremely straight from the hawk down.

Too straight behind

Both front and hind limbs are basically vertical from the origin to the pastern

Standing straight

The front limbs are angled caudally, the front feet are caudal to a vertical line from the origin of the limb. This can be a sign of a horse that is sinking due to laminitis or founder.

Standing under in front or Camped under

The front limbs are angled cranially. The front feet are cranial to a vertical line from the origin of the limb. This can be a sign of a horse that is rotating due to laminitis or founder.

Camped in front

The hind limbs are angled cranially. The hind feet are cranial to a vertical line from the origin of the limb. The entire limb is too far forward.

Standing under behind

The hind limbs are angled caudally. The hind feet are caudal to a vertical line from the origin of the limb. The entire Limb is too far rearward.

Camped behind

When the hind foot on one or both sides makes contact with the bottom of the front foot on the same side.

Forging

When either the front feet or hind feet make contact with each other, usually causing scrapes, cuts or lesions on the coronary band, but sometimes as high as the canon bone.

interfering

Also described as tripping this occurs when the horse stubs its toe, faulters and almost falls.

Stumbling

A lateral deviation of the limb during flight; quite often the horse will break over the lateral toe and land on the lateral side of the foot.

Paddling, winging, or dishing.

Most horses do not go perfectly straight and break over directly at the center of the toe. If you look at the direction the “” you can easily determine the natural direction the foot will breakover. This will also give you an idea as to the natural foot flight pattern the hoof will take.

Knee bends

What is periosteal stripping

Agitation of the bone skin to inflame and rush blood to help heal and growth

When does the coffin bone fuse?

At birth

Define Coronary cushion

Mass of fat that acts as a gasket and keeps The blood Supply from being cut off

Distortion of the heels more indirectly increases leverage forces because they can push the toe forward or cause diagonal “” “” to flare

toe quarters

What is corium and what are the two types?

Cell Producing layer. Laminae and papillae.

What are the five groups of papillae?

Perioplic papillae - thin Outer protective layer of Hoof wall

Coronary papillae - Hoof wall

solar papillae - Sole horn

Frog papillae- Frog horn

Terminal papillae - White line

What are the five groups of papillae?

Perioplic papillae - thin Outer protective layer of Hoof wall

Coronary papillae - Hoof wall

solar papillae - Sole horn

Frog papillae- Frog horn

Terminal papillae - White line

What is rare faction?

Bone loss and decreased blood supply caused by trauma. Most common in the coffin bone and navicular bone.

What are bone or jack spavins?

Exostosis in the hock

What is articular cartilage and what does it do?

It is the smooth white, highly specialized tissue that cover covers the ends of the bones where they come together to form joints. It reduces friction and absorbs shock.

Define diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone

Define epiphysis

The rounded end or tip of a long bone

What does the sole use to set the medial and lateral balance?

The toe pillars and sole callus

Definition of breakover

The pivot point of forward movement

Definition of sidebone

The ossification of the collateral cartilages on either side of the coffin bone.

It is often associated with repetitive stress or concussion, and does not always cause lameness.

What are the three static references of the hoof used in hoof mapping?

The dimple line, The central sulcus and the widest part of the foot

Papillae definition

Hair like structures that generate horn material

What is low ringbone?

Bony growth associated with arthritis of the coffin joint, typically caused by chronic stress injury or inflammation. It causes pain, stiffness, and lameness.

What is high ringbone?

Bony growth associated with arthritis of the pastern joint typically caused by chronic stress injury or inflammation. It causes pain, stiffness and lameness.

What is Exostosis

A generic name for a bony outgrowth caused by damage or trauma

What is the process in which long bones grow?

Endochondral Ossification

Endo - Within or inside

Chondr- Cartilage

Al - pertaining to

oss - Bone

Fication - The process of Making or forming

Which joint is the most susceptible to leverage forces created by hoof distortions?

The DIP joint or coffin joint

Which joint in the lower leg is most susceptible to ringbone

The pastern joint

Why is the coffin bone porous?

To house a dense network of blood vessels and nerves that nourish the inner hoof tissues.

What allows hemodynamics to work in the lateral cartilages?

Vascular channels