No Hoof No Horse W 785 Jennie L. Ivey, PhD, PAS, Assistant Professor, UT Extension Lacey H. Johnston, MS, PAS, Lecturer, Herbert College of Agriculture Department of Animal Science With roots back to the mid-18th century, the phrase "no hoof, no horse" still holds true for horses today. A horse’s soundness relies heavily on a solid foundation from the hoof, and even a minor injury or insult to the hoof can be painful to the horse. Hoof quality is influenced by many factors including genetic makeup, conformation, environment, climate, body weight and condition, nutritional management, preventative care and use.

Preventative Maintenance Environment Is Key Body Weight Balance Body Weight Hooves should be trimmed Hard and dry, or soft and wet conditions can every 4 to 8 weeks. Horses carry approximately Use proper nutritional perpetuate hoof problems. 60 percent of their weight management to prevent hoof on their front legs and 40 conditions from developing or Hoof Bones percent on their rear legs. worsening. Horses that are To Shoe or Not to Shoe? Encased within the hard hoof Laminitis and navicular underweight (body condition Check with your farrier to determine if capsule lie the coffin and navicular disease are often seen on score 1-3) or overweight shoes are needed for traction, support, bones. See below for conditions the front limbs due to (body condition score 7-9) are treatment or condition management. relating to these structures. increased weight bearing. predisposed to hoof issues.

Watch for Lameness Short stepping, limping, Hoof Structures Supplementation There are no nutritional supplements that can reluctance to walk, head Comparative Anatomy Familiarity with the hoof can help identify Through evolution, horse lower limb problem areas if/when issues arise. fix poor environmental condition or bobbing, and toe pointing conformation. A properly balanced diet can all be signs of lameness. structure contains the same bone types as should not need to be supplemented. Biotin Check with your veterinarian a human hand, but has transferred the (20mg/d), Iodine (1mg/d), and zinc (175-250 if you suspect your horse horse’s weight to the equivalent of a human mg/d) have been shown to improve may be lame. middle finger! hoof quality.

Hoof Balance Special Credit Proper hoof angle, and balance side to side, and front to back of the hoof are Created in part by critical to preventing lameness. Abby McCalmon for ANSC 496. HOOF CONDITIONS Consult with a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options. For more information on managing your horses or operation, contact your local Extension agent. and oftenhorsessuffering blood flowtothelaminae bone, laminitis canbetriggered T causes inflammationthat very painfultothehorse, their stancebacktoward or mechanicalsituations. severe casesoflaminitis, that interlocktoconnect by nutritional,hormonal bone inplace,knownas ability toholdthecoffin laminitis. Thisprocessis providing painreliefare hoof wall.Disruptionof future casesorchronic from laminitiswillshift he laminaearesensitive acute cases.Resolving the hindend,andmay grades oflameness.In and insensitivetissues underlying cause(s)is the coffinboneto deformity ofthehoof caused bydownward Minimizing traumato important intreating rotation ofthecoffin critical inpreventing weakens thetissue’s founder, orasevere also displayvarying affected feetand 1 canresult.Onsetof 9-0085 10 9-0085 conditions. Laminitis /18 W 785 Pro 785 W /18

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