Hoof Care UW Extension Seminar

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Hoof CareUW Extension Seminar

• Keith Vander Velde
• Marquette County
• March 2003
• Montello, Stevens Point, Green Lake Wisconsin
  Rapids,

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Hoof Care

• Healthy Hoof Necessary for Movement

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Hoof Care

• Myths of hoof care
• Keep the feet wet by standing horses in mud
• Excess moisture causes cracks, thrush, white line
  disease, poor hoof quality and lost shoes.
• The ideal hoof angle is 45 degrees
• A long toe lengthens and softens a horses stride
• Hooves crack when too dry
• Hoof dressing adds moisture and nutrients to
  hoof wall and thereby improve hoof quality

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Hoof Care

• Myths of hoof care
• The frog must make contact with the ground for
  blood to circulate
• Horses not ridden frequently dont need shoes
• All horses need to go barefoot for a period of
  time
• Mud will suck horseshoe right off the hoof
• The best shoeing job is the one that stays on the
  longest
• Shoeing is a necessary evil

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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Hoof Care
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Proper Conformation
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Proper Conformation

• Defects of travel
• Paddling-foot is thrown outward
• Winging-foot swings inward, can cause
  interference
• Plaiting or Rope Walking-one foot in front of
  other
• Interfering-Striking a limb with the opposite
  limb
• Forging-hitting the sole of forefoot with hind
  foot
• Overreaching-hitting the heel of forefoot with
  hind foot

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Footpaths of Horses
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Winging

• Foot swings inward
• Associated with narrow and
• toed out conditions
• Leads to interfering

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View of Fore Hoof
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View of Hind Hoof

• Not as round
• More pointed

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Contracted Hoof

• Note contracted heel
• and quarters

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Quarter Cracks

• Shoes help evenly distribute weight
• Coronary Band is filed or cut
• Toe Clips reduce hoof expansion

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What About External Treatment

• Help soften hoof wall
• Some provide protection-boots
• Very little is absorbed into tissue
• Do not get to source of the problem in circular
  system

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Trimming or Shoeing

• Need because of bedding and soft ground
• Done every 5-8 weeks
• Shape sole
• Trim frog so it self cleans-no gravel or thrush
• Trim hoof wall level
• Keep hoof balanced
• Use hot or cold shoes and only 6 nails although
  most shoes have 8 holes-allows more movement

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Trimming or Shoeing

• Three types of Shoeing
• Preventative-keeps horse sound and improves
  longevity
• Corrective-alter hoof to affect stride
• Therapeutic-Helps in lameness conditions to
  support damaged areas

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Making the Job Easy

• Work with Horses
• Pick up the feet
• Get colts and young horses used to having feet
  picked up
• Have your young horses trimmed early
• Remove shoes before they fall off
• Keep your pens and yards dry as possible

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Your Farriers Favorite

• Multi-legged
• Great way to sell
• shoes
• Lots of Practice
• Good income per
• horse