Hoof Care Provider/ Farrier Services

Front hoof health affects hind hoof health

Denys Antonenko • Apr 21, 2023

One Minute Discussions #57


Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care


FRONT HOOF HEALTH WILL AFFECT HIND HOOF HEALTH


This picture is just a fraction of what I come across both in the field and in dissections. I am constantly seeing front hooves having a distinctive appearance of laminitis and the hind hooves being bullnosed with a flat or negative plantar angle.

These front and hind hoof shapes are correlated. After all, it’s on the same horse, so by looking at the whole horse we can pinpoint where the initial problem is. But what may cause these distortions?

If the fronts are sore and unhealthy (and most commonly, if they have long toes) then the horse will improperly weight their legs. From this, the posture will shift and horses would want to stand with their hinds more under themselves, under the belly, also known as “goat in a rock”. Movement is also affected, many horses that compensate in the fronts cause changes in the hinds, crushing the heels even more during locomotion.

I think in these cases it’s important to focus on the root of the problem, and many times front hooves are the culprit. Getting them more healthier and functional will correct the improper angling on the hinds. Once we do that the horse will have less pain and will be able to load the front and hind end more evenly, not overloading any structures and not causing any damage.

Do you notice this problem often? What else do you think causes it?


Denys Antonenko

How to build a dry lot

By Denys Antonenko • 23 Apr, 2024
Click on the button below to download the free PDF step by step guide to building a dry lot or scroll to look at the guide below!

Leave or remove the lamellar wedge?

By Denys Antonenko • 21 Apr, 2023
One Minute Discussions #66 Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care LEAVE OR REMOVE THE LAMELLAR WEDGE? The lamellar wedge is the adaptation of the hoof to internal problems. And although it’s a sign of inflammation, it may still serve a purpose during rehab. It’s still responsible for “glueing together” the wall and sole, but that “glue” is not as strong as it’s supposed to be. So how do we address it in the trim. Everything depends on the horses comfort level and the condition of the lamellar wedge. It won’t be a wise decision to totally remove the lamellar wedge if it is soggy, weak and not fully keratinized. But in a lot of cases it is safe to remove most, if not all of it, if the lamellar wedge is keratinized, dry and sturdy (especially if we’re putting the horse in therapy boots). In some cases it is a good idea to trim the bottom, flared growth evenly with the well connected top growth in order to reduce leverage on the lamina as much as we can. Denys Antonenko

What causes lamina separation?

By Denys Antonenko • 21 Apr, 2023
One Minute Discussions #65 Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care WHAT CAUSES LAMINA SEPARATION Yesterday on my group I posted a question… what causes lamina separation? And although we’re used to hearing the most common things that separate the lamina, such as poor diet, metabolic problems, excessive toe leverage, etc, we don’t often hear about the less common things that can lead to a path of lamina failure without us noticing it. You’ve heard me say it many times before that lamina failure is not a result of just one thing. There’s always multiple factors contributing to the problem. As an example, bacterial and fungal infections weaken the foot, and that can result in lamina separation. Mental and physical stress can increase hormone levels which may result in poor hoof health. Many different problems happening elsewhere in the horses body (skin issues, allergies, dental problems) can be a factor that leads to a weak lamina. Denys Antonenko
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