Vet Clinic
Attention to Details Paying attention to small changes or problems in your horse can help prevent major setbacks.
ust the other day, I was getting my horses up for an afternoon roping practice. First I went to a paddock and captured my heeling mare Mary. After brushing, braiding her mane and picking her feet—my typical ritual prior to saddling—I went to another paddock and got my heading horse, RJ. After brushing and braiding him, I started picking his feet. It was then that I noticed a small line on the inside of his right front hoof that had a small bloodstain. I picked up the hoof and looked closer. I pressed on each side of this one-inch, fine line that ran down the inside quar- ter, about an inch below the coronary band. I could separate each side independently. Finally, I pressed on the coronary band directly above this small defect in the wall, and RJ flinched. The diagnosis was clear: my horse had a quarter-crack. Roping is my hobby, and I try to practice, train my horses and compete almost every chance I get. I’m well aware that most of us in the Amateur ranks might not prepare, practice or perform with the same amount of focus and concern that professionals do, but we should! Something as simple as a quarter-crack left unidentified or not properly addressed could result in ruining a perfectly good horse due to the sequence of events that can follow. In this particular case, I knew exactly what to do— after 27 years of working on racehorses all around the world, I have seen and dealt with foot problems of this nature on an almost-daily basis. Because I identified it early and knew how to treat it initially, this quarter-crack was going to be only a minor set- back. But what would have happened to RJ had I not known what to do right away or who to call? There is a possibility that if left unidentified, this relatively minor hiccup could have gone as far as a full-blown, career-stopping disaster that could cause a perma- nently damaged hoof wall and chronic lameness. Sound a little farfetched? It’s not, and I have seen numerous cases like this one be an excellent athlete’s complete undoing.
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The lesson that can be learned from all of this is simple: attention to details on a daily basis is key.
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• Have a routine when preparing your horse for any activ- ity. This can remind you to check for and notice subtle changes.
• Pay attention to your horse’s feet. Do you notice any splitting, chipping or cracks on the hoof itself, or any loose shoes or nails that you need to address?
• Give your horse a basic once-over, checking for swollen or weepy eyes, excessive discharge from the nostrils, and any new cuts or swellings.
• If your horse is coughing or seems dull, check his tem- perature. An above-normal temperature might indicate a more serious problem.
• If you notice anything that looks different in appearance, size or sen- sitivity, keep checking it over a course of time. If it becomes increased in sensitivity, larger or more swollen, get it checked by a veterinarian, another horseman you respect, your trainer or your blacksmith.
• Remain proactive and check things out early, so— like my quarter-crack—you only encounter a minor setback. It’s much better to be proactive than risk responding too late and losing the use of your horse for an extended period. I always say, “Preventative medicine is always more
By Steven Allday, D.V.M.
productive and rewarding than restorative medicine.” The ounce of prevention is worth more than the pound of cure because it addresses or identifies the little things before they can become big, expensive problems. Always try to notice the little things first when everything appears normal. It makes a lot of sense when you pay attention to details.
The developer of LubriSyn joint supplement, Steve Allday is a special contributor for Paint Horse Racing. To comment on this article, email
feedback@apha.com. Visit the LubriSyn website to learn more.
PAINT HORSE RACING
MAY 2013
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APHA FILE PHOTO
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