(ASK THE VET ) “How do I keep my horse sound
on hard ground?” by Claire Sawyer BVetMed CertAVP(ESO)MRCVS
Claire is a vet and director at Avonvale Equine Practice, she is also an RCVS recognised advanced practitioner in Equine Orthopaedic Surgery with a particular interest in lameness and poor performance.
www.avonvaleequine.co.uk D
uring the summer months the ground conditions can vary widely and this can affect different horses to a greater or lesser extent.
In general, the most important factor in keeping horses sound on hard ground centres around good regular farriery. During the spring and summer months grass growth is increased and nutrient content in the grass maximalised. This results in faster hoof growth than in the winter. For this reason it may be necessary to shorten your normal shoeing/trimming interval during the spring and summer. When your horse is shod/trimmed the farrier should have achieved the best possible foot balance for your horse. As each week passes aſter shoeing or trimming the foot grows and the foot balance deteriorates. The more regularly the horse is shod/trimmed the shorter the period of imbalance. Keeping your horse’s feet in good balance is essential for keeping them sound at any time of year, but particularly when the ground is hard.
Poor foot balance oſten manifests as long toes and collapsed heels (broken back hoof pastern axis). This conformation overloads the flexor tendons and suspensory ligaments. If you combine a broken back hoof pastern axis and hard ground you are predisposing your horse to tendon injuries.
Mediolateral foot imbalance (where the coronary band isn’t level) puts additional strain down one side of the leg. This can cause overloading down one side of the limb which can lead to splint formation – again exacerbated by hard ground.
Horses who have underlying low grade lameness (who don’t appear lame in the arena or on soſt ground) are likely to display their lameness more on hard ground. So, if your horse is lame on hard ground then a veterinary assessment is valid as there is likely to be an underlying issue. The root cause of lameness may be variable, everything from low grade
osteoarthritis through to navicular bone pain could be implicated, so it is important to get your vet out for a thorough assessment.
Some horses with poor foot balance or thin soles can be predisposed to sub-solar bruising. This can be alleviated to an extent with foot pads or gel packing placed under the shoe. However, chronic sub-solar bruising is quite rare, so any persistent lameness on hard ground should be investigated by a vet.
Horses who are prone to laminitis can get flare ups on hard ground. Concussion is a cause of laminitis in its own right, though few horses get concussive laminitis alone. Horses with Cushing’s (PPID) are five times more likely to suffer with laminitis than horses without Cushing’s (PPID). So, if your horse struggles on hard ground he/she may have underlying Cushing’s disease (PPID) which is contributing to low grade laminitis.
Lastly horses who are overweight are more likely to struggle on hard ground. They are more at risk of laminitis and they are carrying more weight than is desirable. So, weight management as always is an important factor when keeping your horse sound.
TOP TIPS – • Ensure your horse is shod or trimmed regularly (ideally not longer than 6 week intervals).
• Ensure that your horse’s feet are well balanced, if you are unsure speak to your vet or farrier.
• Ensure that your horse is an appropriate weight. • Ensure that any lameness on hard ground is investigated by a vet, it is probably highlighting a low-grade problem – many of which can be treated.
Radiograph of a horses foot with a broken back hoof pastern axis. The red line indicates the horses centre of gravity coming down through the back of the foot. The heels are unsupported as they overhang the shoe.
20 SUMMER SPECIAL 2019
View of a horses’ foot with a broken back hoof pastern axis. The red lines should all be parallel. However, the heels are collapsed and unsupported by the shoe. The angle of the hoof wall is not in-line with the angle of the pastern.
Radiograph of a horses foot with good foot balance. The red line represents the centre of gravity, coming down in the middle of the weight bearing surface. The heels are well supported and the three bones in the foot are well aligned.
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