NEWYHS444

Ask The Experts
farriery: Simon Curtis says...
A flat-footed
horse may
benefit from
having pads
fitted
Wet weather
doesn’t do
hooves any
favours
Wet weather worries
Q
What can I do to help
prepare my horse’s feet for
autumn's wetter weather?
Nina Wolf, London
Simon says... Hooves don't like sudden
changes in hydration. Cracks appear
during abrupt dry spells and wet periods
increase shoe loss. The hoof is waterproof
to some extent, with the outer hoof wall
full of tightly packed horn tubules, which
are water resistant. There’s also an outer
varnish called the stratum externum,
which descends about halfway down
the hoof. However, hooves do appear to
soften in continually wet weather and
lose some of their strength.
Maximising protection
The best bedding for wet hooves is
wood shavings, which dries the hooves
quickly and seems to produce stronger
hooves. Many topical treatments are not
98 your horse november 2018
scientifically proven, but lanolin-based
products appear to protect hooves and
improve their external quality.
Another useful product is Keratex
Hoof Hardener, which contains formalin.
Formalin binds keratin proteins — the
main elements of hoof and skin. It's
particularly good to use after shoeing
and/or trimming, when the natural
veneer of the hoof has been removed.
Be wise
Good management of
your horse’s feet reduces the
environmental impact on
hooves. They should regularly
be cleaned and picked out, so
that mud isn't caked onto the
wall, sole or frog. Do this
every time you bring him
in from the field
Flat foot plight
Q
My horse is flat-footed and my
farrier has suggested taking his
shoes off. How does this help?
Bethany Jackson, Bristol
Simon says... Removing shoes from horses
with flat feet may help because it re-engages
the hoof with the ground. With each step,
your horse’s weight makes the pastern rotate
backwards and sink into the hoof. If the frog
has ground contact, then these forces
equalise and the hoof capsule flexes healthily.
However, having a horse’s shoes removed
may not be the most practical solution, unless
he didn’t need shoes in the first place. The
primary function of shoes is to protect the
hooves from excessive wear, and also to
provide grip and purchase. If your horse
doesn't need shoes to perform at the level
required of him, then remove them, but still
have your farrier give the feet a regular trim.
The farrier’s solution
There are durable farriery solutions to flat
feet. The aim must be to re-engage the frog
so that the foot functions close to normal.
Pads have a synthetic frog in their surface
that is hollow and filled with impression
material. Your farrier will first trim the hoof
to normal proportions, getting the heels back
so that loading is more even across the base
of the foot. The shoe is then fitted for size
and shape and the pad attached.
Next the impression material is mixed,
placed on the foot and the shoe and pad
nailed over it. Excess impression material is
then squeezed out. Once set, the material is
highly elastic — a bit like a child’s 'superball'.
Pads are very robust and can usually be
refitted several times. Your horse does not
have to be permanently shod in this way, but
it may take between six and 12 months
before a significant improvement is seen.
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