When soft tissues in the horse's pastern or heel are subjected to repeated strain or trauma, the horse's body may respond to the chronic inflammation by depositing calcium. If the strain or concussion continues, the result may be ringbone, calcification affecting the collateral and suspensory ligaments along the front of the pastern, or sidebone, calcification of the lateral cartilage at the sides and rear corners of the horse's heel.
It's hard to miss signs of serious lameness: the horse is reluctant to move, obviously favors one limb when walking, and shows a classic head-bob at the trot. Many times, however, it's not that easy to tell whether a horse is a bit "off"? in his gaits, and even trickier to determine where the lameness originates.
Substances such as honey, molasses and syrup have been used since ancient time on burns and wounds with a high degree of success. It has only been recently that scientific studies on various sugars use in wound treatment have backed up the folklore and ancient medical theories with scientific data.
There seems to be some disagreement among hoof-care professionals as to the extent of the sole's role in weight bearing. The suggestion that the laminar attachment of P3, with transference of the horse's weight to the hoof wall, is not its major means of support is as absurd as suggesting the sole should take no part in weight bearing.
When it comes to helping farriers in identifying lameness issues, Susan Dyson offers some practical advice that she follows when taking a look at horses.
Over the years I've heard many comments about long toes on racehorses. Horses that knuckle over behind were said to have "long toe-itis."? Many trotters that are doing well "don't need any toe to trot,"? trainers say.
Ground poles are a common tool in many riders' training arsenals. They can be helpful in introducing horses to jumping and fine-tuning their stride. They're essential for horses being prepared for trail or horsemanship classes. They can be used to help an uncoordinated horse develop strength and steadier gaits. New research suggests they can also be a valuable tool for horses returning to work after injury or lameness.
In this episode, Mark Ellis, a Wisconsin farrier who learned the ropes with Renchin, recalls Red’s relationships with area veterinarians, his legacy and the second career as American Farriers Journal’s technical editor.
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