Eleven years ago, American Farriers Journal President Mike Lessiter shared one of his dream projects with the editors during an editorial planning session.
He wanted to follow a horse for 1 year and chronicle the details of its hoof care over 8 issues within the pages of AFJ.

I wrote an article in the late 1980s on the development of the third phalanx (P3) from a neonate to an adult of 3 years of age. That article went into the stages of morphological development from the dorsal surface to the cup on the bottom and the palmar processes (wing tips). That developmental process is dependent on the animal having a somewhat normal weight-bearing posture. Excessive, abnormal, or focused compression features should not exceed osmotic cellular pressures, ensuring that the growth period occurs in a timely and correct manner. This excessive compression process is similar to a tourniquet, bed sores or other pressure necrosis.

What does it truly take to support the health, soundness and performance of a horse over a full year? What happens to a hoof — and the horse it supports — across the changing seasons? Behind every graceful stride and subtle moment of trust lies a complex web of daily decisions, expert care and thoughtful management.

The foot, its related structures and the role of biomechanics are often top of mind as hoof-care providers when assessing health and soundness. When managing laminitis or other pathologies, metabolic monitoring and veterinary teamwork come into play. Though, other aspects of equine health may not feel relevant to farriers.

Laminitis is a term that can send shivers down the spine of any horse owner or equine professional. Historically associated with catastrophic hoof failure, career-ending lameness or even life-threatening consequences, the word alone carries weight.