Your Horse's Feet

A Good Foundation is Important

Jim Hamilton, DVM

One of the first questions you have to answer after getting your first horse is, "Does he need shoes?" The answer depends on the quality of foot he has and the kind of ground he is on. When you are evaluating your horse's feet, several things should be considered. First, examine the hoof wall for cracks. A brittle wall is a potential problem because it lets in dirt, bacteria, and fungus which can lead to abscesses, seedy toe, gravels and white-line disease. All of these conditions result in a lame horse, something we would like to avoid! A brittle, cracked wall is primarily a genetic problem. A bad-footed mare produces a bad-footed colt. If your horse has the problem, putting shoes on will help because it holds the foot together and less chipping will occur. Adding biotin and methionine to the diet will also help produce a better, thicker wall. These additives are easy to find, are cheap, and they really do help.

The second consideration is the shape of the foot. Is there too much toe? Is the heel angle too far under the foot, indicating an under-run heel? Is the sole of the foot too close to the ground, indicating flat footedness? These are all important questions to answer if one is to fully evaluate the foot's shape. Again, shape abnormalities predispose the horse to lameness. Corrective shoeing can help minimize these problems; a good farrier is critical.

The third factor is the type of ground the horse is kept on. Many horses with poor feet get by on clay, but when changed to a sandy soil may go lame. This is because the sand fills up the bottom of the foot and adds sole pressure. Thin-soled horses or those with flat feet have trouble. Clay soil also holds moisture better than sand and therefore adds more moisture to the foot. This is important for a healthy foot! A brittle hoof wall will get worse as it dries out. Hence, in the sandy soil of the southeast and California, good foot care takes on a whole new meaning. It has been estimated that as much as 70% of the lameness problems in field trial and endurance horses are hoof-related. Many, if not most, of the problems could be avoided if the time is taken to evaluate the horse's feet properly and take proper precautions. It's better to spend time building a stronger house than figuring out what to do when the roof falls in!

e-mail Dr. Jim Hamilton, DVM
Southern Pines Equine Associates