SOUNDNESS EVALUATION

Examination of the hooves.

Since one of the oldest horsemans' proverbs is, "No hoof no horse," it is surprising how many have never, ever, picked up a hoof to give it a cleaning, and to look for problems that might be developing.

The safest procedure is to let the horse know what you are going to do by running your hand down his leg, while gently pushing on his body to make him shift his weight to the opposite hoof. Facing to the rear, place your hand on the cannon just above the fetlock, and slowly pull it back and up.

65- Feet hard to handle ( 1-5 )

Any horse, however young, that will not give a foot up for inspection without making a fuss, should be distrusted for two reasons. He could be a kicker. Or, a product of neglect.

The first possibly can be corrected by training. The second, could be more dangerous, for if a horse is kept in a corral, or stall, without excercise, and periodical hoof care, there is a possibility of a physiological change that can lead to unsoundness.

66- General condition of hoof ( 5-10 )

A healthy hoof wall appears clean, smooth, solid — not chipped, cracked, or ringed by uneven growth. The sole should not show any signs of separation of the fibers of the wall, red bruises, pussy corns, puncture wounds, or a black, rotted, foul-smelling fungus called Thrush.

What is necessary to look out for is a minor problem as, say, a bruise, covering up something more serious, as a cracked bone inside the hoof. Or, Thrush eating away the pliable frog and disguising Navicular Disease. An infected hoof is warm to the touch, and will be jerked away with obvious pain at a light tap with a hammer.

While the hoof is being held with the sole up, let's take another look at the wear made by the foot breaking over on takeoff, and where it lands. On a barefoot horse the wear should match the base stance, but at the same time, any spreading, or flaring out of the wall that doesn't carry the weight (outside for base wide, inside for narrow) should have been corrected by a continuing program of proper hoof care. A horse with an out, or in, stance that has been shod, should — if the horseshoer knows what he is doing, and it is possible to correct the stance— show uniform shoe wear overall.

67- Shape of hoof irregular ( 5-10 )

All hooves are shaped different. Even on a single horse, the shoe fitted for the left foot, is not interchangeable for the right. However, the standard keg horseshoe does come close to what is considered ideal, especially brands that come in both fronts and hinds.

A forefoot should be round and wide. The hindfoot has a more pointed appearance.

Two easily recognized abnormal hoof shapes are Flat Feet, and Contracted Heels. The first is a matter of heredity, usually occuring in large, spread out, draft horse type feet. The second is the exact opposite in appearance. It is often the result of leaving shoes on for too long of a period without re-setting. In an extreme example, the bars at the rear of the hoof almost come together, and the frog, which should touch the ground, has shrunk away to nothing.

68- Navicular Disease ( 10 ) [19,27,36,51,57]

Here it is again, Contracted Heels, especially if present in only one foot, is an indicator. Also, bruises, or excessive wearing of the toes is suspect.

69- Laminitas ( 10 ) [36,59,69]

Now the other biggy. Founder (the common name for Laminitas) can be caused by a number of un-related things — from feeding too much grain, to standing in a stall for excessively long periods — but the result is the same. Trouble.

Once a horse has experienced an attack, he is susceptible for another. When the condition becomes chronic, the horn of the hoof separates from the bone.
Tell-tale signs of a past attack include a dropped sole (not just flat feet), toes turned up, as the horse tries to walk on his heels — and the most obvious of all, deep, wavey, rings, or ridges, across the hoof wall. Also, a horse suffering an attack will extend his forelegs to relieve the pain.