Summary The equine foot evolved to provide an effective interface between the distal limb and the ground for weight‐bearing, shock absorption and providing traction. The use of horseshoes became necessary when horses performed a lot of work on abrasive surfaces. These days, however, most equine athletes train and compete on soft, manufactured surfaces that are conducive to having the horses barefooted, especially if they have good‐quality hooves and can be taken out of work for a short period of time while the hoof goes through the adaptive process. Being barefoot for a period of time is often useful in treating horses with chronic foot lameness, hoof capsule distortions with compromised heel structures, sheared heels or frogs that are either recessed or prolapsed relative to the ground surface of the foot. The benefits of being barefooted include superior shock absorption, better energy damping and improved weight‐bearing ability. Without shoes, the foot undergoes greater expansion and vertical movement at the heels and foot shape is maintained by friction and wear between the entire solar surface of the foot and the ground. Shaping the barefoot hoof involves removing excessive hoof wall using hoof nippers at an angle of 45° dorsal to the sole‐wall junction (white line) to create a bevel in the bearing surface of the hoof wall. The heels are rasped horizontally to the same horizontal plane as the frog which makes the palmar foot ‘load sharing’. Starting at the heel quarter, the rasp is used around the circumference of the foot at a 45° angle and then a rounding motion from proximal to distal is used to produce a thick rounded perimeter to the distal hoof wall. It is important to leave all the horn/mass on the solar surface of the foot for protection. Adaptation to being barefoot requires a period of time to allow the structures of the foot to strengthen along with reshaping of the foot at 3–4‐week intervals. A version of this manuscript was presented at the American Association of Equine Practitioners Scientific Program in 2023.

Summary This article describes three cases in which severe foot pathology was managed with surgery and the application of a wooden shoe. Although all three horses would have fulfilled the grounds for humane euthanasia, they were successfully managed and had a favourable outcome. This article supports current farriery concepts and shows how the wooden shoe can effectively redistribute the horse's weight on the solar surface of the foot, alleviate foot pain, enhance foot biomechanics and serve as a valuable tool for veterinarians and farriers in post‐surgical management of laminitis and other foot‐related injuries.

The extensive nature of this topic warrants this review paper to be divided into two parts: 'Routine basic trimming in foals' and 'Therapeutic farriery in foals'. Hoof care in the first few months of life is serious business and should never be taken lightly. Good farriery is vital for the development of the hoof capsule and the conformation of the limb. Management of the feet and limbs during the juvenile period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. Overall hoof care of a foal is often a joint venture between the veterinarian and the farrier. Part 1 of this paper will outline the concept of a footcare programme, examination of the foal's feet and limbs along with what constitutes good basic farriery to properly apply the trim. It will also emphasise the importance of maintaining a good veterinarian-farrier relationship - the farrier being responsible for basic trimming with veterinary oversight when necessary, and if orthopaedic disorders develop, the farrier will have significant input with therapeutic farriery.

Summary The extensive nature of this topic warrants this review paper to be divided into two parts: ‘Basic trimming in foals’ and ‘Therapeutic farriery in foals’. Management of the feet and limbs during this juvenile period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. Overall hoof care in the foal is often a joint venture between the veterinarian and the farrier. The orthopaedic disorders discussed in this paper that require input from the two professions are flexural limb deformities ( FLD ) and angular limb deformities ( ALD ). The concept of protecting the foot from the deleterious effects of mal‐loading created by many FLD s and ALD s is just as important as using the symptomatology as an instrument to correct the deformity. This paper presents a review of the current information regarding the farriery for these two limb deformities while dispelling some of the anecdotal methodology, such as the use of toe extensions to treat flexural deformities, that presently exists. Considering the deficiency of information in the literature, segments of this text will be based on the author's extensive clinical practice, comprehensive clinical records and comparisons of case outcomes.

SummaryThe wooden shoe provides the clinician with an alternative option to conventional farriery when treating a variety of foot problems such as acute/chronic laminitis, white line disease, distal phalanx fractures and poor‐quality hoof capsules. The wooden shoe provides a simplified method to apply many of the principles of therapeutic farriery which include redistributing the load or forces on the foot, repositioning breakover and providing heel elevation when necessary. Understanding the biomechanics of the wooden shoe along with understanding good basic farriery which include the appropriate foot trim, proper size, fit and placement of the wooden shoe on the foot combined with the appropriate application are essential for consistent success. This paper outlines what is considered to be the proper application of the wooden shoe.

Summary White line disease (WLD) is a significant pathological condition that affects the equine hoof. White line disease continues to frustrate veterinarians and farriers due to the diversity regarding the aetiology, diagnosis and especially treatment. Furthermore, WLD lacks a definitive definition as the disease becomes apparent only when the hoof wall is compromised with an extensive separation, a hoof capsule distortion is present or when lameness exists. Clinical signs can range from a minor hoof wall separation to an extensive disruption of the external laminar bond resulting in displacement of the distal phalanx within the hoof capsule. There has been a myriad of treatments and topical preparations proposed for treating WLD, but most remain controversial with few having any scientific documentation or evidence of efficacy. This review of WLD is based on the sparse information available in the veterinary literature, the large number of WLD cases treated successfully in the authors’ combined practices using conventional farriery and the relevant questions that hopefully can be answered in the future.

Equine Veterinary EducationVolume 30, Issue 11 p. 573-575 Editorial The veterinary–farrier relationship: Establishing and sustaining a mutually beneficial liaison W. A. Moyer, W. A. Moyer Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Billings, Montana, USASearch for more papers by this authorH. W. Werner, H. W. Werner Werner Equine LLC, North Granby, Connecticut, USASearch for more papers by this authorS. E. O'Grady, S. E. O'Grady orcid.org/0000-0001-6243-7724 Virginia Therapeutic Farriery, Keswick, Virginia, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. T. Ridley, J. T. Ridley Ridley Horseshoeing, Leighton, Iowa, USASearch for more papers by this author W. A. Moyer, W. A. Moyer Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Billings, Montana, USASearch for more papers by this authorH. W. Werner, H. W. Werner Werner Equine LLC, North Granby, Connecticut, USASearch for more papers by this authorS. E. O'Grady, S. E. O'Grady orcid.org/0000-0001-6243-7724 Virginia Therapeutic Farriery, Keswick, Virginia, USASearch for more papers by this authorJ. T. Ridley, J. T. Ridley Ridley Horseshoeing, Leighton, Iowa, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12936Citations: 2Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume30, Issue11November 2018Pages 573-575 RelatedInformation

Hoof care in the first few months of life is serious business and should never be taken lightly. Farriery plays a vital role in both the development of the hoof and the conformation of the limb. Management of the feet and limbs during this period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. A sound foot care program is time-consuming, whereas assembly-line trimming is quick and easy, but the former is much more beneficial.

Summary The structures of the equine foot have the unique ability to adapt, change shape and restore. There are multiple benefits in shod vs. barefoot or in allowing the horse to be without shoes for a given time period to improve the palmar section of the foot. However, it requires a transition period, a change in the manner in which the foot is trimmed, a commitment from the owner/trainer and, in the case of leaving the horse without shoes permanently, it depends whether the horse can perform the desired function without shoes.

The hoof capsule is comprised of the hoof wall, sole, frog, and bulbs of the heels, which, through the unique continuous bond between its components, form a casing on the ground surface of the limb that affords protection to the soft tissue and osseous structures enclosed within the capsule. The hoof wall is a viscoelastic structure that has the ability to deform under load and then return to its original shape when the weight is removed. It is well accepted that abnormal weight distribution on the foot or disproportionate forces placed on a section of the hoof will, over time, cause it to assume an abnormal shape. These abnormal stresses within the foot will also predispose the foot to injury or disease. Increased stress or weight-bearing placed on a section of the hoof capsule may originate from a single source or it may be from multiple contributing factors such as abnormal limb conformation, strike pattern, amount of work, type of footing, and inappropriate farrier practices. Excess stress placed on one section of the hoof capsule can manifest itself in a variety of ways, such as compressed growth rings, flares or under-running of the hoof wall, dorsal migration of the heels, and either focal or diffuse displacement of the coronary band. Distortion of the hoof capsule of the forelimbs appears to be related to limb alignment and load, whereas deformation in the hind feet appears to be different and related to propulsion. Because the hoof capsule distortion of the forelimbs is commonly associated with lameness and various disease processes, only the forelimbs will be considered in this report. Because the “normal” foot has never been defined, each view will begin with what is perceived to be an ideal, good, or healthy foot. Palpation of the hoof capsule often complements the visual examination, and the areas where palpation is relevant will be included. The goal of evaluating the hoof capsule is to identify deformation and changes in growth pattern that indicate abnormal distribution of forces (stresses) on the foot. Because hoof capsule distortion and abnormal loading usually accompany lameness, farriery will form part of or sometimes the entire treatment. Farriery is used to help redistribute the load and help improve or resolve the hoof capsule deformation.

SummaryA true clubfoot results from a flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint that is characterised by a shortening of the deep digital flexor tendon musculotendinous unit. Flexural deformities are a problem not only in foals but are also responsible for the clubfoot conformation seen in mature horses. Treatment is most successful when the cause is investigated and therapy initiated as early as possible, and when the biomechanical properties of the foot are thoroughly understood. Flexural deformities in foals and mature horses are addressed through appropriate farriery, often combined with surgery.

Hoof abscesses are probably the most common cause of acute severe lameness in horses encountered by veterinarians and farriers. Most affected horses show sudden, severe (acute) lameness; the degree of lameness varies from being subtle in the early stages to non-weight bearing. There is still debate between the veterinary and farrier professions as to who should treat a hoof abscess and the best method to resolve the abscess. Puncture wounds to the sole of the foot can introduce bacteria and debris to the solar surface of the distal phalanx and produce a fracture or a septic pedal osteitis.

Conditions that result in the loss of the structural integrity of the hoof wall, such as quarter and toe cracks, are not uncommon and usually manifest in lameness. The successful management of these problems involves identifying and addressing the underlying causes, stabilization of the foot, and committed follow-up.

Sheared heels develop as an adaptation-distortion of the hoof capsule as a result of an abnormal strike and loading pattern of the foot, which is generally a consequence of limb conformation. The growth rate around the circumference of the hoof should be approximately uniform, but regional disturbances in growth rate can occur to either increase or decrease growth. The primary conformational trait that is observed in horses that develop sheared heels is a rotational deformity of the distal limb and a narrow chest. Farriery is directed toward improving the hoof capsule distortion and decreasing the forces on the displaced side of the foot.

Hoof care and therapeutic farriery are valuable and important aspects of equine ambulatory practice. Developing, establishing and sustaining solid relationships with the horseshoeing community are essential for the overall health of the horse. Good relationships with the horseshoeing community can help the ambulatory veterinarian develop his or her practice, and serve as a consistent source of continued learning.

A club foot or flexural deformity may affect a horse at any stage of life from neonate through adulthood. The emphasis of this article is on defining and recommending the appropriate farriery for flexural deformities involving the deep digital flexor tendon and the distal interphalangeal joint. Clinical management of the flexural deformity is influenced by the severity, duration, and etiology of the club foot as well as the degree and source of lameness. Also discussed is the management of mismatched hoof angles, which remains a controversial subject for both farrier and veterinarian.