HORSE SENSE HOOFCARE: What is soundness? 24 February 2017 Premium

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24 February 2017

Irish Field Contributor on 24 Feb 2017

HORSE SENSE HOOFCARE: What is soundness?

Master farrier Larry Winters explains how modern farriery has a great deal of options when it comes to dealing with reduced soundness

Irish Field Contributor

24 February 2017

An aluminium spider shoe with a copper sulphate polymer pour, this shoe provides protection and stabilisation, the copper sulphate pour is antimicrobial while increasing support. Prolonged use may negatively remodel the hoof capsule (Photo: Larry Winters)

Easy break-over aluminium straight bar with caudal width and impression material. This option will limit the heels sinking on a surface. Copper coated nails are increasing in popularity in the fight against anaerobic bacteria (Photo: Larry Winters)

An asymmetrical steel shoe with polymer pad and copper sulphate pour - increases the dependency on the medial aspect of the limb on a surface (Photo: Larry Winters)

Lateral support hind shoe to limit the outside of the limb sinking on a surface(Photo: Larry Winters)

Direct glue polymer shoe, this is glued directly to the base of the foot. This mimics the unshod characteristics of the hoof capsule while increasing grip and protection (Photo: Larry Winters)

Aluminium glue on with a bonded polymer rim pad. This shoe has a cuff that is glued to the outer hoof wall with fast setting acrylics. Useful in tender or weak footed horses. (Photo: Larry Winters)

Onion style heel with a roller motion break-over above a two degree graduated heel pad with a soft polymer pour. The geometry of this shoe greatly reduces leverage on break-over while the soft pour provides maximum comfort (Photo: Larry Winters)

A half cover aluminium omni-directional break-over, with polymer pad and pour. This offers protection and reduces vibration in the lower limb while greatly reducing leverage on break-over (Photo: Larry Winters)

SOUNDNESS refers to the serviceability of the horse. An unsound horse has an abnormal gait or stance due to pain, while being unable to correctly perform. It is one of the most expensive health problems a horse may suffer, so safeguarding is key.

Correct warm-up and varied exercise coupled with post work cold therapy can mitigate subclinical symptoms before becoming an issue. ‘One shoe fits all’ no longer applies, today choosing the correct set-up is crucial in staying ahead of the field. Conformation can predispose a horse to injury and pathologies. For example the hock:

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