Best foot forward

We’ve all heard the expression “no foot, no horse”, but what actually constitutes a bad foot and can anything be done about it? Stephanie Bateman investigates

- Phanie Bateman

KEEPING horses sound is an intricate process. The slightest deviation in hoof balance and limb-hoof alignment can have catastrophic consequences not only to performance but also to general soundness and longevity.

Recognizing if a prospective purchase has “bad” feet is therefore essential, but if your own horse already has conformational defects, there are ways of managing some of them.

“Hoof conditions such as cracks, splits, and corns can be treated, but it’s when the issue relates to the shape and loading pattern of the hoof that it becomes complicated,” says farrier Ben Benson AWCF. “The hoof grows, so if the problem is purely in the hoof, often you can grow your way out of it. When it comes to leg and joint conformation, the hoof grows in accordance with the load placed on it.”

One of the most common issues associated with lameness, and one that can usually be managed with correct farriery, is mediolateral (side to side) hoof imbalance.

“This alters the forces on the bones, tendons, and ligaments within the foot and further up the leg,” says Dr. Rachel Murray MRCVS from Rossdales. “It can be attributed to how the horse is shod, how it stands, and its conformation. For example, some horses have conformational imperfections in the limb and so the hoof starts to grow asymmetrically. It can cause damage to the internal structures.”

Correcting mediolateral imbalances that aren’t associated with limb deformity requires the longer side of the hoof to be gradually trimmed to match the length of the other side.

Horses with a rotation in the leg often present with a hoof irregularity, commonly a toe-in or toe-out conformation.