Often we are faced with a hoof
that has serve breakage at the most distal part of the hoof. There are a number
of products out that can be applied to add support to the hoof while a new
healthier hoof can grow down. However, all these products relay on glue
(Vettec, Grand Circuit, Equilox etc.) to attach some sort of shoe (orthotic).
The problem with this method is the potential of trapping bacteria or fungus under
the glue, which can lead to a bigger problem down the road. I have used glue
for years on these shelly-broken up walls and have to say for the most part I
was lucky and did not have any major problems, partially I think, because of
the climate I live in (North Carolina), and partially because of good horse
management by my clients.
Over the last year or so I have
been experimenting with using raised clinches to help hold casts on. I have to
say; this is now my preferred method of attaching shoes to these very shelly,
thin walled horses. The nice thing about this method is you leave out the
finish clinching part (bending of the clinch against the wall). That's it!
Leave the clinches a bit longer and at right angles (90 degrees) to the hoof wall
and wrap a cast over the raised clinches, done deal. I have gone back and
finish clinched (bending the clinches against the wall) however I do not think
it makes a difference, so I just leave the clinches at 90 degrees to the hoof
wall. This simple method will hold a cast on better than glue, in my opinion.
The nail ends act like Velcro and will secure the cast on as well as glue if
not better. No worries about trapping bacteria, messing with glue, or loosing a
shoe because of shelly walls. I
try to run fairly high nails so I can use the same nail placement for a couple
of shoeing cycles.
I find this method (shoes/casts
with raised clinches) works really well on: quarter cracks, sheared heels, long
toe low heels, (medial lateral/dorsal) extensions and white line disease. The advantage of this method is a shoe
adds distal length (sole relief) and casts add vertical integrity and lateral
stability to the whole hoof capsule. This method can also be applied on
sore-footed horses with or without rim pads. The beauty of this system for
racehorses is after a few of workouts the casts will wear out in the toe area
(toe grabs) so there is a minimum of traction that is lost. This system is especially good for
horses that have sore feet from pounding on hard race tracks.
Adding supplemental support to
the whole hoof capsule improves the integrity of the soles and walls, this
added support restores effective and proper biomechanics on many of these
shelly-thin-soled-thin-walled hooves that have chronic inflammation!
Unrecognized many lameness issues like, shelly walls, thin soles, and chronic
inflammation could lead too much bigger problems like laminitis. Adding support
to the whole hoof capsule will increase hoof wall integrity; increase sole support,
while reducing pain and inflammation. With better circulation comes better
growth. Numerous studies have
shown; a hoof that has chronic inflammation does not grow well, and is more
prone to anaerobic bacteria problems. Which is often how these feet got to this
point in the first place, and why adding temporary support to the whole hoof
capsule will help restore a healthy blood supply to the whole hoof capsule.
