---

 

  

 

---

    

 HOOF WALL SEPARATION SYNDROME

  - A HARD PROBLEM WITH SOFT FEET ?

 

Published to Connemara Groups on Yahoo,

a letter from Jocelyn Davies, Canada.

Research Update and Funding Request.

September 2011.

Much has happened since we last updated you on the progress of the research group on Hoof Wall

 

Separation Syndrome (formerly " soft foot").     Since forming the research group in January of this year,

 

the group has been busy gathering information from other breeders/owners worldwide with ponies

 

having this syndrome.  Sheila has started a data base of affected ponies/pedigrees and more recently has

 

taken on the HWSS project as her university research project/proposal.    Sheila's research digging has

 

created a lot of interest by a lot of sources/people that also support our belief in this syndrome being

 

genetic.   

 

We have been discussing our case with UC Davis since February, and compiling a list of DNA donors

 

available.  Just recently there has been a case of the hoof issue in California within driving distance of

 

UC Davis.    The owner of the young pony took her into UC Davis for the entire Team there to view her . 

 

 The Team of Veterinarians along with Dr. Carrie Finno (veterinarian and specialist

 

geneticist) were shocked by what they saw.    The recent report from Dr Finno said, " the hoof pathology

 

was profound".  Her report also confirmed that the university is extremely excited about our project.    Dr.

 

Greg Ferraro who also heads the Center for Equine Health was  one of the Team in attendance to view

 

the affected Connemara pony and he is presenting our case to some possible donors in an effort to elicit

 

funding to proceed with the research.   The research at UC Davis will be to look for the mutation causing

 

the problem and to find a MARKER for it which can be used to screen our ponies.   Dr Finno is one of the

 

researchers responsible for isolating the HERDA gene complex and getting the test into the commercial

 

arena.  ( Heritable Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia - very distressing skin condidtion)

 

So, although it looks very positive as to the amount of support and interest we have at this time, we are

 

now at the stage in this project that we need funding...   UC Davis is willing to help us by matching funds

 

that we can come up with, but we need to show some commitment / belief in this as well.    WE NEED

 

SOME DONATIONS!    Our plan is to soon have some information available on line to the public

 

regarding this condition and we will be sending a request to all the societies very soon.    In the

 

meantime, I wanted to let all of you know the status and hoped that any / all of you would support us by

 

sending a donation (with a letter accompanying their cheque stating that the donation should be

 

directed to Connemara DNA research) to :-

 

 

 

Center for Equine Health,

 

 

One Shields Ave,

 

 

University of California, Davis,

 

  California. 95616

 

For countries with different currencies, a money order in US$ would probably be best :)

 

UC DAVIS Genetic Team, Robert Eustace (Laminitis Trust), Professor Geyer (Zurich University and

 

world authority on horse hooves) all believe that our breed does have a serious PROBLEM and that it IS

 

genetic.   The funding is for the costs in finding the genetic marker so we can screen our ponies to save

 

this breed for future generations.    

 

We have a great opportunity right now to do our breed proud.   Please consider helping this great cause  !

 

 

Thanking you for your support, 

 

Jocelyn Davies,

 

 

Devon Ridge Farms. Canada.

 

 

http://www.devonridgefarm.com

 

 

 

 

   And from Sheila and Kate in New Zealand and Australia comes the following information :-

 

  Hoof Wall Separation Syndrome ( HWSS ).

 

 

 In ungulate animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, antelope and rhinoceros, their hooves and horns  are basically

 

modified hair, and therefore contain the same protein.  The protein from which hooves are made is keratin, and the

 

integrity of the hoof wall depends on the fibrous structure of the wall being  bonded or 'glued' together. In HWSS, there

 

is a fault in the process of keratinisation due to incorrect lipid (fat ) metabolism. This is beleived to be a

 

consequence of a genetic trait, and though it occurs with varying degrees of severity, it is  incurable.

 

 

     Previously called 'soft-foot', this condition has been known to exist in the Connemara pony for quite some time,

 

though it may not be widely publicised by breed Societies. In genetic terms, the inheritance of the faulty gene causing

 

HWSS is very simple, since it depends on one pair of alleles only.  Since each parent contributes a single copy of the

 

gene responsible for controlling the lipid metabolism leading to normal hoof structure, and their copy will be either

 

normal, or abnormal, there are only 3 possible outcomes for the foal born. These are :-

 

     1. completely normal,   with normal copies of the gene

 

     2. carrying one faulty copy of the gene, but appearing normal, 

 

     and 3.  carrying two faulty copies of the gene, therefore affected by HWSS. 

 

 The percentage of the Connemara population which is affected by HWSS is not known at this stage - an issue which

 

needs to be determined by reseach, but it depends on how frequently the faulty copy of the gene occurs within the

 

population.  Obviously if the frequency of the faulty copy of the gene is low, then the chances of random matings

 

resulting in an affected pony are also very low.  

 

As the faulty gene is what is termed ' a recessive' gene, the HWSS condition will only occur either :-

 

  a.  when two  carriers' are mated,  ( and then only in 25% of such matings.  ),

 

  b.  when a carrier is mated to an affected individual  ( with 50% of foals being affected ), or

 

  c.  when two affected individuals are mated - in which case 100% of the foals will be affected.

 

  At this stage in the research, it is not known if the mating of 2 affected individuals will result in greater severity

 

of HWSS in the offspring.

 

     The wall of the hoof breaks away in chunks, so that a mildly affected pony may be considered to be 'self-trimming'.

 

Ponies like this can be 'managed' by correct hoof care and will appear sound if kept off hard surfaces, and may be 

 

considered to have a score of '1' on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most seriously affected.  Severe cases usually

 

end up walking on their soles, as there is complete breakdown of the weight bearing surface of the hoof wall. 

 

If the calloused sole is removed, weight is then borne only on a thin sole and the pony will go very lame even on soft

 

grass.  Barefoot trimming is totally contra-indicated if the pony is have a working life, as opposed to being a pasture

 

ornament.

 

  On Facebook, there are images of two ponies, one mildly affected, and one very severely affected.

https://www.facebook.com/rotierneyfilms?ref=ts#!/pages/Rosewood-Witchcraft/197916613608936

 

The weanling is a very bad case.   If one were to take the callous off the sole, the pony would be totally lame.  With the callous left on, she may be 'paddock sound' , but will never be suitable for work. She is likely a '10' in the severity score, and in cases such as this, it is, sadly, often decided  to euthanise the animal. This filly , however, is lucky to belong to people who are willing to do all they can to help her, and she has been brought o the veterinary research team at UC Davis.

   Named 'Crafty', she was bred from parents whose feet appear normal - and indeed, should a pony like this  survive and be bred to a normal stallion, she would produce foals with normal feet. However, all foals from such a mating would carry a copy of the faulty gene, thus perpetuating the frequency of that faulty gene in the Connemara population. This is one of the reasons why research is needed - carrier animals need to be dentified in order to avoid matings likely to result in breeding more ponies affected by this debiltating condition.  

Scrolling down the Facebook page, there are two photos of a grey mare in Sweden which have been posted by her owner.  This is a 'managed' case. 

 

With gratitude to contributors, Jocelyn, Kate and Sheila.

 

 

 

 

 

---

      

 

       DISCUSSION GROUP - AN OPEN INVITATION TO ALL HORSE OWNERS.

 

 There is intention to form a discussion group for mutual information and exchange of experience

in such matters as barefoot trimming, alternative medicines, nutrition and whatever else is of

interest - as we all know, once horse and pony people begin a chat - it tends to go on forever !

  Contact Lesley on 077 3326 2511.

---

  'High Desert Horses on Middle Tennessee Grasses.'

From dry rocky southern California to lush

green - and wet - middle Tennessee.

 Barefoot advocate Joe Camp wrote this article for the latest edition

 

 of The Horses Hoof magazine, adapted from the book 'The Soul of a

 

 Horse Blogged - The Journey Continues'

Our timing was perfect. The move from dry rocky southern California

 

landed us right in the middle of record-setting rainfall in Tennessee.

 

Seven inches the day the horses came in. And it rained for days prior

 

to  their arrival. Gail Murphy's Personalized Equine Transportation

 

Service  has a reputation for never being late, but on this

day they were. The  rains slowed them to a crawl causing them to

 

arrive after dark. Which is  when we learned that the turn onto our

 

road was too ight for their rig to make. We had to shuttle the horses

 

off the transport trailer onto  our 3-horse trailer which had to be

 

pulled by a generous new neighbor  with his 4-wheel drive tractor

 

because my truck would've been mud-bound  for sure.

They hadn't been out of the trailer for ten minutes when every one of

 

them began to wallow in the mud like little pigs. And through it all

 

I could only think about what all this wet and mud might do to their 

 

beautiful, dry, rock-solid barefoot hooves. Read more on the link ...

 

 [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tzyz7ocab&et=1106656478415&s=8640&e=001eQhNLwx0xH5JeuVm6tI5tlu_StDDmr4uJkE0ge0bXWdBwSrj5Iqv

-00NyAIwUUIjKyFAx8l88MyakH3vxuUmBsIDfsn1ICLaBV1_WZr1kVpuuHAoz5Vzfw==]

 

 

 

---

 

Visiting with a friend recently, some of our members met a mare and her foal who are clearly in the

 best of health. The mare was rescued during the winter, when she was in very poor condition, and

infested with parasites, both internal and external.  She and her new foal were lucky enough to be

 taken on and cared for in a proper home, after their removal by the authorities in a welfare case.

It is a sure thing this mum will never want to leave her new home !

 

---

What is a Healthy Hoof? (Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium)

by: Christy West, Digital Editor/Producer
May 01 2007, The Horse.com Article # 9248

Ask 10 people what a healthy hoof should look like and you'll likely get 10 variations of an answer. And those answers will probably consist of general statements like "proper toe angle," "enough heel," or "plenty of foot mass." But what exactly does that mean?

Richard Mansmann VMD, PhD, clinical professor and director of the North Carolina State University

College of Veterinary Medicine's Equine Podiatry and Rehabiliation Service, has spent a lot of time and

effort investigating foot measurements in horses to answer that question. At the Bluegrass Laminitis

Symposium, held Jan. 25-28 in Louisville, Kentucky, he presented the results of several research

projects that tried to answer that question: What are the characteristics of a healthy horse's hoof?

 

Preventive Radiographs (X rays)

Mansmann has long recommended that horses' front feet be radiographed annually--that includes sound

horses as well as lame ones. "My goal with this is to look at it from the perspective of prevention rather

than treating the kinds of (lameness) cases we've seen so far," he said.

These annual radiographs, along with horses' work histories, have provided a great deal of information to

begin answering the question of what a healthy foot looks like. "The goal is to arrive on what we all

might agree is a healthy horse's hoof," he said.

He described the following principles many consider to be characteristic of "good" feet, and described how

closely his clients' horses compared to those principles. These included some preliminary data from 108

low- to mid-level adult working horses evaluated from 1998-2002: These horses had an average body

condition score of 6.6, they were worked 4.21 days per week, and 3.06 weeks had passed since their last

shoeing.

1. Front and hind feet should mirror their opposites.

Mansmann said hoof walls should be slightly straighter (more vertical) on the medial sides (insides) than

the lateral sides (outsides). Of his 108 study horses, 84 (78%) had 4.9 mm or less difference in the

widest part of their front feet, 20 (18.5%) had a difference of 5.0-9.9 mm, and only four (3.7%) had a

discrepancy of 10-14.9 mm.

"The bottom line is that 90% of these working horses had 6 mm or less of mismatch between their feet

(and they were sound and in steady work)," he summarized (so in general, the feet were pretty close to

matching in width). He suggested that perhaps feet that varied by 1 cm or more might be predisposed to

problems.

2. The anterior hoof wall is parallel to the anterior surface of the coffin bone (P3).

Why is this important? Because if the wall is not parallel to the bone, usually it is thicker nearer the

ground than it is up by the coronary band. This can indicate instability and rotation of the coffin bone as

occurs in laminitis, or it can be the typical conformation of an upright or club foot. With regular

monitoring one can tell the difference.

Mansmann noted that wall thickness (often termed the horn-laminar or HL zone) was measured in two

places - up high and perpendicular to the face of the coffin bone just beneath the extensor process and

lower down, perpendicular to the distal or lowest tip of the coffin bone.

Eighteen horses had a lower HL zone measurement that was greater than the upper HL measurement by

1-5 mm, he reported. "This indicates that 9% of feet probably had some rotation; this makes lateral

radiographs worthwhile. Diet control and early intervention in laminitic risk factor situations should be

considered."

3. Sole plane angles are positive.

This describes horses with positive palmar angles, or coffin bones that are higher off the ground at the

heel than at the toe. Mansmann reported that a negative palmar angle generally results in a broken-back

hoof-pastern axis, and commented that horses will often assume this stance when they have heel pain or

pain in the rear of the leg.

"Once it is flattened (by this stance) for several months, the digital cushion will not regenerate," he said.

"We have started calling this reverse laminitis."

In his study horses, the average palmar angle was +2.35 % and the average hoof angle was 53.96 %.

4. Thin soles are detrimental to soundness.

Thin soles are often said to provide reduced shock absorption, contributing thusly to pain and lameness.

Mansmann said that sole padding (such as a soft pour-in pad) helps reduce abrasion and increase sole

thickness, and possibly helps reduce digital cushion crushing by distributing load more evenly on the

sole.

He reported an average sole depth of 13.97 mm (not counting the very minimal sole cup in most of these

horses) under the tip of P3.

 

5. Hind feet have a greater (steeper) angle than front feet.

"We didn't look at hind foot angles in these horses, but the more we look at hind feet, the more we see

significant problems (generally from heels that are too low)," Mansmann said. "We suspect that low hind

heels cause upper hind limb and back problems. Look at the horse from the side and see where a line

forward through the hind coronary band would hit him. If that line hits him in the belly, and if you

palpate him over the croup, he will likely be sore (because that low heel puts a lot of stress on his back

and upper limb). That coronary band line ideally should hit him between the front knee and elbow."

 

6. If a measurement changes on a horse, a decision must be made on whether that measurement is improving or deteriorating, and if it is the latter, it should be addressed.

"If we agree on common principles, then we can discuss when a horse's foot does not look healthy, and

develop a plan to improve or at least monitor that change," he stated. "We need to understand when a

foot is not doing well and not shrug it off. We need to write it down so when things change, we know

when to celebrate and when to start sweating."

 

Implications for Soundness

"Many veterinarians and farriers do not see an unhealthy foot (such as one with an overly long toe and

low heel) as a potentially serious pathologic problem; therefore, they make no record of any

measurements or podiatry radiographs to monitor the problem," Mansmann said. "Owners usually

concentrate on other conformational assets and not much on the feet. Orthopedists stop looking at a

horse at about pastern level. And very little basic foot research is funded on normal or abnormal foot

conformation and its relationship to the rest of the horse's orthopedic problems.

"Everybody believes 'no foot, no horse,' but the financial investment in hoof research is pretty minimal

compared to other areas," he went on. "I think abnormal hoof conformation can be just as detrimental as

a bone chip, tendonitis, muscle pull, laminitis, etc. If it is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner,

it can get worse to the point of total disuse and chronic pain for the life of the horse."

 

No Feet, No Sale

"I think all these foot measurements should be part of a prepurchase examination," Mansmann opined. "I

think every farrier should market a prepurchase examination; it's very important to talk about how easy

it's going to be to keep that horse's feet sound. Quite frequently, the farrier is asked to put shoes back on

after a horse is radiographed during prepurchase examination, and this is a great time to involve yourself

in this situation."

 

Breeding Bad Feet

Many people in the equine industry have commented that horse breeders often select breeding stock for

speed, body conformation, muscling, agility --anything but foot conformation and quality. Mansmann

discussed an informal evaluation of breed magazines that seemed to support this theory.

"A few years ago, I was looking at a photo of a Thoroughbred stakes winner on the cover of The Blood-

Horse, and I was impressed (in a bad way) by his foot problems," he said. "But they had cured his foot

problems later on by his 7-year-old stallion advertisement photo�they stood him in grass for the

photo," he said with a chuckle.

"We reviewed 1,852 stallion pictures in eight 2004 breed magazines," he reported. "In those photos, only

13% of the stallions stood on firm surfaces so you could get an idea about their feet. Thirty-nine percent

stood in grass, 34% were action shots, and the rest were just head shots. In a Quarter Horse magazine,

25% of the horses appeared to have their feet airbrushed out."

The implications of this, he said, are that foot quality is not considered to be important and/or that poor

hooves should be hidden, and mare owners are not demanding that hooves be seen in photos. "So mare

owners need to ask about a stallion's foot conformation," he advised. "Bad feet can potentially be

exercise-limiting and just as serious as other lameness causes."

 

Take-Home Message

"As veterinarians and farriers, we all need to educate owners about the value of proper foot conformation

and the consequences of bad conformation," he concluded. "We have to look at the horse and his feet.

When his measurements change over time, that is very good information to have. And having an

unhealthy-looking foot can even end up as a life-threatening situation. It is a disease in itself."

 

Muddy problems ?  Read some remedies at the link below.....

http://cs.thehorse.com/blogs/smart-horse-keeping/archive/2010/11/26/mud-management-102-paddock-footing.aspx

One-off horse cull under consideration

      A ONE-OFF national cull of unwanted horses to end the current welfare problem will be considered by the Department of Agriculture ( in the Republic of Ireland ).

The suggestion came from members of the joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture which discussed the issue of horse welfare yesterday.  Deputy Christy O’Sullivan (FF) said the problem was so acute he would like to see a situation where unwanted horses could be presented for slaughter at no cost to the owners.  He said while he disliked the idea of taxpayers subsidising those who might be cruel to horses, an “amnesty-style” approach might resolve the problem.

Support for such action came from deputies Eamon Scanlon (FF) and Andrew Doyle (FG).

Mr Doyle said people who could afford a 4x4 and a horsebox some years ago now found they could not afford to keep horses and this is the area on which the focus should fall.

Two Dublin deputies, Mary Upton (Lab) and Róisín Shortall (Lab), called for the closure of the monthly Smithfield Horse fair where many of the problems are thought to have begun.

Ms Upton said horses were being sold for as little as €20 each to young urban people who had no land or place to keep them and there were high levels of neglect and cruelty.

Michael Creed (FG) said hundreds of horses in a pitiful state could be seen any day of the week on the outskirts of Dublin and he had witnessed cruelty and neglect in other cities and towns and at horse fairs this year.

    This report was passed to the NICPBA  site editor by Jane Bruce of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust.  If the scheme goes ahead, it would be a matter of serious concern how it would be operated, because it would not discrimnate between horses of good quality and those poorer sorts, who should never have been bred by the unscrupulous in the first place. There is no easy or pleasant solution, but why is it so often the case that innocents suffer because of the greed of humans ?

Ask any experienced farm owner or manager -- proper pasture management definitely has its perks. Managing pastures properly prevents erosion and nutrient loss from the soil, which also helps improve stream and water quality. In addition, pastures can provide an excellent "free-choice" exercise plan for horses. But the most important role pastures play in horsekeeping is that the grasses they contain are some of the most economical feeds available.

     Where to Start

      One of the best ways to begin examining your pasture management processes is by taking a walk around the fields. Such a walk provides an opportunity to evaluate topography and "ground cover," or amount of available forage. Regular walks can help you determine if there are areas where forages grow well, and areas where forages seem to have problems getting established. Conduct these walks periodically throughout the year, every two months, to evaluate changes throughout the seasons. It is also essential to determine how many acres of pasture you have, and how many acres are available per horse.

While hiking the fields it is also good to recognize what types of plants are growing. A variety of books and extension publications with excellent descriptions and photographs of forages can help you become familiar with these plants.

      A modified version of estimating pasture quality follows:

      Once you complete this there should be 100 marks. Count how many of each type of mark (bare ground, weed, edible forage)   was found and estimate percentage. For example, if there were 30 marks under "bare ground," the pasture would have 30% bare ground. You can use the percentages to determine initial management procedures. Commonly, 75% or more of desirable plant species indicates that noOnce you complete this there should be 100 marks. Count how many of each type of mark (bare ground, weed, edible forage) was found and estimate percentage. For example, if there were 30 marks under "bare ground," the pasture would have 30% bare ground. You can use the percentages to determine initial management procedures. Commonly, 75% or more of desirable plant species indicates that no renovation is required, 40-75% desirable species indicates the need for improved management procedures and overseeding with desirable forages, and less than 40% desirable species indicates a complete pasture renovation is necessary. renovation is required, 40-75% desirable species indicates the need for improved management procedures and overseeding with desirable forages, and less than 40% desirable species indicates a complete pasture renovation is necessary.

      Soil Testing and Fertilizing

     Testing the soils in the pastures to determine nutrient availability is an important step in pasture management. A soil survey might be available for your area through the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Web site (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm) gives directions on how to use this free service. Information on this site will help you determine the best uses for the land based on soil type, drainage, and nutrient holding capacity (or permeability) of the soil.

Soil tests to determine lime and fertilizer needs of the different pastures should be performed at least every three years. There is much debate as to whether the fall or the spring is the best time to test, but what is most important is to test at the same time each year so direct comparisons can be made. There are a variety of guides available on how to take a soil sample, and these can be found at most university extension Web sites. For example, The Ohio State University's site is http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0206.html. Many county extension offices or feed and farm supply stores have the equipment necessary to take soil samples, and they might be willing to loan or rent the equipment. These offices can also help you decide where to send the samples to be analyzed.

The cost of sample analysis depends on where you send the sample and for what you test. A basic analysis of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and pH will cost between $10 and $20 per sample, possibly higher. It is also possible to purchase soil probes, which range in price from $50 to $150, and a basic home soil testing kit, which will test 15 samples, for between $20 and $50. The home testing kit results will not be as accurate as those from a commercial lab, but they can give you an idea of what is available in the soil.

Although soil testing might seem like an expensive endeavor, in the long run you will save money because you won't be purchasing unnecessary fertilizer and lime.

     Through literally hundreds of vaccinations and dewormings, 60 surgeries, nutrition training, and a nationwide farrier clinic, all from June 6-13, the Dominican Republic's horses, donkeys, and mules are once again benefiting from a new concept known as "equitarianism."

     The equitarian effort, headed by Jay Merriam, DVM, MS, of the Massachusetts Equine Clinic, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, targets the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is part of the association's "Samana Project." Since 1993, veterinarians, technicians, and other volunteers have been travelling to the Dominican Republic twice a year to provide much-needed health care to the country's working equids, as well as small animals.

     The Samana Project summer 2010 team just completed "the most productive year ever," according to equine podiatrist and Samana team member Steve O'Grady, BVSc, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine in Marshall. "“The horses were just coming out of the woodworks, nonstop," he said. Vaccines and dewormers were given until the team’s stock, donated by U.S. manufacturers, was depleted.

     A team of three veterinarians and and numerous veterinary students performed 52 castrations in addition to other necessary surgeries in four days.

Castration not only promotes better working equids but also prevents uncontrolled breeding and reduces major health risks including injuries sustained from fighting stallions, O'Grady said. However, castration is not easily accepted in Hispanic culture, where stallion ownership represents a long-standing, proud tradition. Through education efforts over the years, the Samana team has been able to promote not only the benefits of gelding but also the increased breeding of mules, which are sturdier for work than the horses and are sterile with regards to breeding.

       Nutritional education is also starting to show results, O'Grady said. No longer being tied to the side of the road to find forage for themselves, the working equids are now being fed grasses grown and cultivated just for them. "Compared to the kinds of animals the team was seeing five years ago, these horses and mules looked phenomenal," he said.

Now in his second year in the project, O'Grady and the team organized a nationwide farrier clinic, attended by at least two local farriers from each province. "Farriery addresses one of the most common and serious concerns of the working equid: problems with the feet," he said. Farrier equipment was donated and shipped to the Dominican Republic by Farrier Products Distribution in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

Like humanitarianism, equitarianism is meant to promote sympathy and benevolence towards individuals, but in this case, the individuals are the equine inhabitants of developing countries. Equitarian interests are on the rise, with more and more opportunities becoming available to equine health care professionals wanting to make a difference, said Merriam during the first official session on equitarianism, held at the American Association of Equine Practitioners ( A.E.E.P. )Annual Convention last year.

         Also read the article linked below, on the plight of horses and mules used for transport in the drugs trade :-

                                      http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16604&src=VW

Choice of farrier might have a significant influence not only on the shape of a horse's hoof, but its soundness and athletic ability, according to research carried out by veterinarians in Switzerland.

Forty dressage and show jumping horses, divided into six groups, were trimmed and shod by one of six selected farriers over a period of one year. Their hooves were periodically evaluated and compared by radiographic exam. Of 15 variable parameters evaluated, 14 differed significantly among farriers, according to an article based on the study and forthcoming in The Veterinary Journal. Parameters included dorsal wall length, hoof angle, sole thickness, the distance from the cannon bone to the toe and wall, and other lengths and angles measured from front and side views.

Although all the parameters can affect the hoof's shape, toe length and mediolateral (side-to-side) hoof balance are most important for the horse's overall soundness, said Martin Kummer, DVM, Dipl. ECVS, chief assistant in the Equine Hospital at the University of Zurich and primary author of the study. "The length of toe influences the point of break-over, (and) the mediolateral hoof balance could influence the loading pattern of the joint surfaces," he noted.

To counter this variation between individual farriers, some form of trimming guidelines need to be established in order to create "some form of standardization" to make this study meaningful and practical, according to Stephen E. O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine, who commented on the study. This study uses a randomization of farrier techniques with individual farriers having their own style or method of trimming. As changes in hoof parameters could also be affected by exercise, footing, time of year, and other variables, farriers should take advantage of using "landmarks" for trimming and shoeing the hoof such as the hoof-pastern axis, the center of articulation (widest part of the foot) and trimming to the widest part of the frog, he said.

Owners should keep in mind that veterinary researchers used advanced techniques and specialized equipment to make these measurements in a university setting. "Do it yourself" measurements cannot give an owner an accurate idea about their farrier's trimming abilities, advised Kummer. When selecting a new farrier, Kummer suggested owners have "good conversations" with prospects and talk with some of the potential farrier's other clients before making a selection.

Although the study was performed on jumpers and dressage horses, Kummer said he strongly believes that all horses need optimum hoof care, not just sport horses. 

 Best wishes,

   Jane.

 

 

Curcumin, an extract of the spice turmeric, is a natural product with potent anti-inflammatory properties that also exerts beneficial effects on cartilage metabolism. Scientists believe that ......     read more at

        http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15043

 

      Also read  www.horsetrust.org.uk/pdfs/horsehealth/sweetitch.pdf

 

  and visit  the  Sweet Itch Helpline  The National Sweet Itch Centre
     at     www.Sweet-Itch.com

 

---

Health, Safety & Welfare 

 

Welfare is one of our constitutional aims, and to this end we have held several educational meetings, covering such topics as 'Care of the Mare and Foal at Foaling', presented by Equine Vet Mr.Alphonso Martin, MRCVS; and 'Feeding the Native Pony', when we were advised by Declan Cullen and Craig Kilief from Irwin's Bluegrass Horsefeeds how best to balance the nutritional requirements of the native pony. On another occasion, we had the combined merits of proper handling and training in the form of 'Horse Sense' from Helen Spence,  and basic welfare requirements and legal guidelines from Jane Bruce, who works with The Donkey Sanctuary, and on the B.H.S. Welfare Committee.

 

Specific advice given by Jane Bruce is as follows :-

 

If you are witness to a situation or event which appears to be a welfare concern, whether ongoing or an instance of cruelty,

 

1. Gather information, being specific as to the nature of the complaint. Photographs can be helpful in illustrating the situation.

 

2. Complain in writing to the appropriate authority - if at a mart, to the manager of the mart. If at a show or event, to the organising committee. Encourage other witnesses to do likewise in support of your complaint.

 

3. Be factual in your representation - not emotional. Express how strongly you feel, but do not allow your emotion to blur the facts.

 

4. You may wish to write to relevant local newspapers, horse magazines, and to welfare authorities such as the USPCA, ISPCA, BHS, Irish Horse Welfare Trust or others. Contact telephone numbers were supplied by Jane, and are given below.

 

USPCA    028 9081 4242

 

ISPCA  ( South )  00 353 (0) 43 25035 - mobile 00 353 (0) 86 604 7840

 

BHS Ireland   028 9268 3801

 

IHWT ( North )  mobile 078 3334 7470

 

IHWT ( South ) 00 353 (0) 404 45720

 

Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary 028 9446 5384

 

Where the concern is about the situation at a Breed sale or Society sale, it helps if your letter of complaint is countersigned by a respected member of the breed Society. You may suggest that a member of the Society's Welfare Committee be present and oversee proceedings at sales etc. You can also request that future sales are attended by officers from some of the welfare organisations named above.  If the mart itself is the problem, would the Society consider moving future sales to a location which is safer for the ponies and the public ?  Remember that sales premises must be licensed by the local County Council. 

If the problem is specific to an individual owner's ponies, bring the matter to the attention of local welfare officers.

 

Making a Complaint.

 

Please bear in mind that animal charities and rescue organisations have very limited resources, both in terms of time and finance. This is particularly so in the present economic climate, when so many horse owners are finding it difficult to make ends meet. However, real need should always be reported.

 

Assess whether a complaint is justified. If you are unsure, take an experienced equine person with you, and have a second look at the situation.

 

Gather as much information as possible, as this will assist the welfare authority to deal effectively and rapidly with the matter. It is vital that the EXACT location of the animal(s) in distress is given - the welfare officers have not the time to search all around a vaguely described area.

 

Try and discover the name and address of the owner of the distressed animal(s).

 

The welfare organisation will require your name and contact details. These will be kept confidential, but may be needed later for clarification or further information.

 

When detailing the complaint, take into consideration the animal's surroundings - the availability of food ( grazing, bucket feed or forage ), fresh water ( clean troughs, buckets or a clean natural source), and shelter ( hedges, field shelters, rugs or stabling ).  Take into account the animal's age, body condition, any signs of injury or lameness and whether the animal has been attended, abnormal length of hooves, etc. Have you observed how often the animals are visited and tended to by the owner ? If there is one animal who concerns you, in a group who are otherwise in apparently good condition, it may be the case that it is old or ill. Try to observe for a few days, to see what the owner does with this animal in particular, before deciding whether the matter needs to be reported.

 

Thank you to Jane and her colleagues in the welfare charities.

 

---

No Hoof, No Horse ?

 

We are all familiar with the adage above, which is as true as ever it was. Thankfully much research has been devoted to hoofcare, both analytical and observational. It makes sense that the whole horse depends on the health and integrity of the structures upon which he stands, runs and gallops. The balance and health of the foot has a direct effect on every bone above it, and consequently on the musculature of the horses body also.  It may often be the case that soreness, lack of performance, and behavioural issues stem from problems at ground level - in the hoof itself.  Much can be done, albeit sometimes a long term project, by hoof rehabilitation.  This may be as part of a multi- faceted approach. Diet and normal movement play a major role, and are all important when asking a horse to be the one thing 55 million years of evolution have designed him to be - a horse.

 

Recommended reading is to be found on www.hoofrehab.con , where Pete Ramey explains where his studies of the wild horse have led him. His books and DVDs are available on Amazon.

 

Another inspirational site is www.performancebarefoot.co.uk This site gives several examples of horses and ponies for whom conventional treatments had only limited sucess. Photographs and videos are provided. Watch the videos especially, and observe the difference in the way of going between the same animal shod and unshod.  Remember that evolution has designed the horses foot to function as it does for a purpose, and that function is thwarted once a ring of steel is nailed onto it.   Food for thought ??

                 

---

Root Out Ragwort Campaign

 

 

Ragwart is poisonous to both animals and humans so always wear gloves when dealing with it.

 

The BHS have an ongoing campaign to 'Root Out Ragwort' !  Apart from the food requirements of the cinnabar moth, whose caterpillars feed on the toxic weed, we none of us need ragwort in our fields and hedgerows.  Also known as ragweed, yellow weed, or by local names such as benweed,  the plant exists in a bushy form - common ragwort ( Senecio jacobea ), and a more sparse-leaved form, marsh ragwort.  The latter grows in wetter pasture, perhaps hidden among the rushes.

 

The ragwort plant contains senecin, which is a potent poison. It is not metabolised and passed from the body, but accumulates in and destroys the liver of animals who eat it. There is a myth that sheep are immune to the toxin, but in fact they seldom live long enough for it to cause fatality. Horses, ponies  and donkeys are often seen in fields where ragwort stands, tall and green, with it's abundant yellow flower heads, above a sward cropped so short one wonders what the ponies actually have left to eat !   Most appalling of all, it is even common on some stud farms, where both mares and foals are expected to graze. Given that foals may nibble on anything, and that they are more susceptible to poisoning than adult ponies, this is an intolerable situation.  Though they seem to instinctively avoid the plant, it is still the case that such ponies will consume a certain amount, as studies have shown. Complacency is not an option, as symptoms of ragwort poisoning are not observed until the liver is approximately 75% affected, by which stage there is no recovery, but only the certainty of a painful death.

 

The BHS Campaign involves the control and elimination of ragwort from pasture and farmland, using systemic weedkiller to target the plants, and by physical removal of the plant or it's remains. Mowing is not recommended, as it can chop up the plants, and as these become more appetising when dried, every scrap must be removed and burned before animals are allowed back onto the grazing. It is important to remember that gloves are worn when handling the plant, as the poison can enter the body across the skin, especially if the skin is damaged.

 

The peak of the flowering season is during August, when the yellow heads make identification easy. Larger plants are easier to pull up if first loosened around their roots by pulling in each direction ( north, south, east & west ) before removing with as much of the root system as possible.  A purpose made 'rag-fork' is commercially available, which helps lever out the plant, so the work is less back-breaking.  Even if the plant breaks, at least the flower removal will cut down on the number of seeds spreading on the pasture. A large plant can produce up to 250,000 ( yes - a quarter of a million ! ) seeds in a season.  The old adage, 'one year's seeding, seven years weeding' was never so true !

 

Ragwort is a biennial plant, i.e., it flowers every second year, so every other year it occurs in it's vegetative form, called the rosette - which grows tight to the ground, in contrast to the tall reproductive form. With practice, it is possible to identify even very small plants from their distinctive curly shaped leaf. 

 

Some groups of horse owners, perhaps sharing a livery yard, get together for ragwort pulling parties, and make an enjoyable or fundraising day out of an otherwise toilsome job !

 

---

 

---