1. Author: Petr Šumpela, CE-F
2. Resources: Podkovářství, Rány kopyt,
ISBN: 978-80-7490-052-5, Tisk Pálka 2015
3. Data of the Patient No. 7.4.1.
Plemeno: Czech warmblood
Pohlaví: Stallion
Věk: Born 2012
Barva: Isabela
Pracovní využití: Eventing "Z"
-
Reason why the owner complains: Horse stepped through the metal tub serving as a watering place in the paddock and caused deep injury to the coronary border of the medial (inner) heel on the right hind limb. Despite the deep injury, the horse was not lame.
-
Length of the problems: approx. 1 week after injury
-
Stabling conditions: In the box
-
Feed: Regular for sport horse
-
Bedding: Straw
-
Type of surface, where is the horse most often: Grassy pasture/paddock
-
Frequency of the hoof care: Shod regularly at intervals of 6 – 8 weeks
-
Type of shoeing: Standard one clip shoes 22 x 8 Mustad Libero
-
Kulhání, případná diagnóza: Without lameness
4. History:
-
Characterisation of the changes:
The horse is not lame. On the inner side of the right hind limb in the heel region was a deeply damaged coronary border, the coronary band, hoof wall and partly also the inner heel were resected
-
Conformation:
In the frontal plane, the limbs are slightly wide based and in the horizontal plane they present the pigeon toed conformation.
-
Shape of the hoof and pathologic changes:
Fig. 1., 2.: From the left - Hoof from bottom and side view. Slightly wider lateral side and heart-shaped sole with scarred inner heel
-
Evaluation of the hoof care and type of shoeing:
The hoof showed a proportional growth of the hoof wall and normal sole thickness. Horse was barefoot.
-
Lameness and suspicious diagnosis including rtg and usg:
Despite the significant hoof injuries, lameness was not diagnosed. The coronary band was poorly treated after injury and wasn´t repositioned with pressure bandages until fully healed. Coronary band was pushed upward by the pressure of the heel and the growing horn tissue, forming a granulation tissue covered by horn in the heel region. Figure 3
Fig. 3.: Hoof from the side view.
Coronary band was pushed upward by the pressure of the heel and the growing horn tissue, forming a granulation tissue covered by horn in the heel region
5. Problem description:
-
Trimming:
The hoof was been trimmed to a good balance with lower heels and a pronounced frog
-
Shoe preparation:
Fig. 4
The hind shoe Mustad Libero 25 x 8 mm was chosen for shoeing. A heart bar insert was welded between the ends of the branches to support the frog and the outer heel while relieving the inner heel.
-
Shoeing:
Before nailing the shoe, the affected heel was trimmed to prevent any contact with the shoe. This type of measure, called "floating heel", eliminates pressure on the bearing edge of the hoof and enables settling down of the coronary band. Fig. 5. and 6.
Fig. 5: Left - Shod hoof from the rear view
Fig 6: Right - Side view - "floating heel".
-
Veterinary treatment: Check up in case of any signs of lameness.
-
Rules of the further care:
The aim of further shoeing is to constantly load the frog and relieve the inner heel to avoid pressure on the wall, which would push the damaged coronary band up again .
6. Chosen solutions
-
Trimming effect:
Lowering the heels and trimming the correct balance of the hoof significantly helped to relieve the damaged part of the hoof.
-
Changes in shoe choice and shoeing:
Due to the shoeing with heart-bar shoe and decreasing of the damaged heel, pressure is spread on the frog and the outer side of the hoof. By relieving the inner side of the bearing surface has been achieved decreasing the pressure on the damaged coronary band, coronary band wound contracts, heals, and the hoof wall grows down towards the bearing surface.
-
Farriery treatment effect:
The greatest effect caused correct hoof trimming and the use of a heart-bar shoe with the shoeing to the floating heel.
-
Result of the care:
Horse could be walked right after first shoeing. After second shoeing he started training for competitions including jumping. Horse started cometing after third shoeing.
Fig. 7: Trimmed hoof from the side view after 8 weeks
Fig. 8. a 9.: From left - Newly shod hoof after 8 weeks and floating heel from diagonal view
Fig. 10: Hoof before third shoeing
Fig. 10: Hoof after third shoeing
7. Development of changes
Proper initial treatment of wounds on hooves is extremely important for the further development of treatment and good healing with minimal consequences. For the future, it directly decides on the movement and biomechanics of the horse after healing and its welfare. Farrier care is an integral but often only supportive part of care for injured hooves.
9. Conclusion (take home message)
