A healthy hoof is key to a healthy horse. Proper hoof care really hinges on keeping things balanced. Every horse needs consistent farrier attention, and teaming up with a skilled farrier is one of the smartest choices you can make for your horse's well-being. If you're new to the whole horse shoe pads, here are the most important things you need to know.
Anatomy of Hoof Pads
Hooves are intricate structures that help with weight support and movement. When healthy, they can expand to absorb shock and distribute weight evenly when they touch the ground. The outer parts of the hoof offer grip and shield the delicate internal tissues and bones. These parts include the hoof capsule, which consists of the hoof wall, sole, and frog.
The hoof wall is the tough outer layer. When you lift a horse's foot, you can see a white line that separates the hoof wall from the sole. The frog is the triangular, flexible tissue that extends forward from the heels on the underside of the hoof.
Having strong and well-functioning hooves is essential for a horse's overall health and comfort. While wild horses naturally wear down their hooves on rough surfaces, domesticated horses require regular farrier care to keep their hooves in check since they grow continuously, much like our fingernails.
When Are Pads Suitable?
Horse shoe pads can be a good option for horses with thin, shelly hooves or quarter cracks. They can also act as long-lasting bandages for certain hoof issues, according to experts. A farrier might get feedback from the owner about a horse struggling on icy ground or uneven gravel, or they might spot bruising on the horse's soles during a routine shoeing. In these cases, it's time for the farrier and owner to consider using pads. Additionally, farriers may apply pads to shield the sole from injury, especially when riding over rocky areas or other challenging surfaces.
Hoof Balance
When it comes to farrier care, the main focus is on biomechanical efficiency. How a horse's hooves are trimmed and shod affects how they land and push off the ground with each step. For horses to move smoothly and avoid putting too much strain on certain parts, their hooves need to be balanced.
Balanced hooves should ideally touch down slightly heel-first or flat, with the sides of the hoof wall making contact with the ground at the same time. When lifting off, the hooves should also come up heel-first and experience minimal resistance during breakover.
The breakover point is where the hoof finally leaves the ground, and the best breakover happens close to the toe. If the toes are too long, they can put extra stress on the lower limb's internal structures, acting like levers and slowing down the breakover.
Hoof Angles
The front hoof wall angle should ideally match the angle of the coffin bone, which is usually around 55 degrees about the ground. However, this can vary quite a bit from horse to horse, and the only way to get an accurate measurement is through X-rays.
Traditionally, these hoof angles should align with the pastern for the best overall alignment. But trying to match them perfectly might lead to taking off too much wall or sole, which can compromise the hoof's integrity.
The Role of Hoof Pads
A horse with smooth, shiny, and well-formed hooves is amazing. However, determining if a hoof is truly healthy can be a bit tricky, as it can vary widely from one horse to another. People usually notice when something seems off—like vertical cracks, horizontal rings, odd bumps, wide white lines, chips in the hoof wall, thin walls, or bruised and flattened soles.
Hooves that look great in one season might not look the same in another. During long cold spells, hoof growth tends to slow down. In wet or humid conditions, hooves can become soft, while they might harden up like rock in dry, hot weather.
When to Apply Them
You can apply pads in various ways to tackle different situations. There are various factors and conditions when you should apply them, as well as considering the type of pad and how to use it. These pads are here to cover protect, elevate, or support specific areas and structures on the hoof's underside. In cases of a disease or injury, pads may be part of a treatment plan recommended by a vet.
Consider the Materials
Not all pads are created equal. There’s a whole range of them, each tailored for specific needs. You’ll find various types like full wedge pads, bar wedge pads, frog support pads, flat pads, pour-in pads, rim pads, and full-support pads. They’re made from different materials too, usually leather or plastic, but rubber and metal options are out there as well. Wedge pads can help elevate the hoof angle when there are conformation issues or injuries.
Frog support pads are great for horses needing extra support in their bony column, especially those with laminitis, according to Kraus. These pads not only help distribute some of the load to the frog, easing pressure on other hoof areas, but they also keep the frog positioned correctly in relation to the rest of the hoof, DuBois explains.
Flat leather pads are popular and some farriers prefer them in certain regions. Leather mimics the hoof better, while plastic holds up more consistently in wet conditions. Leather tends to soften and break down when it’s too moist. Typically, pads are applied in pairs, either on the front or back, to keep things balanced.
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