In my past blogs, I have outlined the complex biology of equine dysfunction. I strongly believe that farriers and veterinarians must cultivate a comprehensive awareness of the influences of the individual animal’s body systems on hoof shape and balance before they intervene and trim, shoe, or implement any hoof-related treatment strategy.
The palmar section of the equine foot is the most important part. The entire horse’s main support system lies in this portion of the foot. It also holds the key to correcting its biomechanical function.
The international equine community has long been discussing the characteristics of a healthy equine foot. The hoof capsule's external shape and the ground-bearing surface's preceding balance are the characteristics that usually inform healthy equine foot assessment.
The animal has to stand on its feet for the majority of each twenty-four hours, and while the foot's ground-bearing surface significantly impacts comfort, the neurological response to the resulting postural stance must also be considered.
The animal’s internal representation of its postural stance and orthopaedic balance will impose a neurological loading force on the structural components of the foot, which predetermine the hoof capsule's external shape and ground balance. The hoof capsule is only a product of the weight it carries through the loading of the upper body, weight which is transferred down the limb and into the distal interphalangeal joint.
Acknowledging the need to appreciate all aspects of equine biology and including equine biomechanical medicine in our hypothesis on what constitutes an effective and healthy equine foot would be a step in the right direction for the entire equine community.
I am adamant that the palmar section of the equine foot represents the main support system for the entire horse and, as such, is the key to correct hoof function, shape and orthopaedic loading forces.
It should be easy for all to understand that energy dissipation is integral to the equine foot’s soundness. What is more important, however, is acknowledging all the foot’s working parts that, although unseen, reduce wear and tear of the foot, limbs and upper body; they are the digital cushion, internal bars, collateral cartilages and tension in the supporting ligaments and tendons.
When the distal limb’s orthopaedic loading is compromised, the relationship between the foot’s soft tissue architecture and the limb’s bony column is challenged; the internal soft tissue becomes unbalanced and changes its texture, affecting its alignment within the hoof capsule.
In reality, no one section of the foot works alone; the entire palmar section of the foot works together to dissipate the forces produced by the animal's upper body.
We will continue this discussion in my next series of blogs.
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