Best foot forward
KEEPING horses sound is an intricate process. The slightest deviation in hoof balance and limb-hoof alignment can have catastrophic consequences not only to performance, but also to general soundness and longevity.
Recognising if a prospective purchase has “bad” feet is therefore essential, but if your own horse already has conformational defects, there are ways of managing some of them.
“Hoof conditions such as cracks, splits and corns can be treated, but it’s when the issue relates to the shape and loading pattern of the hoof that it becomes complicated,” says farrier Ben Benson AWCF. “The hoof grows, so if the problem is purely in the hoof, often you can grow your way out of it. When it comes to leg and joint conformation, the hoof grows in accordance with the load placed on it.”
One of the most common issues associated with lameness,
