Pathological Horse-Shoeing: A Theory and Practice of the Shoeing of Horses by Which Every Disease Affecting the Foot of the Horse May be Absolutely Cured or Ameliorated, and Defective Action of the Limbs Effectively Corrected

By Joseph Brine Coleman

"Pathological Horse-Shoeing" is a comprehensive guide to the diseases and ailments common to the feet and limbs of the horse. It contains chapters on the detection, prevention, curing, correcting, etc., of a variety of diseases, as well as sections on subjects such as general care and management, shoeing, and more. Highly recommended for modern horse owners and farriers. Contents include: "Anatomy and Physiology of the Foot of the Horse-General Remarks", "Definitions", "External Structures of the Foot", "The Wall", "Composition of", "Form of", "Shape of", "Bars, Braces, or Buttresses of", "Laminated Internal Surface of", "Epidermis or Cuticle of", "Coronary Concavity", "Angle of Inflection, Abnormal", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in a modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on maintaining and caring for horses.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Home Farm Books
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473343917

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Horses – Care and Maintenance

The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus. It is an odd-toed ungulate mammal belonging to the taxonomic family ‘Equidae’. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC. We, as humans have interacted with horses in a multitude of ways throughout history – from sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, to working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment and therapy. Horses have also been used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. With this range of uses in mind, there is an equally extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colours, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behaviour.

Looking after horses is a time consuming, as well as moderately expensive task – only to be embarked upon seriously. Horses can consume approximately 2% to 2.5% of their body weight in dry feed each day. Therefore, a 450-kilogram (990 lb) adult horse could eat up to 11 kilograms (24 lb) of food! Sometimes, concentrated feed such as grain is fed in addition to pasture or hay, especially when the animal is very active. In practical terms, horses prefer to eat small amounts of food steadily throughout the day, as they do in nature when grazing on pasture. Although this is not always possible with modern stabling practices and human schedules that favour feeding horses twice a day, it is important to remember the underlying biology of the animal when determining what to feed, how often, and in what quantities.

Aside from these more basic requirements – food (and water), horse grooming; the hygienic care given to a horse, is a very important practice. Grooming is an important part of basic horse care, essential for horses used in competition. Regular grooming helps to ensure the horse is healthy and comfortable. At a minimum, horses are generally groomed before being worked, and are usually groomed and cleaned up after a workout as well. This helps improve the health of the skin and coat, decreases the chance of health problems such as thrush, scratches and chaffing – as well as giving the groom a change to check the horse's health, such as looking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness or a change in temperament (such as depression) which could indicate the horse is sick. Importantly, it also helps form a relationship between horse and handler, which can carry over to other handling duties and riding. Horse showmanship is a horse show class that considers quality of grooming for as much as 40% of the total score.

Important aspects of grooming are hair trimming and clipping – variable by breed, region and discipline. Severely ‘incorrect’ clipping is often considered a great faux pas in the horse world.

Common forms are ‘bridle path’ clipping; where a section of mane, just behind the ears, is frequently clipped or shaved off. This allows the bridle to lie comfortably on the across the poll, and makes it slightly easier to bridle the horse, as the mane and forelock are separated and easier to keep out of the way. Fetlocks can also collect undesired amounts of mud, dirt, and burrs - and may be trimmed for practical reasons. The back of the lower cannon (leg) is also commonly clipped, also to remove long hairs. For a truly polished look, the coronet band (top of the hoof) is clipped to shorten the small straggling hairs that grow along the edges. In addition to basic trimming, many horses are ‘body clipped’ in the winter months, to remove their winter coat. This can serve a practical purpose, as it keeps the horse more comfortable during work, and helps it cool down faster, as well as an aesthetic one. The same reasoning lies behind clipping the mane and the tail; at its most basic, brushing out foreign materials and tangles – yet for competitions, far more extensive grooming is common place.

An aspect as yet unmentioned, though especially important, is hoof care. Although many horses are quite healthy without daily brushing, lack of hoof care can result in various problems, which if unattended, can result in short or long-term soundness issues for the horse. Hooves need to be trimmed after four to ten weeks; otherwise they will grow too long and cause discomfort. The most basic form of hoof care is cleaning, or picking out the feet. A hoof pick is used to remove mud, manure, and rocks from the sole of the hoof – thus preventing thrush and stone bruises.

If the horse was not trained to pick up its foot when a person runs their hand to the fetlock and lifts lightly, most horses will pick up their feet if the tendons behind their cannon bone are squeezed. Most horse management guidelines recommend picking the feet daily, and in many cases, the feet are picked twice in one day, both before and after a ride. Hoofs can also be dressed and polished; dressing improves moisture content, in turn preventing hoof cracks, tender feet and lost shoes whilst polish is generally used for show purposes.

As a concluding note, ‘farriers’, the people who will carry out much of this work, are incredibly important, with an interesting history. Farriers have largely replaced blacksmiths (after this specialism mostly became redundant after the industrial revolution), and are highly skilled in both metalwork and horse anatomy. Historically, the jobs of farrier and blacksmith were practically synonymous, shown by the etymology of the word: farrier comes from Middle French ferrier (blacksmith), and from the Latin word ferrum (iron). Modern day farriers usually specialize in horseshoeing though, focusing their time and effort on the care of the horse's hoof, including trimming and balancing of the hoof, as well as the placing of the shoes. Additional tasks for the farrier include dealing with injured or diseased hooves and application of special shoes for racing, training or ‘cosmetic’ purposes. In countries such as the United Kingdom, it is illegal for people other than registered farriers to call themselves a farrier or to carry out any farriery work, the primary aim being ‘to prevent and avoid suffering by and cruelty to horses arising from the shoeing of horses by unskilled persons.’ This is not the case in all countries however, where horse protection is severely lacking.

We hope the reader enjoys this book.

INDEX.

Anatomy and Physiology of the Foot of the Horse—General Remarks

Definitions

External Structures of the Foot

The Wall

Composition of

Form of

Shape of

Bars, Braces, or Buttresses of

Laminated Internal Surface of

Epidermis or Cuticle of

Coronary Concavity

Angle of Inflection, Abnormal

Horny Sole and its Functions

Peculiarities of Structure

Horny Frog and its Functions

Peculiar Properties of

Internal Apex of

Remarkable Appendix to

Coronary Frog-band

Fleming’s Description of

Internal Tissues of the Foot—Its Parts Particularized

Bone, Chemical Constitution of

General Characteristics of

Bones of the Foot

Os Pedis

A Mockery, A Delusion, and A Snare.

Pedestal of the Column

Remarkable Construction of

Essential Importance of the Foot

Os Coronæ

Os Naviculare

Stellate Ligaments of

Cartilaginous Structures of the Foot

Lateral Cartilages

Inferior Cartilages

Articular Cartilage

Remarkable Characteristics of

Buffers and Gilding Surfaces

A Knotty Question

Ligamentous Textures of the Foot

Coronary Ligament

Functions of

Reasons versus Ipse Dixits

Periosteal and Endosteal Membranes

Sensitive Laminæ

An Undetermined Question

Interperiosteal Pad

Relative Weights Sustained by Fore and Hind Limbs

Facilis Decensus Avernus

Sensitive Sole

An Erroneous Conception Exposed

Mr. Fleming, Rise and Explain

The Solar Zone

Sensitive Frog

Functions of

Characteristic Structure of

Importance of Healthy Condition of

Structure Indicates Function

Maximum and Minimum of Lateral Movements

Summary of Views

Tendons and Tendinous Textures—Particularized

General Character of

Important Anatomical Fact

Flexor Tendons

Remarkable Mechanical Arrangements of

Three-fold Functions of

Extensor Tendons

Accessories of

The True Suspensor

Low Instep, Frequent Source of Lameness

Antagonizing Forces

Secret of Knee Action

Tendinous Expansions

Lesser Ligaments of the Articulations

Synovial Membranes

Diseases of, and their Sequelæ

A Common Error Corrected

The Circulatory System of the Foot

Arteries

General Remarks Upon

Characteristics of

Microscopic Anatomy of

The Plantar Arteries, Description of

The Plantar Capillaries

Physiological Facts

Veins

Microscopic Anatomy of

Anatomical Arrangement Described

Veins of the Foot Have No Valves

The Reason Why

Lymphatics of the Foot

Scavengers or Sanatory Agents

Lymphatic Glands

Nerves

General Remarks Upon Nervous System

Nerves of the Foot

Distributive Arrangement of

Is the Equine Foot an Organ of Special Sensation?

Prima Facie Reasons

Analogical Argument

An Objection Anticipated

Experientia Docet

Relative Sensibility of the Equine Foot

Causes of Impaired Action

Sub-acute Laminitis

Acute Laminitis

General Causes—Diverse Effects

Injuries from Nailing on the Shoe

Source of Pain in the Foot

External Sources of Pain in the Foot

Muscular Spasms, or Cramp

Non-Inflammatory Affections

The Ragged Edge

Possible Cause of Stringhalt

Secreting Structures of the Foot—Particularized

Ample Room and Verge Enough

Constitution of Secreting Villi

Fluid Elements of the Foot Particularized

Physical Properties of the Blood

Important Physiological Facts

Red and White Blood-Cells

Chemico-vital Changes in the Blood

Judicious Mechanical Expansion

The "No-Contraction and Non-Expansion Heresies

Preliminary Remarks

Facts versus Theories

Contraction as a Morbid Condition

The Reviewer Reviewed

Age not the Gage of Experience

Be Just and Fear Not

Essence of Gamgee

The Case Stated

An Important Omission Supplied

Language the Key to the Sciences

Authorized Definitions

What Does Atrophy Mean?

Value of the Word Atrophy

Facts versus Fallacies

Varieties of Feet—How Produced

Effects of Dry Atmosphere

Varieties and Effects of Contraction

The Invariable Cause of Quarter-Crack

The Diseases of the Foot of the Horse—Contraction—Symptoms and Treatment

Positive and Negative Evidence

Preparation of the Foot

Form

The Best Kind of Shoe

Nail holes and Nailing

Acute Laminitis—Acute Rheumatism—Acute Founder—Proximate Causes of

Symptoms and Treatment

A Puzzling Problem

The Cure, That is the Question

Octogenarian Veterinarians

The Kind of Reception

Special Points in Shoeing for Laminitis

Broad’s Laminitis Shoe

A Point of Importance

The Rolling Motion Expedient

Depletion, When Desirable

Constitutional Treatment

Chronic Laminitis—Chronic Founder—Pumiced Foot

Authorized Errors Combated

Support the Sole

Stubborn Facts versus High Authority

A Demonstrable Fact

The Why and the Wherefore

Common-Sense Shoeing the Desideratum

How to shoe the Pumiced Foot

Navicular Disease—Causes and Symptoms

Rheumatic Symptoms

Treatment

Ringbone—Etiology and Pathology

Treatment

Sidebones—Ossification of the Lateral Cartilages—Etiology and Pathology

Treatment

Corn—Causes and Symptoms

The Old Theory

The Writer’s Theory

Contraction, or Lateral Pressure, the Cause of Corn

Treatment of Corn

Concomitants of Contraction

No Bar-Shoes Necessary for the Cure of Any Corn

Suppurating Corn

Nothing Like Expansion of the Quarters to Cure Corn

Toe-Crack and Quarter-Crack—Etiology and Pathology

Contractionists, and Non-Contractionists

Solid Proofs Wanted, Not Fallacious Arguments

The True Rationale of Quarter-Crack

Centers of Rotation, or Motion

Correlative Movements

Rationale of Treatment

A Sine Qua Non

An Exploded Fallacy

Quarter Before, Toe Behind

The Cause, Par Excellence

What to Do, What Not to Do

False Quarter—Shelly Foot—Seedy Toe

False Quarter

Treatment

Shelly Foot

Treatment

Seedy Toe—Special Characteristics

General Treatment

Grease—Scratches—Chapped Heels—Thrush—Etiology and Pathology

Fatty Follicles and Their Functions

Crowding and Dwarfing the Tissues

Difficult to Misunderstand

The Machinery out of Gear

Bad Enough at That

Treatment of Grease or Scratches

Treatment of Thrush

The All-Important Adjunct

Treatment of Canker

Some Cures Contrary to All Expectation

Atrophy of the Foot—Dry Rot

Contraction, Both Cause and Consequence

General Principles of Treatment

Accidental Injuries

Calking the Instep

Characteristics of Quittor

A Remarkable Resemblance

The Most Powerful Adjunct

Tetanus or Locked-Jaw—Etiology and Pathology

Mysterious Intertransmutations of Disease

Facts of Pathology

Concurrent, or Predisposing Causes

Invaluable Adjunctive Measure

Stringhalt—A Mysterious Malady

Notes and Queries

Peculiar Mechanism of the Hock-Joint

Does Stringhalt Constitute Unsoundness?

Professor Spooner’s Hypothesis

Percival’s, Opinion

Microscopical Research

Professor Spooner’s Final Judgment

Physiological Attribute of the Hock-Joint

Busteed’s Belief

Professor Spooner’s Strictures

Dr. Busteed’s Claim as a Discoverer

Experimental Facts

A Curious Coincidence

The Writer’s Suggestion

Summarized Statement of Author’s Theory

Summary of Changes

Incipient Contraction

Advanced Contraction

Ossification of Lateral Cartilages

Laminitis

Drop-Sole, or Pumiced Foot

Navicular Disease

Ringbone

Corns

Quark-Crack

Toe-Crack

False Quarrer

Shelly-Foot

Seedy-Toe

Scratches

Thrush of the Frog

Canker of the Sole

General Atrophy of the Foot

Accidental Injuries

Treads

Bruises

Injuries from Calking

Quittors

Suppurating Corns

Picking Up Nails

Injuries Connected With Shoeing

Constitutional Complaints

Tetanus, or Locked Jaw

Pneumonia

Pleurisy

Gastritis

Enteritis

Gastro-Enteritis

Skin Affections

Sweeny, or Atrophy of Muscles

Irregularities of Gait and Action

Conclusion

FORMULÆ:

Poultices and Poultice Boots

Fomentations for Different Forms of Injury

Lotions for Various Purposes

Liniments and Embrocations for Sprains, Bruises, etc

Liniments and Salves for Canker, Thrush, etc

Powders for Scratches, Canker, Thrush, etc

Powders for Cleaning Foul Ulcers, etc

Blistering Applications for the Removal of Splents, Spavins, Ringbones, Side-bones, Bony Enlargements, Thickened Tendons, etc

Hoof Dressings—Their Use and Abuse

Hoof Stimulants

Hoof Salves

Hoof Stoppings for Sole and Frog

Constitutional Treatment

Preliminary Remarks

Glossary

Special Notification

Testimonials

How to make a Book

The Play without the Part of Hamlet

Acknowledgments

Unexceptionable Testimony

Letter from Addison Doughty

Letter from R. C. Anthony

The Dilator

The Book and the Instrument—Terms

APOLOGETIC AND EXPLANATORY.

The author of this work is fully conscious of some errors of omission as well as commission to be found within its pages, although he deems them of minor importance, when compared with the really valuable and useful practical information it contains, upon a much neglected but highly important branch of veterinary science and art. It was intended that its pages should have been enriched with first-class engravings illustrative of the doctrines and the practice taught. These, however, the exigencies of professional duties, and other circumstances, would not admit of being executed in a manner that would be deemed satisfactory to the public, or the author, within the limits of time at the latter’s disposal. He trusts that his desire for the issuance of his work during the most momentous celebration of human progress of modern times, may, to some extent, further excuse this omission, as well as the reduction of the original price—Five Dollars with illustrations, to Three Dollars without them. It is the author’s intention to fully complete his work in a future edition, and to make it worthy in every respect of the age of enlightened progress in which we live; of the great epoch now being celebrated; of the Country, par excellence, which as yet, has exhibited the highest developement combined with the greatest utilization of speed in the noblest of all animals, the HORSE; and of the important professson to which he has the honor to belong.

INTRODUCTORY.

HUMANE SOCIETIES AND IMPROVED HORSE-SHOEING.

Amongst the various secondary objects which Humane Societies, the world over, propose to themselves to attain in order to carry into effect their highest benevolent intentions towards the inferior order of created beings, which are associated with, or subject to, the service of mankind within the different spheres of civilization, there is none I deem of more transcending importance to the best interests of society, in subserving the noble aims, greater and lesser, which those societies have in view, and the well being of the quadruped under consideration, than improved methods of shoeing horses, whether for the purpose of preventing disease and lameness, or for removing or ameliorating those abnormal conditions when present. The full measure or complement of all that is possible in these directions, ought to be accomplished.

The writer of the following pages on pathological horse-shoeing, deeply impressed with this view, as well as actuated by a profound conviction of personal duty, earnestly desires to enlist the active sympathies and assistance of the above societies in every civilized community on behalf of what he regards as his mission of mercy to the victim of the most unaccountable ignorance of his necessities, in the management of one of his most essential organs of usefulness; yet, withal, an indispensable and invaluable adjunct of civilization everywhere.

About three years since, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, awarded prizes for the best and most practical essays on horse-shoeing, in connection with the comfort and soundness of the horse.