Weighing in on Obesity and Applied Equine Podiatry

My poor horse's aching feet.

Obesity is not a condition usually associated with hoof care. It is however, a major cause of Deformed Hoof Syndrome (DHS) and loss of proper foot function. Many of today's horses suffering hoof ailments are often overweight.
How do we define the obese horse? The obese horse is one that is 150 to 200 pounds over its recommended weight, this determined by weight tape and the application of the Body Condition Scoring System (BCS).

The BCS System
Score of 1(poor) to 9 (Extremely Fat)
Developed by Henneke et al in 1983 at Texas A&M
Used throughout the horse industry as standard score system
Accepted scientific method
Admissible in court

How it is done
Focus on 6 key areas:
Neck
Withers
Spinous process
Tail head
Behind the shoulder
Ribs

The system utilizes Visual Appraisal and Hands On /Palpation of those areas exhibiting fat deposits listed above.

As a Applied Equine Podiatrist I am concerned with horses that score 7 or higher on the BCS.

BCS 7

BCS 7
May have crease down back. Individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat. Fat around tailhead is soft. Fat deposits along withers, behind shoulders and along the neck.

BCS 8

BCS 8
Crease down back. Difficult to palpate ribs. Fat around tailhead very soft. Area along withers filled with fat. Area behind shoulder filled in flush. Noticeable thickening of neck. Fat deposited along inner buttocks.

BCS 9

BCS 9
Obvious crease down back. Patchy fat appearing over ribs. Bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck. Fat along inner buttocks may rub together. Flank filled in flush.

Rehabilitating the obese horse with Deformed Hoof Syndrome (DHS) is far more difficult, than a horse that is carrying correct weight and condition. The added weight hinders the horse's ability to protect itself from injury, and those structures responsible for suspension within the foot are often stressed to their maximum sustainability. Solar bruising is common, this because those structures responsible for suspension are just simply over stressed and downward movement of the bones of the foot are not properly held in check. The result is excessive pressure and force being applied to the solar dermis. 

When I receive a request to remove horseshoes from a horse, with the goal being a sound shoeless horse it is my responsibility to determine the level of usability of the structures of the foot. I do this by utilizing a Spectrum of Usability (published by IAEP, Inc.) and BCS. I then take into account the added force the foot must endure as a result of the overweight condition.  In many instances I find it necessary to recommend some form of orthotics that will offer support and provide dynamic stabilization. 

Taking responsibility for the health of your horse's hooves involves conditioning the whole horse. Be responsible and don't simply pull those horseshoes, not without first determining the true state of health of the foot within. Learn to use both the BCS, and the Spectrum of Usability.

About the Author:

Keith "KC" La Pierre has been a professional farrier for over 33 years. He is the Co-Founder of the Institute of Applied Equine Podiatry, and developer of the Spectrum of Usability. He teaches and lectures both in the USA and Abroad. For more information and articles by KC La Pierre visit the Institutes website at www.equinepodiatry.com 

Weighing in on Leg Action

Can a Horseshoe improve stride?

The following text is from an email I received concerning shod vs. barefoot. 
 
Hi
I have an 11-year-old Lusitano stallion that is working towards Grand Prix dressage.
I have owned him since he was 3 years old and he has never had shoes on.
My farrier says he has the best feet of any horse he has ever seen. So far so good, but my dressage trainer, a Grand Prix rider from Holland, is insisting that I must put shoes on him.
He says that it will improve his front leg action making him lift his legs higher in movements like passage.
Is he right?
Wouldn't it only be a temporary reaction to the weight of the shoes?
The numerous downsides surely outweigh the possibility of more action.
I respect my trainer but I really don't want to put shoes on him, but my trainer can't understand why not.
I would love to hear any comments you might have please?

Kind regards
Rosie
From the UK
 
My response:
Dear Rosie, 
Weight does have a huge effect on limb action, and yes, the weight of the shoe can alter gait. I have been a farrier for over three decades and in my earlier years, I worked on many Standardbred horses (Trotters and Pacers) using weight to alter or improve gait. Yes, I did say improve gait. I did not say improved biomechanics with the welfare of the horse in mind.
 

Targeted exercise results in symmetrical movement

Seeing you have a healthy shoeless horse, I would not recommend shoeing this horse with a traditional rigid horse shoe, as the benefits of its weight does not outweigh the negative effects of the loss of foot function.
There are other means of achieving the goals your trainer has set. When we wanted to alter movement of the limb in the race horse (Trotter), we would use weights such as toe weights, side weights, or heel weights. A strategically placed 2 oz. weight would have adequate influence over foot flight, likely more so than a horseshoe placed balanced about the foots' axis. These hoof weights are available from several suppliers via the internet. Your trimmer should also be able to use their imagination to develop weights that would be less conspicuous on the hoof.
These weights should be applied to the lower outer hoof wall with glue, or screw, where desired. This type of weight is far less detrimental to foot function, but be advised, anytime you attempt to alter limb movement, you are creating strain that could lead to lameness. In addition to weights, there are horseshoes that offer needed elastic potential for better foot function, one such shoe is the titanium horseshoe.
In addition to weights, some trainers use weighted bell boots to help in developing muscle and muscle memory. Proper exercise, targeting the appropriate muscle groups goes a long way in releasing a horse's potential. See photos above.
I hope this information will be useful, pointing out that there are always alternatives to the traditional ridged shoe.

Sincerely,

Keith "KC" La Pierre, MAEP, APR, RJF, CF, MIAEP

Immobilization or Stabilization?

The more we learn about the equine hoof the more we come to realize the importance of stabilization. The conformation of the hoof capsule becomes a wonder to behold when you examine each individual structure of its make-up. In my teaching I stress the importance of defining correct conformation and health of tissue for a given structure, knowing this enables us to define a structures function. The hoof wall in itself is composed of a number of structures, each being defined by its conformation and the make-up of its tissue.
When it comes to the hoof capsule, stability defines its health. The hoof wall is a matrix of epithelium and within that matrix are primary tubules originating at the coronary band and laminar derived inter-tubular horn originating at the lamellae.
The ratio of tubule to lamellae derived horn defines the walls primary function at any given location in the hoof wall. For example: The toe region of the hoof capsule has a high ratio of primary tubules to that of laminar derived horn, this when compared to the heel area of the hoof capsule. Primary tubules resist distortion, whereas lamellae derived horn is well suited to distortion and buffering. You see primary tubules provide the stability to the matrix much like re-bar to concrete. Primary tubules produced a the coronary band are quite dense.

Foundation, Foundation, Foundation 
We must look to the foundation of a structure to truly understand the why of its make-up. The foundation of the toe is the coffin bone, where as the heel has a foundation of cartilage. It is a fact that the foundation of the caudal (back) hoof is cartilage and the foundation for the dorsal foot is bone. With a high ratio of tubules to lamellae derived horn in hoof wall surrounding the coffin bone we can deduce that the function of the toe is one of support and protection. Not physical support, but rather to support locomotion. Protection comes in the form of stabilization, helping to reduce torque about the coffin bone and with a layer of lamellae derived horn between the coffin bone and the hoof wall matrix a buffer is created to protect the dermis.

Looking at the heels we find a foundation of cartilage. The hoof wall in the heel has a matrix comprised of a high ratio of lamellae derived horn to that of primary tubules. This ratio allows for distortion to occur in the caudal foot, while protecting the dermis by way of buffering the shock created at impact.
Why do we want distortion in the caudal foot? 
The simplest of answers is; because of the foundations of the foot. Cartilage throughout the body is often present to protect bone and this is true of the Ungular Cartilages of the equine foot. Cartilage health plays a major role in protecting the coffin bone and navicular apparatus from torque.
How did I come to this conclusion? By asking another simple question: Whys is the frog a triangle? Or Why is the Frog Stay a "V". As I stated earlier function is defined by a structures conformation and the property of its tissue. The foundation of the frog stay (inclusive of the bars) is essentially Ungular Cartilage. When I lectured at the National Farriers Conference in Normandy France I presented an analogy to help explain the function of the Ungular Cartilages.
I related the coffin bone to a tow vehicle and the ungular cartilages as a horse box (trailer). The union of the cartilage to bone was portrayed as a hitch with stabilizer bars. The function of the trailer hitch was to reduce or eliminate torque on the vehicle. The stabilizer bars (springs) provided elastic potential to stabilize movement and further reduce uncontrolled movement on the vehicle. Cartilage has the same function. Having a high elastic potential cartilage effectively reduces torque on the coffin bone and the navicular apparatus. I pointed out that stabilizer bars allow for optimal performance in towing and if they are removed excessive movement can occur placing strain on the vehicle. I also pointed out that if the hitch was to be welded solid the vehicle would be exposed to extreme torque and strain. I know this is a simplistic way of looking at function, but it often helps my students understand the difference between Stabilization, Instability, and Immobilization.
With this understanding my students are able to evaluate the vast array of bar shoes, flexible shoes, pad, and boots being used on horses today.
A foot stricken with instability due to weak cartilages will not do well in a flexible horse shoe, simply because unrestricted movement can be detrimental. Such a foot will not do well in a bar shoe either. The reason; because cartilage needs pressure to maintain or return health. Cartilage does not derive its nourishment directly from the circulatory system, so increasing circulation by loading the frog or allowing for expansion does not suffice. Cartilage needs to be stabilized not immobilized. How is this done? By providing stability through support with elastic potential. There are many products out there that can provide dynamic stability through elastice potentional to the weak hoof, using titanium shoes or steel (spring) shoes are two ways. The product pictured is  Perfect Hoof Wear, a polyester wrap. Our students learn that an unstable foot can be stabilized by using the PHW and adding a flexible horseshoe to the wrap
for performance.

Take a Load Off (F=M x A)

How Body Condition influences Hoof Care Practices.

by Keith "KC" La Pierre, MIAEP, APF, RJF

Being the first week of the new year my thoughts focus on maintaining or achieving better health in the coming year, this not only for myself, but for my horses and the horses in my care as well. 

Close observation of the horse's body condition helps in my preparations for upcoming seasonal changes, and the riding season. Experienced horse people know that a heavy winter coat can hide a multitude of issues. Changes in water intake, diet and exercise all result in loss of conditioning. Some horses lose weight, others gain weight. 

As an Equine Podiatrist the horse's body condition is important in determining a reasonable treatment protocol and prognosis. Because of this, body scoring is included in the DAEP's (Diploma in Applied Equine Podiatry) Spectrum of Usability. 

When first called upon to work on a horse I always conduct a thorough evaluation of the whole horse, not simply its hooves. Let me give you an example of how body scoring helps in determining my course of action.

There have been occasion when I have been called upon to pull horseshoes off of a horse, this usually by a horse owner that wants to go natural or barefoot. However, when I see the horse and complete a thorough evaluation, which includes body scoring (we'll give the horse a 8) and the Spectrum of Usability of the hooves (we'll give the horse a 2), I find that my recommendation must be; do not pull the shoes. In this example the recommendation was not made because the horse had a low body condition score, but rather a high body condition score. A high body condition score coupled with a low Spectrum of Usability score. In the practice of Applied Equine Podiatry we utilize the Spectrum of Usability to assess the capability the horse's feet have to deal with force. Each structure is assessed and rated on a scale of 1/9, with 1 being poorest, unlike body condition scoring 9 is healthiest. In body condition scoring 1 is poor, 5 is healthy and 9 is poor. The horse in this example scored high on the body score, which means it was overweight. Also in the example the horse scored low on the S of U. A low score on the S of U indicates a foot that cannot easily cope with excessive force, (a weak, unstable foot). You may be aware that Force = Mass x Acceleration. When assessing whether a horse's foot needs stabilization and to what degree, is in part determined by body condition. Fortunately we now have alternatives to conventional horseshoes, (immobilization). We now have products that offer dynamic stabilization, such as Perfect Hoof Wear. In the not so distant past the recommendation for the overweight horse that had unstable hooves would be to stay in shoes for the time being, get some weight off the horse and remove the shoes when the environment was best for rehabilitation (drier summer months for example). Today we can apply products that offer stabilization and correct stimulus for the return of health to weak unstable structures (hoof wall, heels, bars, etc), while allowing the horse to be placed into a weight loss and rehabilitation program. Every hoof care provider should be well versed in Equine Body Scoring and should utilize this knowledge to keep the horses in their care safe and sound. 

Here is a video/power point that will help you to better understand body scoring and how our graduates (DAEP) utilize body scoring to help in the rehabilitation of your horses hooves.