Student Workbook H1.4 Hoof Parts www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Student Name: …………………………………………………………… Student Number: …………………………………………………………. Email: ……………………………………………………………………… Phone: …………………………………………………………………….. Other Personal Information www.StudyHorses.com (Ausintec Academy P/L ATF Ausintec Academy Trust T/as) Ausintec Academy Mailing Address:392 Bribie Island Road, CABOOLTURE QLD 4510 (between Brisbane & Sunshine Coast) AUSTRALIA Registered Training Organisation No:31352 Centrelink Approval No: 4P530 CRICOS Provider Code: Pending Phone within Australia (07) 3102 5498 Outside Australia + 61 7 3102 5498 Request@StudyHorses.com Version:KD2009-08 Page 2 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Contents Introduction Pg. 4 Points of the Hoof Pg. 5 – 7 Horseshoes Pg. 8 Picking out Hooves Pg. 9 Natural Hoof Care Pg. 10 Extension Lesson Pg. 11 & 12 Recommended Reading Pg. 13 References Pg. 14 Version:KD2009-08 Page 3 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Hoof Parts Introduction No matter what breed or colour your horse is the hoof structure is the same. Some horses will have poorer hoof conformation (the general shape and arrangement of parts) whilst others will have good, strong hooves. The outside structure is hard and continually grows, because the hoof is always growing it is important to get them trimmed every 6 – 8 weeks to keep them healthy and in good order. The inside structure contains soft tissue and bone. The hoof is elastic and flexible to allow them to expand upon ground contact. Front hooves are shaped differently to the hind hooves, the front will be more circular and round whilst the hind more angular. Front hoof Version:KD2009-08 Hind hoof Page 4 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Points of the Hoof Version:KD2009-08 Page 5 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Points of the Hoof (cont.) Version:KD2009-08 Page 6 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Points of the Hoof (cont.) Hoof wall:The hoof wall grows downwards from the coronet band they cover the internal structure and act as a protective layer. Tough and elastic it acts as a concussion and grips to terrain surfaces. Hoof walls can be pigmented. White hooves are said to be softer than darker hooves. The hoof wall is insensitive. This is clearly demonstrated in shod horses (horses with shores shoes) as the nails are driven into the hoof wall to hold the shoe on. White Mixed Black Coronet band:This is where the hoof horn (wall) grows from. Any skin colour pigment at the coronet will generate the colour of the hoof horn i.e. pink skin at the coronet will mean white hoof growth, dark skin pigment results in drak hoof growth. White line:It is soft and fibrous in structure and holds the hoof wall and the sole together. This line is more sensitive than the hoof wall. Ifa nail is driven into the hoof wall at an incorrect angle it will cause discomfort to the horse should it come into contact with the white line. Sole:The sole can vary in colour,it covers the underneath surface of the hoof from the wall to the frog and bars. Frog:It is triangluar in shape with the apex extending across the sole. The frog has a rubbery consistency and assists in circulation by pumping the blood back up the leg. It is also suggested that it acts as a shock absorber and a grip on surfaces. Bars:Originate at the heels and fold inwards from the walls and bear weight along with the sole and wall. Version:KD2009-08 Page 7 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Horseshoes Horseshoes are used to protect the hoof from wear and tear. Farriers or Blacksmiths attach the shoes using nails which are driven through the hoof wall, which is insensitive so it causes the horse no pain. Horseshoes can come in various different styles and can be made out of various materials depending upon what the horse is being used for and what the horse’s hoof requires will decide what shoe is used. Materials that shoe may be made of include aluminium, steel, alloy, plastic and rubber. Aluminium shoes are lighter therefore suited to sports which require speed or finesse such as racing or dressage. Steel is heavier but lasts longer which is suited to horses which participate in polo, eventing or show jumping. The term ‘reshod’ means that a horse will have its shoes removed so that the hooves can be trimmed then the shoes will be reshaped or replaced and put back on again. Horses that are shod (wear horseshoes) should be re-shod every 4 – 6 weeks. Signs that a horse may need to be re-shod may include risen clenches, missing nails, bent or broken shoes or when the hoof has outgrown the shoe i.e. the hoof has become too big for the shoe. This hoof is outgrowing the shoe because the toe has started to curve out along the ground. The red line in this image illustrate the four clenches (nails holding the shoe on which have been bent over) in the hoof. Because the shapes of front and hind hooves are different, horseshoes also come as front or hind shoes. Front shoe Version:KD2009-08 Hind shoe Page 8 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Picking out Hooves Regularly cleaning the horses feet is important as often stones or small sticks will become wedged in them, particularly if the horse is wearing shoes. Its also important as cleaning the hooves will allow you to check for any injury or conditions in this area. In the event of a horse that is difficult to handle when picking up its legs, you can have a second person hold the horse so that it is flexed (slightly looking) towards the difficult leg or push the shoulder/hip away from you so that you shifted the horse slightly off balance. Front legs:When picking a front hoof stand beside the horses’ shoulder, facing the hindquarters. Pat the shoulder and run your hand down the back of the horses’ leg. As you reach the fetlock slide your hand to the inside of the leg and apply a gentle but firm pressure to the back of the fetlock in an upwards, pulling motion. Alternatively you can gently squeeze the tendons at the back of the leg. Whist doing this use your shoulder to help push the horses’ weight off the leg. Once the hoof is off the ground support it with your and by holding around the pastern/coronet region of the leg. With the hoof pick in your other hand, clean the hoof starting at the heel and picking away from you to the toe. Then place the hoof gently onto the ground, do not merely drop the hoof when you’re finished. Back legs:The procedure is the same for hind legs but once the hoof is off the ground it is necessary to bring the hoof/leg back a little behind the horse so you can see what you are doing. Be careful not to bring the leg so far back that it the horse has trouble keeping its balance. Because the hind legs are much heavier than the front (and many horses will tend to lean on you when a hind leg is picked up.) it may be easier to rest the cannon bone on your knee, still supporting the hoof with a hand, whilst you pick out the hoof. When finished bring the leg back under the horses’ body and place the hoof gently on the ground. Version:KD2009-08 Page 9 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Natural Hoof Care Natural hoof care is the care and trimming of hooves without the use of shoes (barefoot). Natural hoof care is a method which is designed specifically for barefoot horses and involves a daily care system so that the horse can remain unshod for the entirety of its working life. The most prominent leading names in the development of this system are Jaime Jackson (former farrier in America) and Dr. Hiltrud Strasser (German veterinarian). This method of hoof care uses special trimming techniques as well as modified living conditions for the horse to promote and develop better hoof health. Horses require living conditions which are as close to those that they would experience if they were undomesticated, such as:- 24hr freedom of movement every day herd environment no horse shoes at all, under any circumstances grazing or hay available 24hrs a day from ground level No blankets, leg wraps, bell boots etc though boots for soaking or riding are allowed Living conditions which expose the horse to the elements and terrains they would experience in the wild:- mud, water, pasture, gravel/rocks. Hooves exposed to water daily No bedding in living environment Natural amount of exercise (10miles per day) Regular trimming The trimming aspect of natural hoof care concentrates on the physiologically correct hoof form along with natural integrity. Links are available at the end of this workbook should you wish to learn more about Natural Hoof Care. Version:KD2009-08 Page 10 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Extension Lesson Label the following parts of the hoof:- Version:KD2009-08 Page 11 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Extension Lesson (cont.) Label the following parts of the hoof:- Version:KD2009-08 Page 12 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts Recommended Reading Webpages:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Shoes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_hoof Version:KD2009-08 Page 13 of 14 www.StudyHorses.com H1.4HoofParts References Webpages:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Shoes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_hoof http://www.thehorseshoof.com/ http://www.strasserhoofcare.org Images:Page 4 www.thehorseshoof.com/helphealth.html Page 7 lifeinthegreatmidwest.blogspot.com/2007_03_01... Page 8 www.shoe-a-ranch.com/faqs.html Page 8 www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto... Page 8 www.supplierlist.com/.../kakayu/p-0/showroom.htm Version:KD2009-08 Page 14 of 14