Outline/Contents
Introduction
Bare vs. Shod?
A call for some
common-sense balance between the extremes. From cover-to-cover, this
book is about growing the healthiest hooves an individual horse can
genetically grow. What you do with those healthy hooves is up to
you. Genetic factors, pathology, environmental factors, intended
work and owner compliance all affect the "right path" to take with
an individual horse. We all need to listen.
Chapter 1
The Concept of the Good Foot: Its Evolution and Significance in a
Clinical Setting
Robert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD
Basic and advanced external and
internal anatomy of the equine foot. The extensive internal
variables between healthy and unhealthy feet are highlighted to introduce the reader
to the concepts of internal foot development and its clinical
implications. Morphology, development (or degradation) of the bones, cartilages, ligaments,
vasculature, neurology and other tissues of the equine foot (64 pictures).
Chapter 2
The Feral Horse Foot: The Australian Brumby Studies
Brian Hampson, PhD
Detailed description and results
of the Australian Brumby Studies. Six different environments; six
different "natural" feet. These findings demonstrate
that much can be learned from the study of wild horses, but many of
the sometimes-assumed ideals may need to be re-evaluated. GPS
tracking studies, radiology studies, cadaver dissections, effects of
different substrates on the feet (36 pictures).
Chapter 3
Hoof Care Theory
Pete Ramey
An overview of
general horse and hoof care. Introduction to many of the
principles detailed in the veterinary chapters by the contributing
authors: internal foot development, nutrition, biomechanics, grass
sugar fluctuations and
their affects on the health, morphology, development and performance of the hoof (22
pictures).
Chapter 4
The Growth of the Hoof Wall
from the Foal to Adult Horse
Robert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD
Detailed analysis
of the growth mechanisms of the hoof. Wall growth from the laminae,
bifurcating laminae, sole growth from the bar laminae. Highlights that some serious
re-thinking of old ideas needs to be doneÑabout how the equine foot
grows, functions, adapts and is held together. A deeper
understanding of growth and composition will enhance your ability to
make treatment decisions (33 pictures).
Chapter 5
The HorseÕs foot as a Neurosensory Organ: How
the Horse Perceives its Environment
Robert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD
Detailed analysis
and descriptions of the nervous systems of the equine foot, and how
they influence the synchronization of limbs and the body, protect the
horse from injury, and directly influence blood flow, and perhaps hydraulic energy dissipating systems of the foot.
Also includes detailed analysis of blood
flow through the foot while the horse is standing on different
surfaces using Doppler Ultrasound (48 pictures).
Chapter 6
Metabolic Laminitis
Eleanor Kellon, VMD
A history of our
understanding of Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, IR, various
Endocrine/Hormonal Disorders . Detailed
diagnostic and treatment considerations including husbandry,
medications and supplements.
Chapter 7
Nutrition and the Hoof
Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Overview of
specific nutrients and their effects on hoof growth and quality.
Feeding and supplementation recommendations. Which nutrients are
important to the hoof? All of them
(4 pictures).
Chapter 8
Carbohydrates in Pasture Plants: A Moving Target
By Kathryn Watts, BS
Discussion of
various presentations of laminitic horses and grass sugar effects. Detailed
description of grass sugars and how weather patterns, fertilization,
and other plant health factors affect them (and fluctuations
throughout the day and year). Table of sugar contents of various weeds. Detailed instruction on
pasture management to maximize yield and reduce sugars.
Worth its weight in gold (32 pictures).
Chapter 9
Hay Analysis
Eleanor Kellon, VMD
How to read
and interpret feed analysis. This can be a daunting task, until you
follow these step-by-step guidelines and descriptions.
Provides a
full description and evaluates the equine needs for each nutrient
found on forage and feed test results. Take
matters into your own hands: the only way you can really know what
your horse is getting is to test (and then learn to interpret the
results) (4 pictures).
Chapter 10
Balancing the Diet
Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Detailed instruction on balancing
the diet. NRC values of nutrients listed. Conversion to feed
rations. Learn to study your feeds and forages to give your horse
exactly what it needs (as far as we know). Very powerful knowledge in the treatment and
prevention of almost every problem the horse might have (6 pictures).
Chapter 11
Equine Ulcers: Are We Seeing Just the Tip of the Iceberg?
Kerry Ridgway, DVM
Detailed descriptions of ulcer
diagnosis, prevention and treatment. A "sleeping giant" of the horse
world. GI ulcers are far more common than almost anyone realizes. Among
other things, they affect movement, and thus hoof form and
conformation, and can create dangerous situations for those who work
under the horse. Detailed descriptions, tips for clinical diagnosis and/or
"becoming suspicious" of ulcers, and a detailed evaluation of treatment medications,
including their costs and effects (22 pictures).
Chapter 12
Veterinary Management of the Laminitis Patient
Debra R. Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Detailed instruction for the
equine veterinarian. Comparison and evaluation of medications and
treatment protocols for laminitis patients. Body Scoring,
introduction of a new Modified Obel Grading System, protocols for
SID-induced and carbohydrate overload/insulin-induced laminitis
cases. Real-world advice from one of the true masters of laminitis
treatment in the field
(12 pictures).
Chapter 13
Radiographic Imaging of the Laminitis Patient
Debra R. Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Detailed instruction for the
equine veterinarian. Set up and horse handling tips, perfecting
markers and images, communicating with the farrier, measuring and
analysis of films. Covers lateral, 0 degree DP, 65 degree DP, and
venograms at each angle as well. Reading the radiographs and
venograms of laminitic patients, with treatment options described
and prognosis discussed. Covers a very wide range of laminitic
presentations. Also compares venogram patterns to coronary wall
growth patterns seen in the field (90 pictures).
Chapter 14
Hoof Mechanics During Locomotion
Hilary M. Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl ACVSMR,
MRCVS
Gait
analysisÑdescription and results, stance phase analysis, swing
phase, structural and functional asymmetries, coffin joint kinematics,
hoof angle effects on locomotion and left or right handedness in
horses. Biomechanical links to under-run heels, hi-lo syndrome and
other hoof morphologies (9 pictures).
Chapter 15
The Hoof TrimmerÕs Attitude
Pete Ramey
What we are trying to accomplish when we trim a foot and
why? A brief but critical overview of the trimmer and farrierÕs role at the horse
(2 pictures).
Chapter 16
Evaluating and
Trimming the Sole
Pete Ramey
Estimating sole thickness, using the shape and conditions of
the sole to precisely locate and to evaluate each internal
structure. How to read or "suspect" various types of P3 remodeling
in the field. Trimming considerations for optimum sole growth and
function. Identifying and removing retained sole. Identifying
lamellar wedge, thin soles and problems with sole growth. Special considerations for laminitic patients. Case studies presented and discussed (28 pictures).
Chapter 17
Evaluating and
Trimming the Frog
Pete Ramey
Estimating thickness of frog epidermis, treatment of frog
infections, trimming the frog, evaluating the health of internal
structures. Special considerations for treatment of caudal foot
pain.
Case studies presented and discussed (23 pictures).
Chapter 18
Evaluating and
Trimming the Bars
Pete Ramey
Description of the functions of the bars, evaluation,
trimming and treatment of the bars. Special considerations for
laminitic patients, contracted heels and under-run heels, etc (13
pictures).
Chapter 19
Heel Height: The
Deciding Factor
Pete Ramey
Discussion of the long list of variables that influence the
ÒcorrectÓ heel height on a given horseÑon a given day. Heel
trimming, evaluation of gait and stance, special considerations for
laminitic patients and those with caudal foot pain.
Case studies presented and discussed (19 pictures).
Chapter 20
Care and
Rehabilitation of the Hoof Walls and Lamellar Attachment
Pete Ramey
Treatment of the walls for laminitic patients, dealing with
wall flare, cracks, WLD, dietary considerations, routine and
rehabilitative trimming.
Case studies presented and discussed
(100 pictures).
Chapter 21
Distal Descent of
P3
Pete Ramey
Recognizing and reversing distal descent of P3, recognizing
distal descent in the caudal foot. Trimming and treatment. Case
studies presented and discussed
(11 pictures).
Chapter 22
Under-Run Heels
Pete Ramey
Treatment of under-run heels. Discussion of different
causes: capsule rotation, toe flare, quarter flare, coronary
distortion, various loading patternsÑand the treatment of each.
Treatment of hi-lo syndrome. Effects of left and right handedness to gaits and thus hoof form.
Trimming and treatment detailed. Case studies shown and discussed (16
pictures).
Chapter 23
Low Heel/High Heel Syndrome
Kerry Ridgway, DVM
Club feet and under-run heels. Details injuries, imbalances,
genetic factors and habits that can lead to high/low syndrome.
Addresses trouble-shooting and treatment, explains laterality (right
or left "handedness") and its effects on the development of the
whole horse. Discusses therapeutic riding to
balance the horse, and thus the hooves. Evaluation of joint
elevations, spacing and angles. Effects on saddle fit (19
pictures).
Chapter 24
Club Foot
Pete Ramey
Identification and treatment of the club foot. Discussion
of early trimming of foals, grazing stance and various injuries that
can lead to club feet. Case studies of young vs. mature horses (12 pictures).
Chapter 25
Angular
Deformities
Pete Ramey
Treatment options for angular deformities. The farrier
or trimmers role, the veterinarian's role, treatment of adults vs.
foals, epoxy extensions (surgical options and splinting are beyond the scope of this
book)
(10 pictures).
Chapter 26
Contracted Heels
Pete Ramey
Identification and treatment, internal and external caudal
foot development. Is contraction a defense mechanism?
(4 pictures)
Chapter 27
Hoof Protection
Pete Ramey
Discussion of the specific needs of horses and
humansÑwhat do humans need in a horseshoe, and what do horses need
in a horseshoe, item by item. Evaluation and discussion of various
hoof boots, epoxy systems, casting systems, synthetic shoe packages,
and metal shoe packages. What do metal shoes do best? Synthetic
shoes? Boots? Epoxies? Fabrics/casting? Details hoof boot modifications and heat
fitting, hoof casting, and insole systems for each (but the
application of metal shoes, synthetic shoes and epoxy systems are
beyond the scope of this book). Special considerations for laminitis,
caudal foot pain, protection and treatment of surgery sites, thin
soles and wall cracks
(14 pictures).
Chapter 28
Laminitis (An
overviewÑAlso see chapters 1-30)
Pete Ramey
This entire book is directly or indirectly related to
laminitis. This chapter attempts to summarize some of the principles and lay
out an action plan. Discussion (with dissections) of the causes
and significance of "fan-shaped" growth rings, diet,
trimming, protective and supportive devices, and general management
of laminitis patients.
The bottom line is, "an ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure" (13 pictures).
Chapter 29
Navicular Disease
Pete Ramey
Most of this book is directly or indirectly related
to treating and preventing "navicular disease" and caudal foot pain
in general. This chapter focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of navicular
disease, navicular syndrome, and caudal foot pain. Outlines
some of the causes of specific internal injuries and
various types of navicular bone pathology. The bottom line is, "an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" (3 pictures).
Chapter 30
Special
Considerations for Donkeys and Mules
Pete Ramey
Detailed examination of the donkey's internal and
external foot. Specific internal differences between donkey feet and those of
the horse are demonstrated and discussed. Special considerations for
mules (23 pictures).
Chapter 31
Reflections/Closing
Pete Ramey
A call for specific research that
needs to be doneÑspecifically,
long-term studies comparing various methodologies on healthy
and on compromised horses/hooves. Otherwise we will
never really know what is the best
course of action for a given situation, and the hoof care world will
be forever locked in its current state of
opinion.
