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The Horse's Foot
Trimming
No foot, no horse ; this idea cannot be truer as the foot and its structure occupy a central position in the physiological mechanisms of the horse.
With each step, with each stride, the structure of the horse's foot distributes the pressure of the weight of its body and activates the blood flow : a horse has 5 hearts (this is an image that perfectly illustrates the functioning of the body of the horse). In short, if your horse does not walk, this has an impact in particular on its blood circulation and digestion .
Knowing the components of the horse's foot will allow you to understand how it works.
In its external part, it is composed as follows :
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fetlock
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dewlap under the rear part of the fetlock
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pastern
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coronary band
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hoof with its wall divided into toe, udder, quarter and heel bulb and below, its sole, its glomas , its bars, its gaps, its frog
In its internal part, it is composed as follows :
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a bony structure with the cannon bone, the greater sesamoid, the 1st / 2nd / 3rd phalanges and the navicular bone
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tendons and ligaments
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of tissues and flesh
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nerves and vascular system
The health of your horse's feet is a reflection of its general health, a foot is treated as much through regular and adapted trimming as through adequate food and living conditions. The application of ointment, externally, often has the effect of a placebo for the owner, in addition to the problems of dryness of the foot for example, are treated above all with the ingestion of a balanced food, added of supplements (according to the needs, the age, the season).
There is also a part of genetics in the quality of a horse's feet, both morphologically and physiologically. A healthy balance will allow the hoof to play its role well, to wear evenly. And in the same way, a good quality of wall, of sole, which one gets used from an early age to be stimulated will be as much an innate element as acquired over generations. Miniature horses generally have a good hoof because they are not shod and live in conditions closer to their natural needs (outdoors, with the possibility of moving and using / stimulating their foot).
The hoof wall grows throughout the life of your horse, its speed varies according to the individuals and the season (slower in winter). In the wild, horses travel for kilometers daily on all types of soil, which naturally wears down their walls. For our domesticated horses, so it is necessary to cut, trim, excess wall to ensure optimum operation of the foot. In general, the trimming is therefore to be done or have performed 3 to 4 times a year, sometimes more on young subjects for whom special attention must be given in order to take advantage of the growth and the still unossified cartilages to correct possible defects of plumb.
The average budget for trimming, carried out by a farrier or a podiatrist, varies from 30 to 60 € in France. The shoe is not necessary in horses, a fortiori in miniatures, it is moreover rather counterproductive because it prevents the proper functioning of the foot. There are rare situations in which it can be recommended, in this case, it is better to go for resin or plastic Duplo type irons which will not block the "pump" effect of the foot. If you observe discomfort in your horse on certain types of ground and in driving work for example, hipposandals is judicious, you will find it at SOS Sabots :
The choice of your farrier/podiatrist is crucial, farriery has long been reserved and taught to men having the physical strength for this difficult profession but having little or no knowledge of the functioning of the horse's good and good locomotion. Nowadays, the profession of equine podiatrist (although not recognized by a state diploma) is developing more and more thanks to the awareness of owners, but also of high-level athletes.
The mistreatment of horses' feet is still commonplace (cutting forks, excessive digging of the sole, shoeing placed on feet that are too long, etc.) due to the fact that professional have been trained, and graduated, in these methods. Many farrier go beyond these barbaric practices, through their love of the profession and their desire to question themselves in order to improve their work. It is up to you to call on the right person, word of mouth is often your best friend to find a good professional. Take an interest in when he intervenes, watch him do it, talk to him and see if the trimming is consistent with your expectations and the well-being of your equine.
For the purchase of your own trimming equipment we recommend this website :
Which offers a wide choice of quality material and different sizes. Buying a rasp and pliers suitable for the size of miniature horses greatly simplifies handling.
