A Farrier’s Intervention

Curtis Burns is passionate about horses. Like many in the horse industry, he credits the horse for everything that he has. A lifelong horseman, he grew up in the Minnesota, noting his then small stature had him poised to be an exercise rider or jockey prospect. However, at around age 14 a chance opportunity led him to the racetrack.

“Pretty much from there I never went home,” he said.

Burns now wears many hats–farrier, innovator, teacher, and the manufacturer of the Polyflex Shoe and other farrier products. He told the TDN he was willing to step out of the shadows of the backside to lend a voice to ongoing concerns he has fielded in recent weeks from multiple farriers from several jurisdictions about one of the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) regulations.

Burns shared photos of recently removed horseshoes provided to him by farrier Gary Gullo highlighting the severely compromised integrity of front shoes lacking extra toe, in accordance with HISA rules. Burns explained that the issue was popping up at tracks where the horses traverse the backstretch on pavement or macadam, which was leading to severe wear in the front of the shoe. He said that without the extra toe, the realities of maintaining the aluminum shoes' integrity is proving challenging.

Additionally, reports include observations of abnormal dorsal hoof wall wear, with some back to the white line, which is not good for Thoroughbreds, who are famously thin-walled and sensitive.

Queen XT horseshoes–widely worn until the new regulations came into effect–offer a hardened steel toe piece extending two millimeters above the aluminum, acting as an additional durable layer for the aluminum plate when coarse surfaces are encountered.

“We are just about a month in a half into the new rules,” said Burns. “We are not seeing the problem everywhere. However, the Queen XTs, with a hardened steel strip on the toe no more than the width of quarter, eliminates the aluminum wearing away with each foot fall. Honestly, I wasn't overly concerned when the initial rules came out, however, some of the shoes are wearing significantly.”

Burns said that he was a staunch HISA supporter, noting that during his years of travel around the country, “I struggled a lot just getting licenses and with the differing regulations. I often thought, 'why in the world are we not able to get a uniform license, we are all doing the same thing?'”

Burns indicated he was optimistic for HISA's mandate and future, and hopeful that HISA regulations will level the playing field. However, he also added his hope that HISA would reevaluate the shoeing rules in light of this new evidence and allow for the use of Queen XTs.

By design, he said, having the additional steel better maintains the integrity of the soft metal aluminum toe, offering better resistance to the abrasive surfaces horses encounter at some backside stabling areas.

Burns also reinforced the need to change certain vocabulary, clearly defining what should be considered a 'traction device.'

“It's not a traction device,” he said. “It's a wear plate. All we are asking for is the Queen XT, which eliminates the wear problems that we are starting to see. Most of the top barns have generally always used these. If they would have just said Queen XTs all the way around, I wouldn't have thought that much of it the new HISA rulings. I didn't see how that would be detrimental to the horse.”

Burns said that the unusual wear pattern he described has also created issues for trainers who are forced to “short cycle” the normal four-week interval for shoeing to avoid the potential for injury or catastrophic consequences caused by the shoe's deteriorating integrity. With a shortened shoeing cycle, farriers are faced with limited amounts of hoof to trim, as well as an additional possibility that the hoof wall will be further compromised with additional nailing. Additional consequences of the shortened shoeing cycle include the further cost outlays for trainers, owners, and farriers.

Burns said that he hoped that HISA would consider these findings and further contemplate an amendment with an allowance for the usage of a wear plate up front. He noted the organization's willingness to amend a shoeing rule to allow for traction devices to be used behind after reports of slippage due to a lack of traction behind, the source of the horse's power.

When asked to comment, HISA offered the following statement: “HISA's shoeing rules were created and refined in collaboration with horsemen, and HISA will continue to listen to feedback from farriers and other experts as we implement HISA's rules. The rules were drafted with equine safety and welfare as the top priority above all else. HISA's decisions have been consistently rooted in research, and as additional research continues to emerge, HISA will ensure its policies are always grounded in the latest science. HISA also continues to work directly with manufacturers to ensure they are producing shoes that comply with HISA's rules and prioritize equine safety.”

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Shoes And Hoof Circulation: Is There A Connection?

Specific shoes are often recommended by veterinarians to aid horses facing a variety of issues, from abscesses and lameness to musculoskeletal issues and environmental conditions. These shoes affect the horse's hoof in a variety of ways. A Polish study evaluated how two different types of shoes may affect hoof circulation.

Dr. Marta Mieszkowska and a team of researchers used thermography to measure distal limb temperatures on 16 Warmbloods that had been diagnosed with navicular bone changes or deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injuries. The horses were divided into two groups: the navicular horses were shod with egg-bar shoes and the DDFT horses were shod with wedge pads.

The egg-bar shoes shifted the horse's weight to the rear of the foot and increased the sole surface. The team noted that the shoes may compress blood vessels and adversely affect soft tissues.

The study showed that since w edge pads force the horse's coffin joint into a more-flexed position, they could increase pressure on an artery while reducing the load on the DDFT.

The research team determined that egg-bar shoes decreased the median temperature of the heel portion of the hoof. Wedge pads decreased the median minimal temperature in the heel and toe of the hoof.

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The authors concluded that horseshoes may have a negative impact on blood circulation in the hoof, and noted that different types of shoes may result in different temperature differences.

Read more at EquiManagement.

The post Shoes And Hoof Circulation: Is There A Connection? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Tis The Season: Top Five Winter Hoof Care Tips

The American Farriers Journal has released a checklist of winter hoof care tips that can help horse owners keep their horses' hooves healthy during the difficult cold season.

First, the AFJ recommends maintaining a regular shoeing or trimming interval.

“Even though hooves grow more slowly during fall and winter, regular farrier care is important,” states the AFJ. “If shoes are pulled for the winter, hooves may need to be trimmed more frequently.”

A second tip is to keep stalls and run-in sheds clean and dry with regular maintenance, including manure/soiled bedding removal.

Another part of the horse owner's daily winter routine should be checking and cleaning out each hoof. Regular visual exams can help detect early changes that could signify the beginning of larger problems, and regular cleaning will help prevent a dangerous buildup of snow/ice.

Fourth on the list is to maintain anti-thrush measures.

“In milder winter climates, mud can create as big a problem as snow and ice,” the AFJ warns.

Finally, consider your horse's changing nutritional needs during the winter months. Vitamins A and E are mainly provided by hay, but those levels can drop to less than 20 percent of normal by winter's end. Additional supplementation may be necessary, but as always, consult your veterinarian and farrier for specific advice.

Check out the full checklist at the American Farriers Journal.

The post ‘Tis The Season: Top Five Winter Hoof Care Tips appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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International Jumpers Compete Sans Shoes; Here’s How

The Swedish show jumping team recently won Olympic gold and jumped more clear rounds than any other nation at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but that wasn't their only claim to fame — two of the three team horses did it barefoot.

Most competition horses wear shoes to protect their hooves from wear, provide traction, and prevent issues with the structures within the hoof. However, going without shoes also has its benefits, though horses that have had shoes on for months or years may need time for their hooves to strengthen and grow accustomed to not wearing shoes.

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Dr. Stephen O'Grady of Palm Beach Equine Clinic told Horse Network horse hooves are designed to absorb concussion, accept weight, and dissipate energy. A barefoot hoof has a surface that interacts with the ground to strengthen the overall foot. A shod hoof, on the other hand, bears weight just on its periphery, where the shoe rests on the sole; shoes don't utilize the soft- tissue structures within the hoof.

Though not wearing shoes can improve hoof health, not every horse can go barefoot and be comfortable, O'Grady says. The type of work the horse is asked to do, the surfaces on which he works, and genetics will all play a role in deciding if a horse can stay sound barefoot. The horse's veterinarian and farrier should be consulted before shoes are pulled.

A horse that has had its shoes pulled will need to be acclimated gradually, and have workload tapered to allow for the adjustment. The horse will also have his hooves shaped and not trimmed, so his hooves will look different than those hooves wearing shoes.

Done properly, many horses can transition to going barefoot – even those jumping in the Olympics.

Read more at Horse Network.

The post International Jumpers Compete Sans Shoes; Here’s How appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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