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Disqualified For Trimming Whiskers? New Rule For International Competition

The international governing body for equestrian sport has banned horse owners from trimming the whiskers of horses that compete in international competition in 2021.

The rule was passed at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) general assembly in the veterinary regulations session. Beginning in July 2021, any horse that has had his whiskers removed will be disqualified from FEI-sanctioned events unless a vet deems the whisker removal necessary.

The exact wording of the rule reads: “if the horse's sensory hairs have been clipped and/or shaven or in any other way removed unless individual sensory hairs have been removed by a veterinarian to prevent pain or discomfort for the horse.” The measure was passed unanimously.

The FEI veterinary committee believes a horse that has had his whiskers trimmed has a reduction in sensory ability. This ruling aligns the organization's rules with legislation in multiple other national federations, including Germany, France and Switzerland.

The US Equestrian Federation is concerned about the subjectivity of the clipping of sensory hairs, which they feel may lead to irregular enforcement at competitions. One specific concern raised by the Federation is the length of the sensory hair around the eyes, which could possibly become trapped in the blinkers on the bridle of driving horses. The Federation asked that the changes be removed and addressed when a complete review of the veterinary rules are conducted.

Study: Routine Hoof Care Makes Horses More Comfortable

While routine hoof care is a necessity for maintaining horse health, it also makes horses more comfortable. In a recent study, scientists found that horses take more steps after they have been trimmed and they spend more time in a relaxed position, reports The Horse.

Dr. Jay A. Daniel of Berry College, in Mount Berry, GA, fitted seven riding horses with an accelerometer on one hind leg. The horses wore the device for 23 hours each day for more than two weeks. All the horses lived outside in groups of 12 on the Berry College campus.

Three horses had their hooves trimmed and were reset halfway through the study. The other horses were all handled as if they were having their feet done, but their hooves were not actually trimmed.

The scientists noted that the horses that had had their hooves trimmed and received new shoes took more steps per day than the control group, meaning that they were more comfortable on their feet. The horses also spent more time lying down once their feet had been done, indicating that they were more relaxed, but not sore.

Tips For Top-Notch Hoof Care

Certified Journeyman Farrier Sean Elliott shoes horses that compete in a myriad of disciplines. He offers tips to promote hoof health and notes some things to avoid. Sean says the top three things healthy hooves need are good nutrition, a dry environment and balance.

Proper nutrition will give a horse the building blocks he needs to have quality feet. Sean recommends good hay, clean water and a ration balancer, and he discourages owners and caretakers from adding supplements just to use them if they claim they can make a difference in hoof quality. He reminds horse owners and caretakers to treat each horse like an individual and that feeding programs aren't one size fits all.

First and foremost, horses shouldn't stand for extended periods of time in mud or wet conditions, Sean says. He also recommends that horses not be bathed daily, which can strip hooves of oil essential to keeping them healthy. Sean also isn't a fan of topical hoof treatments, noting that a dry environment is more essential than anything that could be applied to the hooves.

Hooves should be seen by a qualified farrier every four to six weeks to ensure that the hoof capsule is placed correctly underneath the horse's leg. Routine trims will also deal with issues like long toes and flares in the hoof wall. Sean notes that a good farrier must have a grasp of equine anatomy and conformation, as well as understand the biomechanics of how hooves handle concussion.

Each hoof should be trimmed to be in balance and not to create hooves that look like they match one another. Shoes should be shaped to the foot and not the foot shaped to the shoe, Sean says.

Hooves can crack because the toe is too long, the heel is underrun or because the horse has been standing in a too-wet environment. Though most cracks aren't a big deal, ones that go all the way through the hoof capsule or all the way up to the hairline require an intervention by a farrier.

Contracted heels are also a common issue and are most often caused by improper hoof balance, which can affect blood flow and hoof expansion. Abscess can be startling to see as the horse tends to become suddenly, severely lame. Sean suggests that genetics may predispose a horse to abscesses and thin soles can exacerbate the problem. Abscesses are most common during spring and wet winter months, when moisture softens the hoof and the foot becomes bruised, which can lead to an abscess.