The Hoof Print - Birett Farrier Service

The Hoof Print
March 2011
Produced by Greg Birett Farrier Services
News Bytes
Glue-on Shoes
There’s a really good new
glue-on shoe product that has
been vastly improved from
what has been available in the
past. The advantage is the
glue-on shoe will stay on a foot
that is too weak or broken up
to hold nails. It also has a built
in shock absorbing pad to keep
these tender footed horses
comfortable. The disadvantage
is that this product is quite
costly. Over the past year, I
have seen this type of shoe
applied at a couple of clinics
and I was really impressed
with the bonding strength of
this product. While ideally most
horse owners don’t want to
have to go this route, it is
reassuring to know that there
are products like this available
to help out in emergency
situations.
Greg Birett, CF
7 Longyear Drive
Waterdown ON L0R 2H5
905-320-2875
www.ontariofarrier.com
gbirett@hotmail.com
A busy winter is almost over
While many in the equine world tend
to take things a little easier during the
winter months, I’ve found this winter to
be quite busy. I was pleased to be able
to dedicate some time to further
educating myself and volunteering to
educate others. Now that spring is just
around the corner and show season is
on many equestrians’ minds, I’m
looking forward to the longer days,
warmer temperatures and of course,
lots of shoeing.
presentations we observed the
techniques being applied on the
appropriate individual cases. Hats off to
the hosts at Halton Equine, it was a fun,
educational and very well organized day
of learning. They were superb hosts.
On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Dr.
Mike Pownall and his staff from
McKee-Pownall Veterinary Services
hosted their second vet/farrier clinic of
the winter and I was lucky enough to
be able to get one of my client’s horses
On Saturday, November 20, 2010 Dr.
shipped in to be the topic of
Stephan O’Grady made a trip up from
discussion. The subject was a big 16+
his home in Virginia, U.S. to the
hand dressage horse that had been to
Halton Equine Veterinary Services’ new the University of Guelph in
location in Puslinch to present a very
mid-September and was diagnosed with
thorough and informative presentation
a medial/lateral imbalance on his front
on Equine Podiatry for local vets and
right foot.
Continued. . .
farriers.
Dr. O’Grady’s
seminar had
essentially three
focal topics which
were: crushed and
under-run heels,
sheared heels, and
applying wooden
shoes as an
option for treating
laminitis. Dr. Laura
Frost and her team
had three ideal
specimen horses
to demonstrate Dr.
O’Grady’s preferred
treatments for each
of these subjects.
After spending
the morning in the
“classroom”
following the good
doctor’s power point
Photo
Billy Jack didn’t mind the winter weather. This
18 hh boy seems quite happy to be out in the snow.
The Hoof Print
Produced by Greg Birett Farrier Services
Busy winter. . .
Continued from page 1
After three and a half months of the prescribed shoeing
treatment from the university, we had the horse up to
the McKee-Pownall Clinic in Campbellville to check his
progress. Dr. Pownall and his staff did a venogram on
the foot in question, which showed the blood supply was
being compromised on the medial (inside) half of the
foot. It was time to make some changes again, so under
Dr. Pownall’s direction we applied a heart bar shoe with
a three-quarter pad to rectify the problem.
This case tied in nicely with the earlier discussions Dr.
O’Grady presented in the fall, and I can’t say enough
good things about Dr. Pownall and his staff for their
ongoing pursuit towards continuing education. They
have worked diligently at providing forums between
vets and farriers, as well as educating the public on the
importance of “sound” horseshoeing methods. The vets
at the McKee-Pownall clinics have volunteered their time
and equipment for these vet/farrier clinics the past few
winters, and the progressive educational opportunities
have been fantastic!
Above: Greg discusses shoeing with fourth year vet
students at the University of Guelph.
On a lighter note, a handful of us from the Ontario
Farriers Association volunteered our time Saturday,
February 19, 2011 at the University of Guelph to assist
fourth year vet students in a wet lab and discussion on
horseshoeing. A few of the topics covered were: how to
properly pull a shoe, trim a foot, check for abscesses,
and how to recognize a well-balanced shoeing/trim job.
Unfortunately, we had to work on cadavers, which the
students have become quite comfortable with but I will
never, ever get used to!
I’m very excited about our Ontario Farriers Association
convention in Ottawa this spring. One of the speakers is
Roy Bloom, CJF, an international blacksmithing
champion, and our other guest speaker is Mike Millar,
MD, CJF, FWCF, who has done extensive research on
trimming fads and written a professionally renowned
book on how these different trimming techniques will
affect feet long-term (I know it’s a bit weird that I get
excited about this stuff but can’t help it). Stay posted,
there’s lots more to come!
Greg
Above: Heart bar shoe and three quarter pad used
to “float” the inside heel for increased blood supply
and growth.
The Hoof Print
Produced by Greg Birett Farrier Services
Wooden Shoes?
On November 20, 2010, Dr. Stephan O’Grady presented a
lecture and treatment method for chronic and acutely foundered
horses. He mentioned to those of us in attendance that in the
wide range his practice covers he sees and treats a lot of
laminitic cases, perhaps as many as one a week. There have
been many different methods for treating this debilitating disease
over time, and recently (over the last couple years) many vets
have settled on the wooden shoe as a preferred choice due to its
many advantages over traditional approaches.
Laminitis is a serious disease that effects the attachment of the
front and upper portion of the hoof wall to the coffin bone (distal
phalanx) inside the foot. It can be caused by many different
circumstances that lead to an inflammatory reaction within the
feet, with some of the more common causes being: a
carbohydrate overload, reproductive disorders (like a retained
placenta), trauma to the feet from excessive strain or concussion,
and ingestion of toxic substances. Horses that are overweight or
have Cushing’s disease are more prone to laminitis as well.
The deep flexor tendon runs down the back of the horse’s leg
and attaches at the base (underside) of the coffin bone. When
the inflammation from laminitis destroys the attachment between
the dorsal (upper front) hoof wall and the bone, the pull from the
deep flexor tendon causes the coffin bone to rotate, with the point
of the bone (in the very worst cases) pressing down on the sole.
current radiographs) make it easier to realign the coffin
Abscesses form in the dead tissue where the attachment has let
bone to its optimal position. The strong beveled edge
go, and this process is of course very painful to our equine friend.
on the underside of the shoe helps to relieve the stress
A horse can have a bout with laminitis without foundering. They
caused by the pull of the deep flexor tendon. Relieving
may have the inflammation in their feet without the coffin bone/
sole pressure under the point of the coffin bone can be
hoof wall attachment being compromised enough for the bone to done by grooving out the wood with a router. According
rotate. Even after a horse has foundered they can still be
to Dr. O’Grady, the flat solid construction of the shoe
maintained. With a little extra attention and with proper care, a
is also a big advantage because it evenly distributes
foundered horse can be happy, healthy, and rideable.
the weight of the back of the foot, providing excellent
support.
The acute stages during the early onset of laminitis seem to be
key. This is when damage control is most important. Personally, I
would never want to administer treatment without working in
conjunction with a vet; they have the tools and knowledge and
are much better prepared to diagnose what stage the horse is at.
There have been many different strategies for dealing with acute
laminitis, some of the ones I’ve come across include: icing the
feet to prevent some of the inflammation and ease discomfort,
taping thick insulation foam to the bottom of the feet to provide
cushion and support, or applying a heart bar shoe. The heart bar
shoe is an option which will help to support the horse’s weight
across the frog and the back part of the foot, and take it off the
damaged hoof wall. This has probably been one of the more
relied upon methods until recently.
From what I have seen, the wooden shoe method has been
gaining in popularity. It offers all of the advantages of the heart
bar shoe, plus a few that steel or aluminum bar shoes don’t. The
wedge design construction of the wooden shoe (along with
After seeing Dr. O’Grady’s compelling lecture and
hearing from Dr. Laura Frost how well the case study
horse was recovering a couple weeks after the
wooden shoes were applied, it definitely presented a
very convincing argument that this wooden shoe
treatment will be here to stay. Dr. Mike Pownall is also
a strong advocate for wooden shoes for laminitic
horses, having first presented a demonstration on
applying them at our 2010 Ontario Farriers convention.
Successful treatments for laminitis are not always easy
to achieve due to the range of problems this disease
can introduce. As always, it is encouraging to see how
research and development in our equine industry leads
to solutions to deal with problems such as laminitis. It
is equally encouraging that the professionals who have
this knowledge are willing to pass it on for the
betterment of the horse.
The Hoof Print
Produced by Greg Birett Farrier Services
Just for a Laugh...
Glossary of Horse Terms
Stall: What your rig does at rush hour in an unfamiliar city
on the way to a big horse show.
A Bit: What you have left in your pocket after you’ve been
to your favourite tack shop.
Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse
with something to chew on.
Horse Auction: What you think of having after your horse
bucks you off.
Well-Mannered: Hasn’t stepped on, bitten, or kicked
anyone for a week.
Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin
from one’s knuckles.
Lunging: Popular training method in which a horse
exercises their owner by spinning them in circles until
dizzy.
Gallop: Customary gait a horse chooses when returning
back to the barn.
Nicely Started: Lunges, but not enough health insurance
to even think about riding him.
Colic: Gastrointestinal result of eating at horse fair food
stands.
Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.
Easy to Load: Only takes three hours, four men, a 50 lb
bag of oats, and a tractor with loader.
Easy to Catch: In a 10x10 stall.
Easy Rider: Rides good in a trailer; not to be confused
with “ride-able”.
Endurance Ride: End result when your horse spooks and
runs away with you.
Hobbles: Walking gait of a horse owner after their foot
has been stepped on by their horse.
Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.
Dog House: What you are in when you spend too much
money on grooming supplies and pretty halters.
Light Cribber: We can’t afford to build anymore fencing
or box stalls for this buzz saw on four legs.
Three Gaited Horse: A horse that: 1) trips, 2) stumbles,
3) falls.
Classifieds
Sweet Hunter Mare For Sale
2002 bay Holsteiner cross mare by Lancaster, 15.3 hh.
Shown successfully in hunter ring. Auto lead changes,
excellent movement, and a scopey jump, this mare will
make a wonderful companion for a rider looking to do well
in the hunter ring or low level dressage. Asking $10,000
or best offer. Call Meghan at 905-527-7430 or email
megstewart29@hotmail.com.
A Real Gentleman For Sale
Sweet 16 hh, 11-year-old passported thoroughbred
gelding. Easily handles 3 ft course with potential to go
higher. Rides in snaffle bit including x-country. Clips,
ties and trailers. A real gentleman. Sound, healthy, easy
keeper. Suitable as a Trillium hunter/jumper horse,
eventer or just a nice riding horse. Shots and worming
up-to-date. Need room. Asking $3500. Call 519-761-9119
or email langfordchurchstables@sympatico.ca.
Big, Brave Youngster For Sale
Parry is a four-year old Clyde Cross gelding, 17.2 hh and
growing. Parry is a dark bay with two white socks. He is
a sweet horse with a big step and smooth ride. He is also
brave and has jumped small jumps. Potential for great
dressage horse. Asking $12,000. Call Susy at Iron Horse
Equestrian 289-838-4444.
2nd Annual Outdoor Equine Expo
The second annual Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo will
run June 10-12, 2011 at Iron Horse Equestrian Complex
in Milton. This event truly has something for every horse
enthusiast! Features an indoor and outdoor trade show,
clinics, seminars and demonstrations. Key clinicians
include Wayne Roycroft, Craig Cameron, Jane Savoie,
Karen Scholl, Muffy Seaton, Jim Poole and Denise Lenz.
Visit www.equineexpo.ca for details.