Hoof Anatomy and Care

"A very high percentage (90-95%) of lameness in the front leg is in the knee or below."~Principles of Horseshoeing II, Dr. Doug Butler~

In Hoof Care you'll learn to pick up a foot and see if it is well-shod, identify warning signs of hoof-based trouble and understand the anatomy of a horses leg. Knowing how to look for lameness before the horse takes even a single step and identifying the likely cause is another key diagnostic skill you'll study here.

Confirmation of the lower leg, analyzing and trimming hooves, fitting shoes and reading the hoof capsule are all part of understanding whether a horses feet are helping or hindering the overall health of the horse. Various breeds of horses have specific conformational differences, which also will be addressed along with how various riding disciplines affect weight bearing on the hoof and overall soundness.

An in-class dissection of a horse's lower leg and hoof will be done so that you will see and learn first-hand how the anatomy is designed to support the function of the foot. Bones, ligaments, tendons, blood supply, sensitive and insensitive areas along with the physiology of the hoof will all be reviewed in-depth. Pros and cons of various types of trims and shoe fittings, corrective and therapeutic shoes, nail placement and finish will be discussed.