Applied Equine Podiatry

Applied Equine Podiatry is the study of the equine foot.  This study and its application are guided by the following fundamental principles:

Do no harm

This is a simple statement, but to follow it requires knowledge of both the anatomy and functions of the equine foot.  With this knowledge, the steps followed in trimming and rehabilitation can be applied in such a way as to not cause harm to the horse.

The horse has the ability to heal itself

This statement seems obvious and it is taken for granted for the rest of the horses body.  When it comes to feet, the traditional approach has been to assume the horse's foot is incapable of healing.  And even if the assumption is that the foot will heal, a shoe is often applied so the horse can be put to work immediately.

Another principle that goes along with this is that pressure is the stimulus to growth, and to get the correct growth (healing) the correct pressure is required.  In addition, time is required for healing to take place.  By using this understanding, Applied Equine Podiatry guides one in the selection of the proper environment (see below) to provide the correct stimulus over a period of time to promote healing.

Structure plus function equals performance

Traditionally things that are actually performance have been identified as functions of the foot.  Applied Equine Podiatry uses this relationship to separate performance from function and determine the true functions of the horse's foot.  Having identified these functions, it is then possible to develop a model of the horse's foot. From this model, a method for trimming and rehabilitation can be developed.

Environment is the determining factor

With the first three principles we know what not to do, we know the horse's foot can heal, and we have a model to that tells us what to do. So to get results we use the environment.  The important thing to remember is that environment is everything that is not the horse's foot.  It includes, but is not limited to, how the foot is trimmed, what exercise the horse gets, the physical environment in which the horse lives, and nutrition.  In maintaining and improving the horse's foot, we need to use what we can control and try to work around the things we are unable to control.

Applied Equine Podiatry and the Horse Owner

Traditionally the horse owner has not had much involvement in foot care.  This has been left to the farrier or vet.  When something is wrong with the feet, the farrier or vet have been called and the expectation is that at the end of the visit whatever is wrong wass fixed.

Applied Equine Podiatry is about owner involvement and commitment.  During an appointment the person providing the foot care will evaluate, trim, and provide recommendations.  This may take an hour or two at the most.  From this point until the next visit, it is the owner's responsibility to provide the necessary foot care.

To take full advantage of the benefits of Applied Equine Podiatry the following list will give the owner an idea of what is involved:

1. Ride or exercise within guidelines provided by Spectrum of Usability.
2. Use hoof boots if necessary.
3. Provide good nutrition.
4. Provide a physical environment that is conducive to foot health.
5. Schedule appointments at regular intervals.

If the horse is lame or the feet are in poor condition, the owner needs to be prepared to do the following:

1. Treat external infections involving the hoof capsule or frog.
2. Follow instructions for conditioning.

Implementing these recommendations to the best of ones ability is what will make the difference between success and failure.

The Trim

The method I use for trimming is the HPT method developed by KC LaPierre.  For detailed information about this trimming method, KC LaPierre describes it in his book The Chosen Road, or his video set. These are available from http://www.equinepodiatry.net.

Some highlights of the HPT method

1. The HPT method was developed based upon a functional model of the foot (Suspension Theory of Hoof Dynamics).  Each part of the foot is trimmed to allow it to function according to this model.

2. The method balances the hoof capsule to the internal structures of the foot using external references that retain a relatively constant relation to the interior.

3. Using the concept that pressure is the stimulus to growth, the trim allows the foot to produce the pressure in the correct way to produce proper growth.