Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1
The birth of a new age in farriery 1
Methodology under the microscope 3
Fundamentals of farriery 8
Common conundrums 8
A new philosophy 11
Bibliography 12
2 Anatomy Explained 15
Building a common language 15
The links between man and horse 15
Terminology or anatomical nomenclature 17
The mediolateral view explained 17
The anterioposterior view explained 18
The exterior of the horse 19
The centre of mass 20
The exterior of the horse continued 21
The skeletal framework of the horse 22
Bone 22
Joints 24
Muscles, tendons and ligaments 24
The shoulder (forelimb) 25
The pelvis (hindlimb) (figs. 2-21-24-left) 26
Asymmetry within the shoulder and the pelvis 27
Anatomy continued: the hip (hindlimb) 31
The joints below the shoulder and the hip 31
The stifle joint (hindlimb) 33
The radius and the ulna (forelimb) 34
The tibia and fibula (hindlimb) 34
The carpus or knee (forelimb) 35
The tarsus or hock (hindlimb) 36
The bones below the knee and hock 37
Splints 37
The fetlock 38
The bones below the fetlock 40
Tendons and accompanying muscles of the lower fore and hind limbs 40
The vascular supply and nervous system to the horse's foot 42
Proprioception 44
The hoof 44
Compression marks 46
The ground surface of the hoof 47
The perioplic and coronary corium 48
The sensitive laminae 49
The sensitive sole 49
The sensitive frog 50
The digital cushion 50
The collateral cartilages 51
The bare bones of anatomy (conclusion) 51
Bibliography 52
3 Hoof Balance Revealed 55
Biomechanics in farriery 55
Progression 56
Simple mechanics: the origins of biomechanics 57
Levers 58
Clearerperceptions 59
Impact to mid-stance 59
Farriery and the caudal hoof 60
Mid-stance to breakover 62
Farriery and breakover 63
Conformation 64
Gravity and equlibrium 65
Footfall 66
Distal joint mechanics 66
The joints as cams 67
The essence of farriery 68
Bibliography 69
4 Anterioposterior Balance 71
In practice 71
Origins of the past 72
'no foot no horse' 72
Anterioposterior balance 73
Define imbalance to discover balance 75
Analytical approach 77
The need for a guide 78
Assessment and guidelines 79
Hoof angles 81
Bibliography 83
5 Odd But Normal Hooves 85
Are odd feet normal? 85
Traditional approach 86
A rational approach 87
Art and reason 88
The grazing stance 89
Handedness 90
The lop-sided animal 91
Muybridge and locomotion 93
Cause and effect 94
Bibliography 96
Suggested further reading 97
6 Mediolateral Hoof Balance 99
Our perception of balance 99
Defining the normal hoof 100
Adaptation of the limbs 102
Traditional assessment 102
Natural habits 103
A farrier's dilemma 104
Biostatics versus biomechanics 106
Balancing the hoof 108
Discussion 110
Bibliography 110
7 The Crooked Horse 113
Familiar truths 113
Functional limb-length 114
Leading and trailing limbs 114
Acquisition of asymmetry 115
Reviewing the evidence 116
Preferred or dominant diagonal 118
Hindlimb asymmetry 120
The crooked horse 121
The owner / rider influence 122
The farriery influence 123
Take home message 124
The crooked horse: summary 124
Bibliography 125
8 Farriery in Practice 127
Reasons for farriery 127
Deformation and growth: 127
The need to redress the hoof's balance 127
Shoe wear 129
Lost shoes 130
When to call the farrier 130
Preparing for the farrier 131
Holding the horse 132
Shoeing 133
Shoe choice 135
Shoe fitting 136
Nailing on 137
Finishing off 137
Lame horses 138
Farrier, vet and client relations 139
Our pact with the horse 140
The author's final word 141
Bibliography 142
