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Many people may have heard the saying "no hoof, no horse". So in the world of equestrian, when a horse has problems in the competition, the first thing to pay attention to is his hoof.
Here are some professional suggestions on what new methods the nail hoof driver can use to better help the horses in the competition
Horseshoe storytelling
Mark Silverman has a clinic in Southern California that focuses on the treatment of hoof disease in sports horses. The clinic is busy, and Dr. silerman has also worked with top athletes such as Steffen Peters, a dressage jockey at the Olympic Games, and recently delivered a speech at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Equestrian Association.
"Horseshoes can wear or deform, and my job is to find out why," Dr. Silverman said.
He explained that the problem was not always as simple and clear as the horse owner hoped. For example, a horse may appear to have a limp in its hind legs, but this is most likely due to a chain reaction caused by a problem with one of its front hooves.
For example, a horse has some difficulties in performing a small turn or jump, and the reasons may be very complex.
Usually, the solution is not to use high-tech materials or new nail shoe technology, but to carry out a systematic examination of the horse's body, especially the ankle joint, foot joint and foot capsule.
This can not only make the horse perform better and relieve the discomfort of the horse, but also help the excellent sports horse avoid the diseases that may end their sports career.
Of course, no horse is perfect, but our goal is to optimize the shoe, improve the care of the horse's hoof, and make the horse in better condition in all aspects.
In the past, the focus of nailing hooves was only to make the four hooves fit properly; now, however, veterinarians and nailers will also observe the limbs of horses to get better results.
"For example, for a low heeled horse, the goal is to restore more soft tissue to support the limbs, rather than simply raising the back half of the horse's hoof, which could eventually damage the hoof," Dr. Silverman said
Look inside and outside
Nail hoofs have begun to use emerging imaging techniques to check for outstanding sports horses. By combining digital X-rays, video of horses moving, and high-speed cinematography, which has been used in the veterinary industry since the 1970s, with photographs, horse health specialists can get a more complete picture of horses moving.
Dr Silverman went on: "in the face of an ordinary horse, a foot nailer can almost" see "the shape of a horse's hoof." Based on experience, the nail driver can know where to inspect to provide proper shoes.
He added: "however, for a malformed horse's hoof, you need to look at all aspects. Some symptoms are not always perceptible from the appearance."
Working with a veterinarian is essential for a nail driver to deal with the disease, to know the shape of the horse's hooves, and to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the horse to identify the condition.
Therapeutic hooves can be used in short-term or temporary situations, but when a horse's hooves need to be adjusted for many years (if four hooves are different in height, they need to be adjusted all their lives), then he will need to take care of many things, including a very suitable hooves.
Horseshoe health care needs team strength
Dr. Silverman preferred to work with horse owners, riders, and horse trainers when developing a plan for horse hoof care.
Anyone who comes into contact with a horse, including the jockey, is aware of the wear and load of the horse's hooves and can detect abnormalities before limping.
While professionals may rely more on records and images, they also need to listen to riders. Some riders may be able to detect problems with the horses before or during the inspection.
"Because of the particularity of dressage, dancers and riders can usually detect the problem of horse's hooves at the beginning of a race, but the obstacle players can also do it if they observe it carefully," he said
Focus on the long term
Once you agree to adopt a team strategy to focus on horseshoes, Dr. Silverman said, "there is a wide range of choices" at the actual shoe material and operation level.
Current trends include the use of silica gel to accelerate healing and the addition of composite materials to keep feet and shoes healthy.
However, although you can now build a brand new shoe with modern materials, you still need to think about it in the long run. For example, damping materials can have an immediate effect, but in the long run, they can affect the stability of the cuticle.
"Cost benefit analysis is important," Dr. Silverman said. Another key principle is to minimize injuries throughout the horse's career. It takes years to develop a grand prix level dressage horse, which is not as peaking as a horse race when it is young. "
A mature horseshoe care team will take a long-term view, using specialized shoes to control inflammation while reducing drug injection, which is a less intrusive and longer-term solution, even if it takes longer and more trial and error.
Sometimes, the hoof is not the only part that needs to be vigilant. Treatment or training may also find problems in other parts of the horse's body. Finding the root cause of the problem is crucial; sometimes horseshoe problems are just one of the symptoms.
Finally, Dr. Silverman suggested that, where possible, nail drivers should slow down in their daily work and get the information they need, such as observing the work of horses. The more familiar they are with what happens during the ride, the better they can solve the problem.
"It's not the hottest new shoes or materials that change the game, it's more about horses," he said
(the article comes from the first horse racing network)