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Care and Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot A New 464 Page Textbook, in Full-Color with 630 Pictures and Drawings, by Pete Ramey
Outline/Contents
Introduction Bare vs. Shod?A call for some common-sense balance between the extremes. From cover-to-cover, this book is about growing the healthiest hooves an individual horse can genetically grow. What you do with those healthy hooves is up to you. Genetic factors, pathology, environmental factors, intended work and owner compliance all affect the "right path" to take with an individual horse. We all need to listen.
Chapter 1 The Concept of the Good Foot: Its Evolution and Significance in a Clinical SettingRobert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD Basic and advanced external and internal anatomy of the equine foot. The extensive internal variables between healthy and unhealthy feet are highlighted to introduce the reader to the concepts of internal foot development and its clinical implications. Morphology, development (or degradation) of the bones, cartilages, ligaments, vasculature, neurology and other tissues of the equine foot (64 pictures).
Chapter 2 The Feral Horse Foot: The Australian Brumby StudiesBrian Hampson, PhD Detailed description and results of the Australian Brumby Studies. Six different environments; six different "natural" feet. These findings demonstrate that much can be learned from the study of wild horses, but many of the sometimes-assumed ideals may need to be re-evaluated. GPS tracking studies, radiology studies, cadaver dissections, effects of different substrates on the feet (36 pictures).
Chapter 3 Hoof Care TheoryPete Ramey An overview of general horse and hoof care. Introduction to many of the principles detailed in the veterinary chapters by the contributing authors: internal foot development, nutrition, biomechanics, grass sugar fluctuations and their affects on the health, morphology, development and performance of the hoof (22 pictures).
Chapter 4 The Growth of the Hoof Wall from the Foal to Adult HorseRobert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD Detailed analysis of the growth mechanisms of the hoof. Wall growth from the laminae, bifurcating laminae, sole growth from the bar laminae. Highlights that some serious re-thinking of old ideas needs to be done—about how the equine foot grows, functions, adapts and is held together. A deeper understanding of growth and composition will enhance your ability to make treatment decisions (33 pictures). Chapter 5 The Horse’s foot as a Neurosensory Organ: How the Horse Perceives its Environment Robert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD Detailed analysis and descriptions of the nervous systems of the equine foot, and how they influence the synchronization of limbs and the body, protect the horse from injury, and directly influence blood flow, and perhaps hydraulic energy dissipating systems of the foot. Also includes detailed analysis of blood flow through the foot while the horse is standing on different surfaces using Doppler Ultrasound (48 pictures).
Chapter 6 Metabolic LaminitisEleanor Kellon, VMD A history of our understanding of Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, IR, various Endocrine/Hormonal Disorders . Detailed diagnostic and treatment considerations including husbandry, medications and supplements.
Chapter 7 Nutrition and the HoofEleanor Kellon, VMD Overview of specific nutrients and their effects on hoof growth and quality. Feeding and supplementation recommendations. Which nutrients are important to the hoof? All of them (4 pictures).
Chapter 8 Carbohydrates in Pasture Plants: A Moving TargetBy Kathryn Watts, BS Discussion of various presentations of laminitic horses and grass sugar effects. Detailed description of grass sugars and how weather patterns, fertilization, and other plant health factors affect them (and fluctuations throughout the day and year). Table of sugar contents of various weeds. Detailed instruction on pasture management to maximize yield and reduce sugars. Worth its weight in gold (32 pictures).
Chapter 9 Hay AnalysisEleanor Kellon, VMD How to read and interpret feed analysis. This can be a daunting task, until you follow these step-by-step guidelines and descriptions. Provides a full description and evaluates the equine needs for each nutrient found on forage and feed test results. Take matters into your own hands: the only way you can really know what your horse is getting is to test (and then learn to interpret the results) (4 pictures).
Chapter 10 Balancing the DietEleanor Kellon, VMD Detailed instruction on balancing the diet. NRC values of nutrients listed. Conversion to feed rations. Learn to study your feeds and forages to give your horse exactly what it needs (as far as we know). Very powerful knowledge in the treatment and prevention of almost every problem the horse might have (6 pictures).
Chapter 11 Equine Ulcers: Are We Seeing Just the Tip of the Iceberg?Kerry Ridgway, DVM Detailed descriptions of ulcer diagnosis, prevention and treatment. A "sleeping giant" of the horse world. GI ulcers are far more common than almost anyone realizes. Among other things, they affect movement, and thus hoof form and conformation, and can create dangerous situations for those who work under the horse. Detailed descriptions, tips for clinical diagnosis and/or "becoming suspicious" of ulcers, and a detailed evaluation of treatment medications, including their costs and effects (22 pictures).
Chapter 12 Veterinary Management of the Laminitis PatientDebra R. Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM Detailed instruction for the equine veterinarian. Comparison and evaluation of medications and treatment protocols for laminitis patients. Body Scoring, introduction of a new Modified Obel Grading System, protocols for SID-induced and carbohydrate overload/insulin-induced laminitis cases. Real-world advice from one of the true masters of laminitis treatment in the field (12 pictures).
Chapter 13 Radiographic Imaging of the Laminitis PatientDebra R. Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM Detailed instruction for the equine veterinarian. Set up and horse handling tips, perfecting markers and images, communicating with the farrier, measuring and analysis of films. Covers lateral, 0 degree DP, 65 degree DP, and venograms at each angle as well. Reading the radiographs and venograms of laminitic patients, with treatment options described and prognosis discussed. Covers a very wide range of laminitic presentations. Also compares venogram patterns to coronary wall growth patterns seen in the field (90 pictures).
Chapter 14 Hoof Mechanics During LocomotionHilary M. Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl ACVSMR, MRCVS Gait analysis—description and results, stance phase analysis, swing phase, structural and functional asymmetries, coffin joint kinematics, hoof angle effects on locomotion and left or right handedness in horses. Biomechanical links to under-run heels, hi-lo syndrome and other hoof morphologies (9 pictures).
Chapter 15 The Hoof Trimmer’s Attitude Pete Ramey
What we are trying to accomplish when we trim a foot and
why? A brief but critical overview of the trimmer and farrier’s role at the horse
(2 pictures).
Chapter 16
Evaluating and
Trimming the Sole
Pete Ramey
Estimating sole thickness, using the shape and conditions of
the sole to precisely locate and to evaluate each internal
structure. How to read or "suspect" various types of P3 remodeling
in the field. Trimming considerations for optimum sole growth and
function. Identifying and removing retained sole. Identifying
lamellar wedge, thin soles and problems with sole growth. Special considerations for laminitic patients. Case studies presented and discussed (28 pictures).
Chapter 17
Evaluating and
Trimming the Frog
Pete Ramey
Estimating thickness of frog epidermis, treatment of frog
infections, trimming the frog, evaluating the health of internal
structures. Special considerations for treatment of caudal foot
pain.
Case studies presented and discussed (23 pictures).
Chapter 18
Evaluating and
Trimming the Bars
Pete Ramey
Description of the functions of the bars, evaluation,
trimming and treatment of the bars. Special considerations for
laminitic patients, contracted heels and under-run heels, etc (13
pictures).
Chapter 19
Heel Height: The
Deciding Factor
Pete Ramey
Discussion of the long list of variables that influence the
“correct” heel height on a given horse—on a given day. Heel
trimming, evaluation of gait and stance, special considerations for
laminitic patients and those with caudal foot pain.
Chapter 20
Care and
Rehabilitation of the Hoof Walls and Lamellar Attachment
Pete Ramey
Treatment of the walls for laminitic patients, dealing with
wall flare, cracks, WLD, dietary considerations, routine and
rehabilitative trimming.
Case studies presented and discussed
(100 pictures).
Chapter 21
Distal Descent of
P3
Pete Ramey Recognizing and reversing distal descent of P3, recognizing distal descent in the caudal foot. Trimming and treatment. Case studies presented and discussed
Chapter 22
Under-Run Heels
Pete Ramey
Treatment of under-run heels. Discussion of different
causes: capsule rotation, toe flare, quarter flare, coronary
distortion, various loading patterns—and the treatment of each.
Treatment of hi-lo syndrome. Effects of left and right handedness to gaits and thus hoof form.
Trimming and treatment detailed. Case studies shown and discussed (16
pictures).
Kerry Ridgway, DVM Club feet and under-run heels. Details injuries, imbalances, genetic factors and habits that can lead to high/low syndrome. Addresses trouble-shooting and treatment, explains laterality (right or left "handedness") and its effects on the development of the whole horse. Discusses therapeutic riding to balance the horse, and thus the hooves. Evaluation of joint elevations, spacing and angles. Effects on saddle fit (19 pictures).
Chapter 24
Club Foot
Pete Ramey
Identification and treatment of the club foot. Discussion
of early trimming of foals, grazing stance and various injuries that
can lead to club feet. Case studies of young vs. mature horses (12 pictures).
Chapter 25
Angular
Deformities
Pete Ramey
Chapter 26
Contracted Heels
Pete Ramey Identification and treatment, internal and external caudal foot development. Is contraction a defense mechanism?
(4 pictures)
Chapter 27
Hoof Protection
Pete Ramey
Chapter 28
Laminitis (An
overview—Also see chapters 1-30)
Pete Ramey
Chapter 29
Navicular Disease Pete Ramey Most of this book is directly or indirectly related to treating and preventing "navicular disease" and caudal foot pain in general. This chapter focuses on t
Chapter 30
Special
Considerations for Donkeys and Mules
Pete Ramey
Chapter 31
Reflections/Closing
Pete Ramey A call for specific research that needs to be done—specifically, long-term studies comparing various methodologies on healthy and on compromised horses/hooves. Otherwise we will never really know what is the best course of action for a given situation, and the hoof care world will be forever locked in its current state of opinion.
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