As we continue to explore the orthopaedic balance of the equine, comprehension of the orthopaedic stance (and, therefore, the equine balance) will allow you to achieve a balanced foot that will enhance the overall well-being of the entire animal.
Acknowledging the complex interrelationship between hoof balance and the animal's overall biomechanics leads to the appreciation of what is occurring to the foot's internal structures and how the individual limb's distal joints are being loaded.
Recognising these influences in the distal tendons, ligaments, and upper body structures is imperative to determine how the foot must be trimmed and shod. Rebalancing the foot is the single most influential factor in changing the biomechanics of the gaits and upper body of the horse.
The next concept to grasp is the weight and energy transfer throughout the equine body. The evidence from progressive scientific studies and clinical trials shows that weight and energy are transferred directly through the limbs to the bone structure of the feet (mainly the Distal Interphalangeal Joint). Therefore, the hoof must encapsulate the bones symmetrically if the weight and power of the animal are to be transferred to the ground correctly, as the incorrect weight transfer will cause the horse to change the flight pattern of the limbs and the upper body muscular system. Leading to compensation and long-term postural problems that will manifest as hoof or upper body disorders that erode the horse's orthopaedic stance and performance.
Therefore, equine trimming must align the hoof capsule, tendons, ligaments, and body correctly and orthopaedically for the weight transfer through the muscular-skeletal system to the ground to affect all four feet correctly. This valid weight transfer throughout the horse's body is the essence of 'Orthopaedic Balance.
As we tend to the needs of the feet of the domesticated horse, it is our responsibility to consider the individual hoof capsule shape, the distal limb pathology, and other biological effects that we can identify so we can appreciate the physical impact on the entire equine body. Ensuring the foot is coping with the stresses and loading through the distal tendon and ligament structures is essential.
When the internal hoof tissue is placed under stress, the biomechanics and musculoskeletal alignment of the upper body are affected, and all aspects of limb and hoof flight change. Recognising these influences in the distal tendon, ligaments, and the horse's upper body is imperative to determine how the foot must be trimmed and shod.
Weight and energy are transferred directly through the limbs to the bone structure of the feet. If the weight and power of the animal are to be transferred to the ground correctly, the hoof must encapsulate the bones symmetrically. Incorrect weight transfer will cause changes to the horse's flight pattern, upper body muscles and the amount of power the limbs can transfer to the ground. Long-term problems will develop, and hoof or upper body disorders will erode the horse's performance and quality of life.
Dysfunctional development of horses that can not neurologically or structurally distribute these biomechanical forces to the distal joints of the induvial limbs will develop postural compensation patterns that will erode the ability of their body to counteract the forces of gravity.
And there lies the task of the farrier and trimmer to have the knowledge and skill sets when trimming and then placing a shoe on the feet of the horse to correctly and orthopaedically align the hoof capsule to the internal bone structure when completing their work. By orthopedically aligning the external hoof capsule to the internal distal Interphalangeal joint, you are ensuring the structural integrity of the distal tendons, ligaments and other structures that allow the correct weight transfer from the muscular-skeletal system to the ground to occur in all four feet and facilitating in the positive influence of gravity on the animal's body.
In the next part of this blog, let's explore what systems are compromised when the equine foot is incorrectly loaded or trimmed.
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