FEET OF LIGHTNING

By Michelle Beagle, RVT, Redwings board member

Through the evolution of the horse in its many forms it has always depended on its feet for escaping danger, feet that were as fast as lighting!

Horses with bad feet couldn’t run.  Eventually they became prey to a bear or a mountain lion. Those that did not escape didn’t contribute much to the continuation of the species. Good feet were an essential to survival.

Today, horses perform in many ways and often don’t run from a predator. The sports they are involved in vary.From sedate pleasure riding with little stress on the feet, to jumping obstacles that subject hooves to repetitive pounding that nature never planned on. Another is the cutting horse, also an extreme sport for feet. This horse is asked to make rapid shifts of direction and repetitive pounding these actions take a toll on the feet.

Because of the unusual stresses we humans have introduced to our horse athletes, we have come up with select footwear for them that will help them in their profession.

Historically, horses have worn grass, leather, various metals and other materials to protect their feet from wearing too quickly. Today we can offer the equivalent of tennis shoes, arch supports, cushions and other high tech fashions.

This is where the farrier, sometimes backed by a veterinarian, becomes an important part of your horse care team. They can decide which type of footwear is helpful for your horse and his profession.

The farrier needs to have the horse allow the shoes to be applied. Work with your horse to attain nice farrier manners. Pick out your horse’s feet as often as you possibly can. Each time you have that foot up to clean it makes your farrier’s job easier.

Here are a few helpful hints. Know your horse and how it learns and work with that. If your horse is hard to work with, don’t attempt to do this alone; ask for assistance from a trainer. A kick from a horse can mean a broken human arm or leg. A trainer is important because each time a horse yanks its hoof from your hand, you have accidentally taught that horse how to be rude to the farrier. To prevent the “yank away,” it is important to set the hoof down gently before the horse feels the urge to take it away from you. You can do this in two ways (trainers know more). A highly preferred method is to let the foot down moments before the horse “needs” to. Increase the “up” time in small increments until it is up in a farrier position for a reasonable time. The other way is to gently yet firmly hold onto the leg until the horse stops moving it. This teaches the horse that it is rewarded for being still. Well-trained horses will actually lift a leg as you get near the leg, with the intention to pick it up with merely a light physical message that tells it what you want from the horse. This can be something as simple as a word “up” and a tap anywhere on the leg. To get to this point, someone needs to work with that horse in a very consistent way.

So, good luck with your four-footed pal. Make sure your athlete is wearing the right foot attire for his favorite sport. There is truth to the old saying “Without the feet, you have no horse.”

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