New Calming Oils For Horses

I tested this and it really works I've tried others but this is the realthing this is my insurance when I do un-ruly horses, I don't leave homewithout it calms the owner as well which I find gets the horse more nervousand excited.I only at the moment have made up the small 12ml bottles...
Steven.A.Elliott HoofWorks CALMING OILS Aroma Theraphys all NATURAL-Safe 12ml 1/8 $18 25 ml $31 50 ml $ 60 916 217 2379

Tranquil oil
Tranquil oil works much like our calming oil, but will have a stronger, moresedate effect. It is ideal to use in situations of shock, a horse thatneeds to be kept very quiet and settled (eg recovery from injury) or in thetraining of very difficult horses. Also useful to have the horse moremanageable in situations that they may not like such as clipping, worming,floating etc
This oil will not make the horse clumsy or comatosed like a medical sedationbut it will really take the edge off their undesirable, unmanageablebehaviour. The horse can still be ridden, floated etc all the things thatstill require concentration but it will make whatever you're doing a morepleasant experience for all involved. Especially useful in training toproduce a calmer experience from the start or to re-instate a calmexperience when needed.
InstructionsRub a few drops on your hands and rub them around the horses nose and/orneck. You can also rub around forhead and below the ears. The effectsshould take place within 15 minutes but usually sooner and often instantly.To increase the effect, you can rub a few more drops at a maximum of 3 timesin 10 minute intervals.Allowing the horse to inhale the oil from the bottle will give extra affect.Experiment with dosage - some horses may only need 2 drops, others mightneed 10.If possible, apply BEFORE anxious activities such as training, floating,clipping etc, rather than waiting for a blowout before you apply. The oilwill still have affect if applied when the horse is already tense, but agreat affect if applied before this occurs.
The effects of the oil will help to really settle and calm the horse byreducing the main causes of undesirable behaviour - neurosis, anxiety,nervousness, shock, panic, fear etc.It is a handy item to have in a first aid kit to calm traumatized animals.Ingredients:Made on a high quality base of macadamia virgin oil, grapefruit seed extractand essential oils of neroli, ylang ylang, chamomile, vetiver andsandalwood.
www.steveelliotthoofworks.comhttp://opionionofthehoofblogspot.com @2009

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Mission of the Animal Health Foundation -Don Walsh

..... Laminitis-Founder Syndrome Mission of the Animal Health FoundationTo find the cause and way to prevent laminitis-founder complex in horses. The foundation donates funds to major researchers in the field of laminitis. AHF also offers information to help horse owners prevent their horses from becoming victims of the painful, crippling disease. AHF LinksAustralian Equine Laminitis Research Unit Hoofcare & Lameness American Association of Equine Practitioners Rocky Mountain Research and Consulting www AHF Web site Donors receive a special edition print of Secretariat, who was humanely destroyed to release him from suffering of Laminitis. Help free the horse of this diseaseLaminitis causes the breakdown of the internal supporting the structures (laminae) between the external hoof wall and the coffin bone inside the hoof. The laminae deteriorate when excess activation of enzymes known as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP's) cause the attachment of the laminar cells to break loose from their basement membrane. This results in the destruction of the normal blood supply to the laminae and causes severe pain to the horse. Founder is the painful, crippling result of Laminitis in which the coffin bone within the foot "rotates" downward putting pressure on the sole of the foot, sometimes even puncturing it.Causes of Laminitis/FounderCarbohydrate overload - over-eating of grain Consuming too much fast growing, lush grass in the spring and fall Retaining placenta infection that follows failure to expel the afterbirth within a few hours of foaling Mechanical damage to the feet from excessive concussion on hard surfaces Metabolic stress such as becoming overheated Ingestion of Black Walnut shavings Hormone related changes due to Cushings disease Drug induced Laminitis from using corticosteroids Any serious illness may lead to laminitis Signs of Laminitis/FounderSigns of this disease may vary greatly from quite subtle to very obvious.There may be shifting of weight from foot to foot. A slight stiffness of gait may be detected. The horse will not want to move, and often assumes the "founder stance", with all four feet forward of the normal position, head low and back arched. The horse may lie down and not want to get up. Sweating, shallow breathing and a fever are typical. The feet may be warm to the touch and usually a pulse can be detected on the back pastern, below the ankle. From one to all four feet may be involved; most commonly the two front feet are affected. Unfortunately, when symptoms of Laminitis/Founder Syndrome are first noticed, the disease process may have already caused irreversible damage, therefore it is important to call your veterinarian immediately. The first 24 hours after onset may be critical to the outcome.Treatment Guidelines These guidelines are meant to serve as an overview to the general principles in treating and preventing Laminitis. Each case is different and must be treated individually. It is not the purpose to advocate a treatment for all cases, as this is impossible. It should be left to the attending veterinarian and farrier to make the final decision on how to manage each individual case.Remove the cause Make every attempt to determine what caused the onset of laminitis and prevent further exposure. The cause is often difficult to determine, but since we do not understand the ‘trigger mechanism’ of the disease, the cause must be eliminated, even if the horse is recovering. Some of the possible causes of laminitis are: diet and grain overload, allergic reaction of any type, excess concussion to the feet, reaction to bedding, bad water supply, post-parturient retained placenta, aftermath of colic, diarrhea, severe myositis and excess stress such as hauling and prolonged exposure to high temperatures.Control the infection Many horses develop infections due to the death of tissue in the feet. If infection is present (this is not always easy to determine) the feet must be opened to establish drainage of the infection. The feet must be soaked in a warm disinfectant solution (Lysol, betadine or epsom salts) daily. They should be packed with a mild antibacterial salve and kept bandaged until the soles are healed. If fecal material is allowed to continue to get into the feet, the infection will persist.Support the feet Some supportive device should be used to stabilize the bone in the foot if there has been enough damage to the laminae to cause any degree of separation. This includes ‘lily pads’, styrofoam pads, or corrective shoes such as heart bar shoes, which support the coffin bone to prevent further separation of the laminae. Only a skilled farrier should put on these special devices with the assistance of radiographs and the presence of the attending veterinarian. If these are not applied correctly they can cause considerable damage. Care should be taken in selecting a farrier. Again, not all cases of laminitis need these shoes, only the more severe cases. These shoes have been used in many chronic horses with success to prevent continual breakdown of the laminae in the chronic foundered foot.DrugsThe use of excessive and prolonged drug administration may confuse the status of the horse and possibly be detrimental to the case. In the early stages, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e., bute, banamine) seems very useful, but beyond this point they only make the horse feel better. They are not really involved in the healing process, and may be detrimental in some cases. Therefore, we advocate using minimal amounts of drugs so that the real status of the feet may be evaluated and not be masked by these drugs. This is often difficult for horse owners to do since they don’t like to see the horse in discomfort. However, this may be necessary in order to evaluate the progress of the case and to tell if the feet are continuing to refounder. Often the best thing is for the horse to lay down and relieve the pressure on the damaged laminae.ExerciseThe effect of exercise may vary in each case. If a horse has severe damage to his feet, exercise (especially early in the disease) may make the horse worse. As time goes on, the amount of exercise may be increased. A rule of thumb to use may be that as you start to exercise the horse and he seems to improve after a short amount of walking, then it is probably helping. However, if he seems to get worse or is very reluctant to move, you should discontinue the exercise and allow more healing to occur before you start to try again. Generally, as horses are recovering you can increase the time you walk them. If you overdo the exercise, the horse will usually be sore the next day so you will know you did too much. Use a surface that is free of rocks and hard material that would put excess pressure on the soles.DietDiet is probably one of the most important areas in the treatment of laminitis as well as the one that we seem to understand the least. It is probably safe to say you should reduce grain intake and increase roughage in the diet. We recommend that corn and alfalfa hay be removed from the diet, as they often seem to be incriminated as a causative factor. The diet we currently feed consists of 3 parts oats to 1 part bran. The average amount of feed given to a 1,000 pound horse is 3-4 pounds total per day. The diet is fed in conjunction with good quality grass hay. It is beyond the scope of these guidelines to discuss all the extra supplements used for the treatment of laminitis.Chronic Cases Chronic obese-type laminitic horses and ponies require no grain, but can be fed good quality dry grass hay. They should not be allowed on grass pastures, particularly in the spring and fall of the year. Sometimes the use of thyroid supplement seems to reduce the incidence of reoccurrence in these animals. They suffer from a form of metabolic disease associated with being overfed. They require little to live on because their genetic makeup allows them to survive in areas with little available food. Their exposure to excess food causes changes in hormones, which increase the appetite and seem to influence the breakdown of laminae in the feet. Many of these conditions can be reversed after a prolonged reduction in food intake. However, many animals have had so much damage to their feet that cold weather, shoeing and other minor insults to the feet result in painful bouts with the disease. These cases are very difficult to manage.History of laminitis Laminitis FAQ Are certain breeds more prone to get laminitis?What are the known causes of laminitis?My horse has laminitis, what is his/her long-term prognosis?What is the difference between laminitis and founder?What can I do to make my horse more comfortable with her laminitis?What are the best times to allow grazing?What exactly happens inside a horse’s hoof during the onset of laminitis?Is there a correlation between degree of coffin bone rotation and survival?Do weather events trigger laminitis? (hot summers, hard winters, etc.)Is my overweight horse more at risk of developing laminitis?Are some pasture grasses safer than others? Hays? Grains?How many horses suffer from laminitis?What is the first thing I should do if I suspect my horse is coming down with laminitis? Is there anything I can do while I wait for the vet?Is laminitis reversible? Can the coffin bone rotate back to its pre-laminitis position?My horse has recovered from laminitis and is sound. Is he more at risk than other horses for future problems?How important is my farrier and veterinarian in laminitis recovery?Has progress been made in laminitis research?What can I do to help find a cure?Where will my donation go?Are certain breeds more prone to get laminitis?No breed is safe from laminitis. Any horse, from a champion Thoroughbred to a back-yard pony, can get the disease. However all pony breeds, Arabians, Quarter horses, and American Saddlebreds seem to have a higher incidence of laminitis. TopWhat are the known causes of laminitis?Here is a list of several known things that can cause laminitis, several of which we as horse owners can control:Obesity Excess ingestion of grain Excess ingestion of grass Black walnut toxicosis (bedding a horse on black walnut shavings) Exposure to corticosteroid drugs Retained placentas in mares Any gastro-intestinal abnormality within the horse (diarrhea or colic) Laminitis can occur after severe bouts of myacitis, kidney failure, or severe lung disorders. After a horse has run a fever. Top My horse has laminitis, what is his/her long-term prognosis?There is no way to predict the outcome. Every case of laminitis is different. It even varies within the case from foot to foot as to the severity and what the long-term prognosis is. It takes 6 to 8 months to know what kind of recovery the horse is going to make. SMost horses that have a favorable prognosis show marked improvement during that 6 to 8 month period. TopWhat is the difference between laminitis and founder?Laminae are the structures within the hoof that connect the external hoof wall to the internal coffin bone. When the laminae are inflamed, the horse is said to have laminitis. When the bond between the bone and the hoof wall is damaged severely the bone starts to move inside of the hoof capsule, it moves downward or sinks. When that happens, the horse is said to have foundered. Founder is an old nautical term used to describe a sinking ship. TopWhat can I do to make my horse more comfortable with her laminitis? (physically and emotionally)This is a difficult question because the use of drugs to counter the pain of laminitis often encourages the horse to think they have recovered enough to move around. It may be in the horse’s best interest to lie down, and get the weight off the affected feet. So the use of pain medication must be monitored very carefully with restriction of their exercise, because too much movement can be detrimental to the long-term recovery of the horse. It’s important to keep the horse in an area that has a lot of soft bedding, and is large enough to move around a bit. From an emotional point of view, it’s much better if they have another horse that stays with them or in close proximity so that they don’t feel like they’ve lost their association with other animals. Having their best friend with them is a great idea! TopWhat are the best times to allow grazing? (times of day, times of year)What we know about grass laminitis is that there is a sugar called fructans in pasture grasses. Excessive ingestion of fructans is thought to cause laminitis in some horses. The level of fructans is excessively high levels in the spring and fall of the year, when we have cold nights and warm days with bright sunshine. In early spring, when we have very cold nights, level of fructans are probably high in the plants all day long because they haven’t been utilized during the night. This is due to the plants being in a very low metabolic state due to the cold temperatures. In the latter part of spring, when we start to have warmer nights, the safest time of day to allow grazing would be in the afternoon and the early morning hours. In mid-summer after the plants have stopped flowering, in this stage of its growth the plant is the safest for the horse to eat. In the fall when the colder nights return and the days are still warm and sunny, even after a light frost the fructan levels can be very high. The best times of year to allow total grazing are in the depth of winter or in mid-summer. Exact times vary by region. TopWhat exactly happens inside a horse’s hoof during the onset of laminitis?When the trigger factor (for which we are still searching) arrives in the horse’s foot, it triggers an event which activates the protease enzyme located within the basement membrane. When these protease enzymes are activated for too long a time, the basement membrane starts to slip away from the dermis. The destruction of the basement membrane by these protease enzymes results in a stretching of the laminae (this resembles a glove coming off of a finger). The result is the bone loses the support in the hoof capsule by the laminae. This lack of support causes the bone to sink into the hoof capsule. After this occurs the horse has severe laminitis, and when this tearing is happening and the coffin bone is sinking there are great amounts of micro hemorrhaging and inflammatory response in the foot.Over the next 6 to 8 months the foot is in the process of trying to rebuild itself. It is not very well understood why this rebuilding process is more successful in some horses than others. We try to keep the horse from moving around very much when it is in the acute stage of the disease. Then gradually as the horse starts to heal and improve, we encourage them to move around. We think it ultimately helps the process of re-growing the hoof to occur much more normally if they have exercise. TopIs there a correlation between degree of coffin bone rotation and survival?For a number of years the degree of coffin bone rotation was used as a prognostic indicator as to whether the horse would be usable again. In the past few years this has proven to be an invalid method of evaluating how bad laminitis will be in a horse, and we no longer recommend using this as a prognostic tool. Many horses that have made recoveries and appear to lead fairly normal lives would have been put to sleep using the old guidelines. TopDo weather events trigger laminitis? (hot summers, hard winters, etc.)Other than the fact that weather influences fructans in the grass in the spring and fall of the year and the associated impact on grass laminitis, there is no evidence that any weather event can trigger laminitis. We do see some correlation with horses that have chronic laminitis, some of these horses have Cushings disease or metabolic syndrome. Many of these horses have reoccurrences or an exacerbation of laminitis about a week following extremely hot weather. Similarly in the winter after very severe weather for a week or two, a week or so afterward we see an outbreak of a number of cases.It is not known whether this is stress-related or has to do with thermal problems in these horses’ feet. TopIs my overweight horse more at risk of developing laminitis?Yes. In study after study the most important factor in trying to prevent horses from getting laminitis is to make sure they do not become obese, either as babies or as adults. There is evidence that obese-related laminitis is the most common form of the disease that we presently see. We know that if these horses exercise and diet that they can become normal again not have abnormal blood work or have any reoccurring bouts of laminitis. So this is a preventable form of the disease if we can get the weight off of these horses. Please see our risk assessment for more information: Risk Assessment. TopEstimate a horses' weight (75K PDF) Are some pasture grasses safer than others? Hays? Grains?What we know about pasture grass is that the lower the level of non-structural carbohydrates the safer the grass. The warm-season or C4 (i.e., native grasses, prairie grasses and Bermuda grass grasses) generally have a lower level of non-structural carbohydrates. The cool-season or C3 grasses, which includes the most common types of grass hay (i.e., timothy, orchard grass, brome, fescue, clover), have higher levels of non-structural carbohydrates.We usually recommend not feeding alfalfa hay. And we recommend having the non-structural carbohydrate level in your hay evaluated. It should be less than 10% if being fed to a horse that has previously had laminitis.All grains have the potential, if over-fed, to cause a starch overload in the hind gut. So you need to be careful not to over-feed grains. TopHow many horses suffer from laminitis?In the USDA study conducted in 1998, 2.1% of the population of horses studied had had or were suffering from laminitis in the prior twelve months. Of that population of horses studied, 4.8% had to be put to sleep.Those don’t seem like large numbers until you do the math. There are an estimated 8 million horses in the US. If 2.1% of them suffered from laminitis, that would be 168,000 cases in a year. And 8,064 of those horses would have to be put to sleep. TopWhat is the first thing I should do if I suspect my horse is coming down with laminitis? Is there anything I can do while I wait for the vet?The first thing to do is call your vet and try to get him/her to see the horse as soon as possible. The next thing to do is try to put the horse’s feet in ice water. Try to ice all four feet and legs up to the mid-cannon bone area with very cold or ice water. Do this as much as possible for at least 24 to 48 hours. This slows the activation of the protease enzymes in the feet and it also reduces the blood flow carrying the laminitis trigger factor to the foot.For information regarding activation of the protease enzyme, see the question regarding what happens inside the horse’s foot during the onset of laminitis. TopIs laminitis reversible? Can the coffin bone rotate back to its pre-laminitis position?The horse will never be as sound as he would have been had he not had laminitis. However, laminitis is treatable and to some extent the effects of the disease can be reversed. Although many of the horses can have improvement after re-growing their foot, they will always show the effects of having had laminitis. TopMy horse has recovered from laminitis and is sound. Is he more at risk than other horses for future problems?Yes. All horses that have had laminitis are in the highest risk category to redevelop the disease. It is very important to keep this horse from becoming obese, and to control his diet and grazing habits. TopHow important is my farrier and veterinarian in laminitis recovery?These are the professional people who have the ability to evaluate the healing process inside of the horse, and also the condition of each of the four feet. It is essential that the horse owner, the farrier, and the veterinarian work together with good communication. Communication must be open between all three of these people for the benefit of the horse. It is imperative to the success of treating these cases. TopHas progress been made in laminitis research?Over the last 20 years much progress has been made in identifying the actual way that laminitis takes place. We have moved from understanding that it is now a disease that is caused by the over-activation of an enzyme system instead of a circulatory failure as we once thought. We have also traced the mechanism by which this occurs down to a molecular level. We know within which cells it occurs, and we are now looking at the molecular structure of the hemidesmosomes. These are the objects that start to come apart which allow the basement membranes to loosen and pull away. TopWhat can I do to help find a cure?Support laminitis research. The only way that we will ever be able to prevent laminitis is to understand completely how it is caused, what the trigger factor is, and the ways in which we can control that trigger factor. Without good laminitis research we will not be able to prevent the disease. TopWhere will my donation go?One hundred percent of all public donations to the Animal Health Foundation go directly to fund laminitis research. All expenses incurred by the foundation are paid by the Board of Directors. More information on the researchers we support... ©2006 Animal Health Foundation

Steward Clog (Please consult your Veternarian and working with your Farrier

The Steward CLOGBy EDSS, Inc.Copyright © 2003 – All Rights Reserved –Equine Digit Support System, Inc. Product Abstract The Steward Clog is an innovative piece of foot wear for horses afflicted with lameness issues, but can be useful for sound horses in some disciplines. It has been shown by prior treatments and with studies done in the treatment of lower limb pathologies, particularly laminitis and Ring Bone, that limiting the movement of the joints of the distal phalanges (D/P) while in motion is helpful to remove or minimize the pain, hence further trauma to the effected area, be it the joints of the D/P or to the attaching tissue of the lamina. It is generally thought that moving the breakover closer to the dorsal distal border of the distal phalanx (P3) will relieve stress on the lamina in cases of laminitis and the joint of the D/P when Ring Bone or Navicular problems are the issue. Hence, to increase the distance from the dorsal distal border of P3 will increase the strain on the lamina, the attaching ligaments and tendons, and the D/P joints. What has not been considered in depth with previous treatments is the ability to offer relief for horses that suffer from issue that have lateral movement strain on the above structures. Each case of laminitis or D/P joint arthritis has special needs as far as relieving medial or lateral torque on the joints above. Therefore it often is necessary to offer more breakover relief to one side of the limb than to the other, and each limb frequently has separate requirements for optimal relief. There are previous treatments that have considered medial and lateral strain, as well as the importance of breakover from the dorsal aspect of the foot. There are few treatments that offer the ability or opportunity to adjust the breakover axially to inside the peripheral distal border of P3. With the Clog, adjustments can be made to not only one aspect of the ground surface of the device be it anterior, posterior, medial, or lateral, but all aspects of adjustable relief can be altered by reducing peripheral size of the ground contact piece. Even then, the ground contact piece can be moved in all directions around the center of articulation of the D/P joint. It has been seen clearly that to effectively treat debilitating diseases of the foot that a wider range of adjustments that are available will yield better results, especially when adjustments can be made easily and results can be seen immediately. This device offers all of the above mentioned features. Many treatment systems require nailing them to the foot. This is usually extremely traumatic to the patient, especially with laminitis or Ring Bone (D/P arthritis). Gluing treatment systems are also popular in many cases. Securing the device long enough for the adhesive to set is often a problem. With the Steward Clog, attaching it to the foot is done in two unique ways that require screws alone or screws and an adhesive. The foot is generally prepared flat to accept the flat upper foot surface of the Clog. The foot is pre-drilled from the ground side of the foot similar to the location and angle used when standard nails are applied. Special screws are pre-set in the hoof wall from the top or proximal side downward into the upper foot surface of the Clog. If an adhesive is to be applied in conjunction with the screws, the outer surface of the foot is prepared prior to inserting the screws or attaching the foot to the Clog. A second method used for attaching the Clog to the foot, which is unique, is to prepare the foot flat to accept the upper flat foot surface of the Clog and prepared the outer medial and lateral wall for the adhesive. Two screws are installed at the medial and lateral toe quarters of the upper foot surface of the Clog to insure that the foot stays properly positioned while the remaining screws are inserted into the upper foot surface of the Clog downward along side of the medial and lateral hoof wall. The shaft of the screw is straight with no taper so when installed next to the hoof wall it will not move the wall inward. The screw is installed almost perpendicular to the upper foot surface of the Clog. The screw is inserted far enough so that the beveled portion of the screw head just makes contact with the outer surface of the hoof wall. Adhesive is then placed over the screw heads and hoof wall to insure a proper bond. The Steward Clog has an upper foot attaching surface as well as a ground contact surface which can be used to attach the adjustable parts. The thickness will vary with the size of the foot the Clog is being use on. The foot side is wider than the ground surface and will vary as well with size and thickness. The front and rear portions of the ground side taper inward more from the medial and lateral side portions. The rest of the ground contact surface is flat in general. The upper foot side is generally flat. It can be made with a concave area shaped similar to the peripheral distal border of the distal phalanx (coffin bone or P3). This relieved concave area is important to insure that no contact is made wit the sole beneath the distal border of P3. To better insure that this function is carried out, a line is embossed in the flat foot side of the device across the apex of the flatted foot surface inside the concaved or relieved area. It is requested that a line be drawn across the foot at the frog apex with reference marks extending outside and up onto the outer hoof wall to ensure that the frog apex is properly placed on the island formed posterior to the relieved or concaved area of the flat foot surface of the Clog. The inner arc of the concaved area serves as a support area for the frog apex, the bars, and the whole caudal aspect of the foot. The concave section that is shaped similar to the periphery of the distal border of P3 serves as a method to eliminate sole contact and relief to the fragile distal border of P3. The Clog is selected for the foot based on width and is meant to be wider than the foot. The narrower ground side is generally flat, so that the adjustment parts can be attached to this area by screws, bolts or adhesives. There is a selection of shapes that range from flat, tapered, square, round and/or crowned to make a round bottom to the ground contact surface. These adjustment pieces can be moved and attached in virtually any direction to adjust for the equilibrium of the D/P. Sole support impression material is used between the foot and the foot side of the Clog, to help support the entire caudal aspect of the foot. There are occasions when the area of the apex of the frog has prolapsed beyond the length of the ground surface of the hoof wall. This usually occurs as a result of severe rotation associated with laminitis. In these cases, a need to extend the wall ahead of the widest part of the foot or the whole wall from toe to heels is critical when the distal border of P3 is closer to the ground than the hoof wall. The wall must be extended to ensure clearance beneath the prolapsed sole area. A special piece of plastic known as hoof wall extensions are used to help with extending the wall. It is a small piece of hard plastic that is screwed or glued to the hoof wall only once the hoof was been flattened as much as possible. These pieces are made to vary in height so that the proper size can be installed to give clearance to the prolapsed center of the foot. Once the wall extension pieces are attached to the ground surface on 4 corners of the foot, enough impression material is placed in the bottom of the foot to fill the whole sole surface including the wall extended area. A hard, flat impression plate is taped to the bottom of the foot long enough for the impression material to set. When the impression pad is removed, the area only between the wall extension pieces is trimmed so space is available to add special hoof wall composite. The impression material remaining in the foot will not allow the composite to spill over on to the sensitive sole. The composite can be applied to the foot prior to attaching the device or after the screws are installed. It is preferred in most cases to apply the composite after attachment of the Clog. These wall extensions can be used for other applications and are not limited to the Clog.
More Infomation please contact
Patent Pending
Equine Digit Support System, Inc.506 State Hwy 115 ~ Penrose, CO 81240Phone: (719) 372-7463 ~ Fax: (719) 372-7272www.edsshoofcare.com

Topic the Wooden Shoe

Mechanical Advantages of a Wooden Shoe
The use of a full rolling motion metal shoe (a very similar design to the wooden shoe) with oakem sole packing was advocated in the late 1800’s (3) as a treatment for chronic laminitis. The similar design of the wooden shoe better lends itself to the same parameters the author described earlier; however, with the aid of radiographs, many of the parameters can now be well defined and shoeing prescriptions adjusted according to the needs each case dictates.
The present knowledge of chronic laminitis recognizes the significance of the mechanical collapse of the lamellae and the variability with which the distal phalanx may be displaced. The successful treatment of this condition is dependant on the amount of damage to the lamellae and possibly our ability to mechanically minimize the stress on the damaged lamellae with therapeutic shoeing. Therapeutic shoeing should include stabilizing and protecting the internal hoof architecture of the hoof in a way to allow realignment and promote reattachment of the third phalanx as the hoof mass is encouraged to increase.
The importance of shoe mechanics in the treatment of chronic laminitis is becoming better understood and the veterinary and farrier professions are becoming better educated in providing advantageous mechanical aids to offset the deleterious effects of the mechanical collapse of the bony-lamellar attachment. The unique ability of the wooden shoe to be readily modified is very desirable in adding or subtracting mechanics to the shoe design as dictated by the individual case. The ability to easily add height to the shoe allows one to employ mechanics that very few shoe designs can easily duplicate. In general, the more rotation of the distal phalanx, the more palmar digital breakover needs to be placed to reduce the forces on the DDFT during locomotion. The less force the DDFT exerts on the distal phalanx as a result of the mechanics of therapeutic shoeing, the less mechanical shear forces will be exerted on the damaged lamellae. This will result in less pain to the damaged hoof, especially during locomotion. The limited height of most shoeing systems allows only a small amount of breakover modification without the solar surface being further invaded.
Dorsopalmar shoe mechanics are not unique to various shoeing systems; however, the unique design of the wooden shoe also employs mediolateral shoe mechanics that further reduce shear forces on the damaged lamellae. Most cases of dorsal capsular rotation show an increased pain response when the horse is turning. This seems to be the last portion of gait that pain subsides in the healing process. The wooden shoe addresses the problem of mediolateral shear forces on the lamellae and further aids the pained patient in attaining a more normal ability to locomote.
The solid, flat base of the wooden shoe allows for the maximum recruitment of surface area for weight-bearing. The ability to engage (load) the palmar foot (with the aid of a viscoelastic deformable impression material (a) and to unload pained areas (usually the toe region- by recessing the shoe’s toe solar surface) is simplified using the wooden shoe. This allows further reduction of shear forces on the damaged dorsal lamellae by allowing weight-sharing by the soft palmar structures of the foot and reducing weight-bearing on the hoof wall-especially the toe (4).
One of the major advantages of the wooden shoe is the atraumatic application and the ability to immediately access the patient’s response to the shoe placement and its mechanical design features. The wood screws can be readily applied from the hoof wall into the shoe as the horse is standing on the sole impression material and the shoe. The screws are easily inserted and the shoe can easily be repositioned (after initial application) for maximum pain reduction, without any trauma to the patient.
Mechanical Advantages of a Wooden Shoe
The use of a full rolling motion metal shoe (a very similar design to the wooden shoe) with oakem sole packing was advocated in the late 1800’s (3) as a treatment for chronic laminitis. The similar design of the wooden shoe better lends itself to the same parameters the author described earlier; however, with the aid of radiographs, many of the parameters can now be well defined and shoeing prescriptions adjusted according to the needs each case dictates.
The present knowledge of chronic laminitis recognizes the significance of the mechanical collapse of the lamellae and the variability with which the distal phalanx may be displaced. The successful treatment of this condition is dependant on the amount of damage to the lamellae and possibly our ability to mechanically minimize the stress on the damaged lamellae with therapeutic shoeing. Therapeutic shoeing should include stabilizing and protecting the internal hoof architecture of the hoof in a way to allow realignment and promote reattachment of the third phalanx as the hoof mass is encouraged to increase.
The importance of shoe mechanics in the treatment of chronic laminitis is becoming better understood and the veterinary and farrier professions are becoming better educated in providing advantageous mechanical aids to offset the deleterious effects of the mechanical collapse of the bony-lamellar attachment. The unique ability of the wooden shoe to be readily modified is very desirable in adding or subtracting mechanics to the shoe design as dictated by the individual case. The ability to easily add height to the shoe allows one to employ mechanics that very few shoe designs can easily duplicate. In general, the more rotation of the distal phalanx, the more palmar digital breakover needs to be placed to reduce the forces on the DDFT during locomotion. The less force the DDFT exerts on the distal phalanx as a result of the mechanics of therapeutic shoeing, the less mechanical shear forces will be exerted on the damaged lamellae. This will result in less pain to the damaged hoof, especially during locomotion. The limited height of most shoeing systems allows only a small amount of breakover modification without the solar surface being further invaded.
Dorsopalmar shoe mechanics are not unique to various shoeing systems; however, the unique design of the wooden shoe also employs mediolateral shoe mechanics that further reduce shear forces on the damaged lamellae. Most cases of dorsal capsular rotation show an increased pain response when the horse is turning. This seems to be the last portion of gait that pain subsides in the healing process. The wooden shoe addresses the problem of mediolateral shear forces on the lamellae and further aids the pained patient in attaining a more normal ability to locomote.
The solid, flat base of the wooden shoe allows for the maximum recruitment of surface area for weight-bearing. The ability to engage (load) the palmar foot (with the aid of a viscoelastic deformable impression material (a) and to unload pained areas (usually the toe region- by recessing the shoe’s toe solar surface) is simplified using the wooden shoe. This allows further reduction of shear forces on the damaged dorsal lamellae by allowing weight-sharing by the soft palmar structures of the foot and reducing weight-bearing on the hoof wall-especially the toe (4).
One of the major advantages of the wooden shoe is the atraumatic application and the ability to immediately access the patient’s response to the shoe placement and its mechanical design features. The wood screws can be readily applied from the hoof wall into the shoe as the horse is standing on the sole impression material and the shoe. The screws are easily inserted and the shoe can easily be repositioned (after initial application) for maximum pain reduction, without any trauma to the patient.
Wooden Shoe
Chronic Laminitis

Interesting News

International Equine Veterinarians Hall Of Fame Donald Walsh, DVM Pacific, Mo.Donald Walsh’s career changed when he encountered a series of particularly devastating laminitis cases after he’d already been operating the Homestead Equine Hospital for 14 years.“As a doctor of veterinary medicine with a pledge to alleviate suffering, I felt helpless to ease the pain caused by this debilitating disease,” recalls the 1969 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine. “That’s when I became intent on discovering the underlying causes as a first step toward implementing an effective prevention and treatment protocol.” Working closely with the farrier community, Walsh was convinced that one day there would be a scientific breakthrough on laminitis. His research, he says, “found a life of its own,” and led to a connection with renowned Australian researcher, Christopher Pollitt, another member of the International Equine Veterinarians Hall Of Fame.Eventually, Walsh’s work led to the establishment of the Animal Health Foundation in 1984.The foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization that funds laminitis research, with 100% of public donations going toward this effort. The foundation also offers information to help owners prevent laminitis. The painful and crippling disease continues to strike thousands of horses ever year. While progress is steadily being made, Walsh notes, “We are still a long way off from making a difference to those that are suffering today.”Walsh, who was raised on a farm where he developed a passion for Saddlebreds, is committed to continuing his work to conquer laminitis.“Do what is right for the animal and the rest will turn out alright,” is how he describes his philosophy.For more on the Animal Health Foundation, visit animalhealthfoundation.com

Opinion of the Hoof.. is created by Steven A. Elliott and of course the Horse!

The Opionion of the Hoof , What the Hoof is telling you! ....points toward the measurement of balance of a horse's Hoof. Mapping Techniques that the help balance a horse hoof.
Tools used
Horses Talk are you really listening? I will resume posting in the section as time allows.

Stage two of Opinion of the horse will focus on Farrier/Veternarian freindly posts on latest developments of Podiatry and Lameness as well as Therapeutic shoeing

Stage three as well as other interesting Articles and input from others
I will place the latest development of my new p3 steward type shoe boot with ease of installing and removal this is in development .

I would have to dedicate this section to my living with horses and what they had showed and taught me the main horse is Shadow Magic ( Arab/saddlebred) which is 35 years of age