Racehorse TALK

Hi,

I was given a copy of the Racing NSW Monthy Magazine (Aug.) cover. As I am involved in equine rehab. I am always interested in looking at hoof form.

I was horrified at the hoof form shown on this horse on the cover.  It has major problems with "hoof deformation" in both front feet that could have been easily reversed and yet no one has done this, instead they have used a corrective shoe on the worst hoof that is actually crushing the heel which will cause the horse to avoid heel first landings and try to maintain disastrous toe first stride landings. The other hoof they have shod normally but not addressed the other issues screaming out for help there.

The horse is actually set up for failure in the not so distant future as it will tear its musculo-skeeltal system apart if left to work like this.  Seems such a shame as with physiologically correct hoof form it will have better co-ordination and remain injury free.  Left like this it is it is fighting its own biomechanics for every step.

After seeing this cover I asked a friend who works with racing TB's to send me pics of their hooves in general, and I see major hoof deformation in just about every one. I wondered why the owners and trainers of these horses, who spend so much money trying to breed the perfect speed machine and then spend more time and money getting it race fit and qualified, then allow it to be destroyed early in its career by hoof deformation. 

All through the other disciples there is a sea change happening in equine hoof care as this knowledge from the latest reserach is out there now and yet in the TB industry this new information seems to be not filtering through.

I wondered why?

Cheers Chris