Foot (horse)

General information on the appearance

According to its use, a horse can have the different shapes of foot although this is not determining on its performances. Thus a horse working on the dish (race of gallop or trot, raising) can be equipped with narrow shoes whereas a horse having to jump (Saut of obstacles, complete contest) needs a broader foot so that its surface of reception is sufficient to deaden the jump. In addition, a horse with the narrow feet will evolve/move better on dry and stony ground, whereas that with the broad feet is related better to an excavating ground.

The fitting and the trimming of the feet also affect the development of the shoe and can support certain paces. Thus in the trotters of race, one will seek an overload in weight of the grip, in order to increase the amplitude of beaten trot.

The comparison of the shape of the shoes in the same horse can give invaluable indications. For example, if a former shoe is broader than the other, that means that the horse rests more often above. This support more marked can be the result of a compensation, the horse relieving a member painful controlatéral, or of an anomaly of locomotion coming itself from a defect, a lesion or a pain in another part of the body. An attentive overall examination is essential in order to determine and locate the cause of this deformation to prevent any future boitery.

It should be noted that for the riders, when they are with horse, the shape alone of the shoes, as long as it does not impact the locomotion of équidé, does not have an influence on their own comfort. The flexibility of the articulations and the length of the pastern on the other hand exploit a determining role the feelings of the rider.

Evolution

The first of Hippomorphes known, the such Eohippus ( Hyracotherium ) during the Eocene , approximately 54 million years ago, had four fingers at the end of their thoracic members and three with the pelvic members. The members ended in a flexible plantar bearing with the place and place of the shoe.

During the Oligocene , approximately 30 million years ago, the regression of the forests has constrained the whole of équidés to gain the meadows and the steppes. In front of adapting to a harder ground and a more open medium, attended by the many predatory ones, and in front of thus developing their aptitudes for the race, équidés such those of the kinds Merychippus and Hipparion saw their number of fingers resting on the ground to be reduced to three. At the end of the Pliocène, there is less than two million years, appears finally the single finger of the Pliohippus , precursor of the modern Equidae. It on the other hand has a split shoe, which will lose finally the animals of the kind Equus , gathering ass S, Zèbre S, domestic horses and horses wild such as the Cheval of Przewalski.

These animals were classified in the order of the solipèdes, i.e. it “ has for any vestige of the side fingers only two stilets placed at the two sides of the bone of the gun. ” This denomination is obsolete today.

Anatomy

Seen outside, the foot is composed of three principal parts: the crown , zone intermediate enters the pastern and the shoe; the shoe , which contains and protects the significant parts which finish the members and the solar surface in contact with the ground.

If the structure of the former and posterior feet is identical, on the other hand the shoes of former lower and are widened that the posterior shoes. Their wall is less vertical, their line of grip is more tilted on the horizontal one. The contour of the solar face, almost circular on the thoracic members, is ogival on the pelvic members. The plate has a concavity more marked on the posterior one.

Ostéo-articular structures

The osseous structures are the third phalange , or bone of the foot , articulated with the second phalange or bone of the crown and the bone naviculaire thus named because of its form pointing out a nacelle. Both Cartilage S side prolong backwards the third phalange.

The Tendon of the bungee cord of the finger is inserted on the face former of the bone of the foot to the level of the process extensorius, it takes part in the extension of the foot.

The Ligament hanger of the ball includes the bones proximaux sésamoïdes and is linked with the tendon of the bungee cord. This ligament corresponds to the evolutionary residue of the interosseux muscle III, but is, in the horse, entirely tendineux and does not comprise any more a muscle fiber. It takes part in the stability of the foot during the forced extension.

The flexor apparatus is mainly made up of two muscles, of which only the tendineuse part appears on the level of the foot. The tendon of the surface flexor (or tendon perforated ) fits on the lower part of the bone of the pastern and on the pad of the bone of the crown. The tendon of the deep flexor ( or tendon perforating ) is inserted on the second and third phalanges while passing over the bone naviculaire. The perforating tendon crosses perforated on the level of the manica flexoria or ring of perforated.

Considering the mass and the motricity of the horses, the articulation S are adapted perfectly to important requests. Thus, the articulations are stabilized by powerful a articular capsule papered by a membrane called Synoviale which secret the synovial liquid , a lubricant.

Other internal structures

The plantar bearing is an elastic fabric, located between the side cartilages. He plays a part of shock absorber.

The kéraphylleux fabric is strongly plain with the horn. Because of its aspect, it is named laminated flesh in the part not resting on the ground, velvety flesh , in the part corresponding to the plate.

Shoe

Anatomy

The shoe is a box cornea which contains the sharp parts of the foot on which it is moulded. It is made of several parts strongly plain between them, but separable and consisted of various natures of horn. The horn is generally pigmented if the overlying hair is itself. It is white when it makes following a balzane. There does not exist difference in quality between the two colors of horn.

The wall or wall is the visible part of the shoe when the foot is posed on the ground. One artificially distinguishes several areas to him, which are, from the front to the back, the grip , the udders , the districts and the heels . It is reflected then behind and in lower part to form the bars .

The wall decreases thickness and height since the grip towards the heels. It is resistant, its external side is smooth, its side interns presents an aspect in plates which are geared with the laminated flesh.

The periople is a band of horn a little softer, located at the higher edge of the wall and which merges behind with the fork . It secretes a varnish protecting the horn from drying.

The part of the shoe which rests on the ground is named plantar surface . It is concave and open backwards. Its circumference is formed by the lower part of the wall, which constitutes the really bearing surface of the foot.

The plate is the concave part of the arch of the foot, formed of dry and sometimes friable horn. The zone located between the plate and the wall names white line .

The fork is a projection in the shape of V with former point, made up of a softer horn. It recovers the plantar bearing. The hollows of each with dimensions of V are named side gaps , the furrow between the branches of V, median gap .

The branches of V join behind the periople to form the glomes .

Renewal of the horn

The horn of the shoe is synthesized thanks to the proliferation of the cells on the level of the perioplic pad located just above the shoe.

The horn pushes with the manner of the nails, from 1 to 2 cm per month; the growth in the hot season being slightly more important than in cold season. This difference would be an adaptation according to the seasonal need. In summer the harder grounds more also use équidés need a better renewal of their shoes. But it was not detected of adaptation of the rate of synthetisation of the horn according to its wear.

In freedom, in the natural environment, the erosion of the horn compensates for exactly the growth at équidé in good health. On the other hand, when the animal works on a hard ground, traverses distances more important than those which it practices in freedom, or carries out of the specific efforts related to an equestrian sport, wear and the deformation of the shoe proves faster than the growth.

A too important wear of the horn induces a pain, which in the long term, causes boiteries. In this case, équidés seek the more tender grounds spontaneously and minimize their displacements.

The deformation of the shoe involves a bad support of the foot on the ground. This brings, in the medium term, of the defects of locomotion due generally for a purpose of compensation. These defects of locomotion can become final if the shape of the shoe is not rectified quickly.

Innervation

The nerves digities give the sensitivity of the foot. The clean palmar branches innervent the posterior part of the foot and the articulation of the bone naviculaire. The anesthesia of these nerves can make it possible to specify the painful zone responsible for a boitery.

The surgical section of these nerves or nevrectomy can make it possible to remove the boitery in the event of disease naviculaire with the risk to raise the attack by increasing the support on the sick member. This practice is prohibited in competition.

The horn is not innervée nor vascularized what allows a painless application of the fitting, even hot. But is to forget that the strongly vascularized pododerme will suffer from retractation because of irradiation of heat. Between two evils, it is preferable to choose a cold door-fitting, quite as solid.

Vascularization

The foot is richly vascularized, via the digital artery. One can feel the pulse digity behind pastern. The stressing of this pulse is a sign of ignition of the foot.

The compression of many the Plexus at the time of the successions of support allows an improvement of the venous return.

Mechanical functions

Articular mechanics

The horse being a species specialized in the race, the dominating movements of the members are done in the sagittal plan, i.e. mainly in extension and inflection. Only the articulations proximales allow active movements of rotation, adduction and abduction. On the level of the foot, only the movements of extension and inflection are active.

The phalangeal articulation of the ball or métacarpo allows movements of extension inflection. Very light rotation movements are possible.

The articulation interphalangienne proximale also allows movements of extension inflection, as well as a light rotation and a few degrees of side movements.

The distal articulation interphalangienne also allows movements of extension inflection, and a component in laterality and rotation more important than the two preceding ones.

Kinetics

One can divide a tread into two phases, containing each one three parts.

The phase of support starts with the damping (A) which corresponds to posing shoe on the ground, generally the heel receiving the first the impact. It is at the time of this phase that the role of damping of the shoe is requested the most. The supporting (B) corresponds in the passing of the axis of the member by the vertical, the articulations being with their maximum extension. The propulsion (C) begins the inflection from the articulations and restores the kinetic energy.

The phase of support then begin with the to bring back (D), where the tendineuse inflection is still passive. At the time of the suspension (E) , the foot is with its apogee and in maximum inflection. At the time of the embraced (F) , the extension passes to its maximum by an active muscular action.

Damping and protection

The shoe, thanks to its relative elasticity, plays an important role in the damping of the shocks. At the time of the support, the weight inserts the second phalange and the bone naviculaire inside the shoe and tends to crush the plantar bearing against the fork. This one exerts, via the side cartilages, a pressure on the side walls of the shoe which deviate backwards from a few millimetres. If the fork does not take part in the support (encastelure), this role of damping cannot take place, which generates with long boiteries.

The shoe is a very solid structure with a tensile strength of about 6 kg/mm ² for the domestic horse.

Circulation

The foot contains a vascular rich person network, and each to pose successive, by compressing this network takes part in the return of venous blood towards the right heart, which could make say that the horse has five hearts .

The blood stagnation on the level of the foot involves a rise in the internal pressure of the foot raised by the relative inextensibility of the box cornea.

Maintenance

Équidés used by the draft animal man like or saddle can undergo, because of effort on the shoe, a premature wear of this one. The invention of the Horseshoe made it possible to slow down this wear. Today, the maintenance and the trimming of the foot by a professional are almost systematic however the opportunity of the fitting is called into question by some, considering that it involves more problems than it does not bring a solutions^,. The usual rate/rhythm of renewal of irons is approximately six weeks, not always according to their wear, but because of the growth of the horn. The trimming of the foot-naked horses must be carried out all the four to five weeks, the growth being faster than wear.

The hygiene of the foot is fundamental, any man of horse checking the state of the foot and cleaning it before and after each working session. The maintenance of the litter also plays a big role, by avoiding a maceration and an attack of the plate and fork by ammonia resulting from the prolonged fermentation of the litter.

The massages of the crown stimulate the growth of the shoe.

The showers are beneficial for the members and the tendons, as well by their mechanical effect of massage as by their heating effect, causing a vasoconstriction. It is often preferable to lubricate the shoe after the shower, in particular in dry weather. In wet weather, the inverse order is recommended. In order to avoid the cracks, it is necessary, especially in cold weather, well to dry the folds of inflection.

Many oils, greases and ointments are used. Some have a softening effect and stimulate the growth of the horn (oil of bay-tree), others (ointment S) also have a hydrating effect, others still have an astringent effect and disinfecting (Produced containing Spirits of turpentine or alcohol iodized). The vegetable tar have an effect disinfecting and protective plate. The rate/rhythm of application generally recommended is of twice per week, more or less according to the state of the horn. It is of use to lubricate the feet with an esthetic aim at the time of the sporting tests and the presentations.

The regular exercise on any ground " feet nus" the horn east hardens supports the good evolution of the foot.

The balanced food brings normally sufficient quantities of Vitamine S of the group B, in particular of biotine and Oligoélément S (Zinc, in particular), to ensure the health of the foot. Food supplements can sometimes be used in the cases of proven deficiency. Their preventive use is certainly nonharmful but expensive and of not proven effectiveness.

The port of protections of the foot or bells makes it possible to avoid the wounds of the glomes when équidé is shoed.

Pathologies of the foot

Ostéo-articular affections

Defects of balance

The defects of balance involve an unequal distribution of the Pression S on the foot. They can expose to traumatic lesions with type of attacks or cuts. In general, it is to better compensate for them by an adapted fitting that to want to correct them.

One distinguishes five types of defects of balance:

When the grip median any more but is not turned towards outside, the foot is known as panard .
When the grip is turned towards the interior, the foot is known as knock-kneed .
When the support is done exaggeratedly on the grip, the foot is known as pinçard .
When the support is done exaggeratedly on the heel, the foot is known as slope .
When the wall is very vertical and the very high heels, the foot is known as rampin , because trailing on the ground at the time of walk.

Tares

The tares are joint affections developed at the expense of the bones, the Cartilage S or the synovial sheaths of the tendons. One distinguishes the hard tares from the soft tares .

The hard tares of the foot are forms or exostoses. They are developed at the expense of the bones or the side cartilages ( cartilagineuses forms ). They involve only seldom a symptomatology and are only disgracieuses.

The soft tares are synovial, pilot cysts in general of an excessive work of the tendons and articulations. Seldom painful, they involve only little or not embarrassment but are often pilot of an excessive request of the tendineux apparatus.

Fourbure

The fourbure is an acute inflammatory congestion of the foot. Because of the relative inextensibility of the box cornea, it causes a circulatory stop localized with Ischémie of fabrics, in particular of kéraphylleux fabric. It occurs a disunion between the osseous structures and corneas, causing the swing of the third phalange forwards the, characteristic one of this affection. To the extreme, the third phalange can perforate the plate. It is an extremely serious case.

The cause can be metabolic by excess of food, dehydration, or systemic infections causing the release of Endotoxine S, traumatic , by excess of work or chronic overload , i.e. by excess of weight.

The treatment is that of the cause with, moreover, put at rest, Anti-inflammatoires with orthopedic fitting. Inhibiters of TNF are sometimes used. An alternative to the treatment of chronic fourbure is the removal of iron of the horse as well as a trimming " feet nus" who will support the dynamism of the metabolism, the vascularization of the foot is improved and supports the cure. The fourbure remains a serious affection being able to compromise the aptitude for work definitively.

Syndrome naviculaire

The syndrome naviculaire or syndrome podo-trochléaire is an affection characterized by the attack of the bone naviculaire.

The evoked mechanisms are a traumatic theory, by the repetition of repeated microtraumatisms, a circulatory theory, by ischaemia of the sésamoïde and an inflammatory theory, approaching in fact traumatic theory. Currently, pathogenesis selected is that of a vicious circle, traumatism, inflammatory reaction, osteolysis (osseous destruction), anomaly of the motricity of the foot, ignition, etc

Certain genetic lines seem more exposed with this affection. Defects of conformation to type of vertical shoulder, jointés right members are also predisposing factors. An incorrect fitting is also sometimes accused.

The diagnosis rests on the examination of the locomotion (preferential support on the grip), examination with the grip to be probed (awaking a pain with the pressure across the heels) and radiographies (mainly, aspect of géodes or thinning of the naviculaire). The diagnosis of certainty is however sometimes difficult to bring.

The treatment rests on the rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, the application of a correct fitting (egg-bar shoes, irons with slipper, heel-pieces). Currently the drugs of the class of the diphosphonates seem to bring a significant therapeutic evolution.

Trimming " feet nus" different from the trimming of marechalery allows the horse to find a normal and easy locomotion after one period of adaptation - the transition - which will last between 3 months and 6 months according to the initial state.

The nevrectomy is the treatment of the last end and brings a relief only for one period of a few months to two years.

Osteoarthritis

The osteoarthritis is a degenerative affection sitting on the level of the articular cartilages. It involves a “cold” boitery, decreasing after heating. The catch of support in heel in is a characteristic sign, radiography will confirm the diagnosis by showing a pinching of the articular line space, osteophytes and osseous géodes. The treatment in is primarily orthopedic by relieving the zones most injured by an adapted fitting.

Club-footed person

The club-footed person is the consequence of the retractation of flexor deep. Cornea limps develops vertically, the heels are massive, the fork is enclosed by a very hard, irregular and convex plate by places. Classically, the club-footed person is treated by marshal-shoeing who poses an iron with the florentine. An alternative method consists in removing iron the foot and applying techniques of trimming " naturel" in order to descend the heels and to thus give the deep flexor tendon to work.

Affections of the shoe

The encastelure is characterized by a tightening of the shoe, on the basis of the upper part of the districts and being able to extend to the heels. It joins it an atrophy of the fork and plantar bearing. The wall then takes the aspect of that of a strong castle, from where the term of encastelure. In this case, the support of the fork is not done sufficiently, being able to involve pain and boitery. Certain horses, originating in arid areas are naturally encastelés, this allowing the protection of the plate of the traumatisms against the stones.

The seimes are longitudinal slits of the shoe. They can originate in a lesion of the crown, which involves an interruption of the production of horn. They develop top then downwards. Contrary, they can originate in a lesion of the edge of support and develop bottom then upwards. They can be painful and offer a main door to the infections. Preventive medication is a careful maintenance of the foot, a maintenance of the hydration of the horn and a regular trimming. The treatment is spring of the Marshal-shoeing.

The anthill is a pathological cavity created by separation between the subjacent horn and fabrics. It can follow a chronic fourbure or with a chronic infection related to a seime or a nail of street. The marshal will curettera the lesions and one will apply disinfecting bandages.

The rot of the fork is an affection generally dependant on a defect of hygiene or maintenance. It is characterized by an aspect noirâtre and spongy of the fork, which releases a nauseous odor. Preventive medication is a careful maintenance of the foot and litter. The curative treatment consists of the local application of Antiseptique S containing iodine or of copper sulfate (liquor of Vilatte).

The vegetating Pododermatite or clamping plate is also related to a permissive waste in hot and wet climate. The plate becomes friable and blanchâtre. Preventive medication is a careful maintenance of the foot and litter. The curative treatment consists of the local application of disinfectants. Antibiotique S by general way are sometimes necessary.

The Abcès of the foot are, by definition, a collection of pus, generally localized under the plate. They generally have a main door by a traumatic lesion or an infection of the external parts. They involve a very intense boitery, “ with broken leg ”, the foot is hot, the pulse digity perceived too well. The grip to be probed reveals a sharp pain, making it possible to locate the suppurated zone. The treatment consists to evacuate the pus, with cureter carefully the hull and to apply disinfectants. Antibiotics by general way are sometimes indicated. As in all the traumatic and infectious lesions, it is advisable to make sure of the antitetanus vaccination.

Skin troubles

The cracks are affections, often very painful, located at the level of the folds of inflection, mainly of the pastern. They result sometimes from a lack of hygiene, for example of a litter swine, sometimes of an excess of hygiene with too prolonged showers and an insufficient drying. The treatment is preventive, by suitably drying the folds of inflection after the shower and while abstaining from mowing the pennons which are natural gutters allowing the water run-off out of the fold of the pastern.

The scale of mud is generally a parasitosis due to a Acari in, the Chorioptes Bovis . It requires a setting with dryness, a treatment disinfecting and pest-destroying.

Traumatic affections

The bleimes are lesions of the plate, pulled by shocks on a plate too punt or by defects of fitting. They are characterized by épanchement blood under the plate, sometimes visible in the shape of a spot dew. They can even exude suppurer and become complicated of a Abcès. They can involve a boitery or a simple fall of the performances. The application of the grip to be probed generally allows the diagnosis. The treatment rests on the rest, the anti-inflammatory drugs, the bandages. A fitting with plate can be indicated to protect the plate. However, this type of fitting can involve an increased brittleness of the plate.

The astonishment of the foot is a painful congestion of the foot, caused by a violent shock against the shoe. It results in an intense boitery.

The puncture is the wound of the sharp parts of the foot by a nail at the time of the door-fitting, followed immediately withdrawal of the nail. The enclouure is the wound of the parts sharp of the foot by a nail at the time of the door-fitting, the remaining nail in place. It can become complicated of a Abcès. One calls nail of street , a perforating wound of the plate, whatever is the causal agent, nail, stone, glass, etc

The reached are traumatic lesions related to the shock of the members of the horse between them at the time of the movements. The use of gaiters and protect-balls is a good means of prevention.

The distorsions are tears ligamentaires. On the level of the foot, the distorsion of the ball is most frequent, sitting on the level of the ligament hanger.

The fractures of the bones of the foot are serious affections, bringing into play the functional forecast of the horse and sometimes requiring its Euthanasie.

See too

External bonds

School veterinary surgeon de Lyon international equestrian *Federation
Galopin.net *Union French of marshal-shoeing

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Foot (horse)

General information on the appearance

Evolution

Anatomy

Ostéo-articular structures

Other internal structures

Shoe

Anatomy

Renewal of the horn

Innervation

Vascularization

Mechanical functions

Articular mechanics

Kinetics

Damping and protection

Circulation

Maintenance

Pathologies of the foot

Ostéo-articular affections

Defects of balance

Tares

Fourbure

Syndrome naviculaire

Osteoarthritis

Club-footed person

Affections of the shoe

Skin troubles

Traumatic affections

See too

Related articles

External bonds