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Such a natural hoof has the following characteristics: - front foot about 45 degrees, hind about 55 - when seen from the front, the width of the coronet band is comparable to the height of the hoof from toe to coronet band (varies slightly with warmblood, draft, donkey, etc.) - when seen from the side (or front), the base of the hoof is wider than the coronet band - when seen from the side, the coronet band should be a smooth, straight line lowest at the heel - the frog must be as wide as the heel at the heel, otherwise the foot is contracted and will contract instead of expand during the weightbearing phase of each step - the wall at the heel must be the same height as the bulb; any protrusion of the wall here results in the bars being levered into the interior of the hoof; bars should be shorter, not on the same level as the wall during the non-weightbearing phase of a step
Any deviation from this shape causes strains, tears or bruising of the living tissue inside the hoof. The return to the natural hoof form takes place while the hoof is growing, and is restricted to the speed at which this takes place. Daily hoof baths support the rehabilitation process by keeping the horn elastic; movement in and by the herd assures constant circulation and as such horngrowth and healing. Dr. Strasser's hoof clinic has areas with rubber mats as flooring, for those horses unable to walk on hard ground during the first part of rehabilitation. Passive exercises such as TTouch, acupuncture massage, etc. support the healing; homeopathic substances are also used at times.
The goal of treatment is the full return of the horse to a normal workload without any relapses to lameness. Age is a factor to a point, since older horses heal more slowly and have also been subjected to the damaging factors (shoeing, etc.) much longer.
With friendly permition by DVM H. Strasser
Copyright 2005 Dr. vet. med. H. Strasser
Ed & Trans. Sabine Kells
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