Equine podiatry Case study with radiographs - Candy - an 8 year old event horse with distorted hooves and compensatory pathological posture

Beccy Smith
2 days ago
10 min read

VIP Membership content

Candy is regularly trimmed and shod by a professional hoof care provider; however, the question of poor hoof balance was raised by a body worker, equine physio and trauma-informed therapist Yasmin Stuart following consultation in Australia. Yasmin was concerned that Candy's posture was negatively impacted by suspected hoof imbalances causing a compensated, pathological posture, which is likely to cause or contribute to lameness in the future.

Candy's owner had podiatry balance radiographs on the recommendation of Yasmin, and provided comparison hoof photos from earlier in the year, to learn if improvements had been made during the past 10 months or so, when the farrier had been shoeing Candy to help improve her foot balance.

I was able to objectively assess candy's posture and hoof balance, provide evidence of changes, as well as a hoof care plan for consideration by her professional team. The following documentation and summary was provided as part of our popular and comprehensive remote mark up and report service, available to book and pay online (and subject to availability).

Integrative equine podiatry assessment and findings

The posture indicates a compensatory posture with uneven loading of the limbs and body. This will support uneven muscular development and make it harder for the horse to balance and perform optimally under saddle. it will also increase the risk on injury, lameness and pathology, not only in the hoof and limb but in the body too.

Compensatory posture is closely associated with less than ideal hoof morphology and welfare parameters, so it is important to address hoof balance, form and function, to help horses feel comfortable, safe and sound.

A quick glance at a hind hoof gives the impression of the short, under-run heel, with insufficient support from the shoeing package, which is set to the hoof to favour more load on the back part or caudal hoof, thus contributing to overload and caudal hoof issues.

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