Hoofcare

TACKLING HOOF CRACKS: FROM THE GROUND UP

As horse owners, we’ve probably all had a horse with a hoof crack at some time or another. Usually, the cracks, chips and dings you find on your horse’s hoof walls will be harmless blemishes. However, sometimes a hoof crack may be a serious problem and can lead to lameness. Other times a persistent crack may be a sign of chronic trouble and in a worst-case scenario, a deep crack may provide an entryway for potentially life-threatening infections inside the horse’s foot.

FormaHoof is a liquid fit, reusable mould process that is giving owners, vets, farriers and equine podiatrists a highly effective way to halt cracks in their tracks. FormaHoof offers instant comfort and relief to the horse, immediately protects and prevents further damage, while also providing a stable platform for support, allowing healing to commence. Russian Roulette – a cracking case with a successful outcome Hoof cracks can have a wide range of causes - from dry, brittle feet to chronic conditions such as laminitis, to bacterial infection. Injury and trauma are another common cause and in severe cases can cause extreme pain that may require a long rehab and recovery period. Russian Roulette, AKA Win, is a horse in Queensland, Australia who sustained a severe hoof injury when he stood on a stump while galloping around his paddock in a thunderstorm. Win was in severe pain as the crack travelled up into his coronary band and the internal sensitive tissues were exposed, posing a great threat for bacterial attack and infection. With a hoof crack such as this, the first priority is to tackle the structural damage to the hoof caused by the injury and to apply support. As horses are large, heavy animals that are standing or moving most of the day, preventing further damage is crucial. However, until now this has been an enormous challenge. Not only is a traditional shoe extremely difficult to apply for severe cracks because of the extensive damage to the hoof, custom fabrication of a device that would offer the required support could delay treatment dramatically. In the interim, the horse would have to be kept largely immobile to prevent further structural damage, while the risk of bacterial infection would remain a great threat. Fortunately for Win, FormaHoof offers a highly effective solution to serious hoof injuries such as these. Firstly, getting a horse protected by a FormaHoof application is quick and easy, providing instant support, protection and stability to the injured hoof and keeping it protected while healing and recovery takes place. Secondly, FormaHoof allows medication to be applied over the injured area, keeps it in place for the life of the application, while also keeping the hoof clean and preventing the entry of dirt, bacteria or other potentially harmful material. These benefits, combined with the fact that FormaHoof gives the perfect, tailored fit every time, are exactly why FormaHoof is emerging as the preferred solution for serious hoof problems. For Russian Roulette, and other horses that may have suffered serious hoof injury, using FormaHoof reduces pain, results in far lower stress levels, allows for a faster recovery process and ultimately a reduction in total treatment cost because only 4-5 visits should be required and the FormaHoof Mould is reusable time and again, with only the FormaHoof AP resin material to consider as an overhead. It is also important to note that the FormaHoof AP material is specifically designed to flex and move in much the same way as a natural hoof, so the horse feels no rigidity with the application on.

Russian Roulette sustained a severe hoof injury during turnout that caused immense pain and could have been extremely slow and difficult to heal. With FormaHoof, the missing hoof area can be filled completely, medication affixed securely in place (under the application) and the horse can now can move around naturally with its rebuilt hoof. This final image shows Win after a 5-week cycle in FormaHoof. You can see good growth and overall shape as the FormaHoof application has protected the hoof from any wear or damage during the cycle.

What is FormaHoof? FormaHoof is a liquid fit, reusable mould process. The reusable FormaHoof Mould is shaped internally with all the features of a healthy, strong, balanced hoof, including a concave sole, reinforced support for the heels and heel bulb region and an optimal hoof pastern axis. The FormaHoof Mould is placed onto the horse’s hoof and an adaptable polyurethane resin applied into it. Once the FormaHoof AP resin has set, the mould is removed and the resulting hardened resin application then mimics a perfectly healthy hoof, offering protection, support and a fully balanced foot. In addition to hoof cracks and severe hoof damage, FormaHoof is the most effective solution to a wide range of hoof problems the equine world faces on a daily basis. From laminitis, thin soles and white line disease, to conformation, developmental and poor performance issues, FormaHoof offers immediate pain relief whilst giving stability and support to allow the hoof to regenerate, naturally.

Launched globally in early 2020, FormaHoof is already transforming the lives of countless horses around the world that suffer from hoof disease, hoof injuries and hoof and limb imbalances. In an exciting new development for the growing team of FormaHoof certified Applicators and the horses they care for, FormaHoof R&D labs have created Flex Mesh, a new innovation designed to take the durability and ease of use of FormaHoof to a whole new level.

Designed as a performance enhancement to the existing FormaHoof AP polymer material, the 3D structure of Flex Mesh allows for enhanced mixing of the FormaHoof AP material and more contact points on the hoof wall. The innovative 3D lattice structure of Flex Mesh is achievable only using an advanced 3D printing manufacturing process and uniquely designed materials, which together generate fluid

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FORMAHOOF LAUNCHES FLEX MESH

turbulence during the polymer injection process. This encourages even better mixing of the 2 polymer parts of FormaHoof AP as it enters the FormaHoof mould. Real-world testing of Flex Mesh versus a traditional mesh product by experienced applicators report an increase in overall strength of the FormaHoof application of up to 30%, while Flex Mesh also reduces application times by 510 minutes per foot. The manufacturing process, design and material that make

Flex Mesh a reality have never been used before in the equine world, making its launch another global first from FormaHoof R&D labs. Drawing on years of experience in the aerospace markets, the design team approached the creation of Flex Mesh from the ground up, leveraging the benefits of the advanced design tools and 3D printing capabilities within the group to ensure that Flex Mesh fits the horse and the FormaHoof Application perfectly. For horses that would benefit from additional therapeutic support, Flex Mesh can be infused with medication or dental impression material as needed, providing a support structure to keep it in place and the correct area medicated.

www.FormaHoof.com

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SAM’S DETERMINATION

KEEPS ED FIT AND HAPPY

Now 15-years-old, Welsh Section A pony, Ed first experienced laminitis at the age of five and his devoted owner Sam Bull has done everything in her power ever since to keep him happy and comfortable.

Standing just 11.3hh, Sam has always kept a close watch on Ed’s weight and never expected him to get laminitis. Adds Sam: “I first noticed Ed was standing with the typical laminitis stance but initially if I kept him in for two days it would go. He wasn’t overweight or anything and it soon went away. “Ed could be fine one minute and half an hour later he was terrible. I decided to keep a diary and asked the vets to carry out a blood test which showed his insulin was very high and he was diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). “For the last five summers he has been really well and it is only the last two winters where the problem flared up again and his hooves became really sensitive.” Working alongside Sam to keep Ed sound and comfortable has been farrier Jonathan Nunn FWCF, highly regarded for his remedial work. Passionate about helping horses and ponies with chronic ailments, Jonathan receives a lot of referral work from veterinary practices with many suffering from Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and laminitis. Having focused on remedial work for the last eight years, he is in popular demand and is called upon regularly by vets to assist in acute cases. Said Jonathan: “I have seen Ed on and off for several years and have treated him with a variety of methods to help his laminitis over time. “This has ranged from with shoes, to no shoes, glue on shoes, clogs and hoof boots to try and make him comfortable. “I am meeting clients every day with horses and ponies with similar problems and one had had great success with LaminAid from Cavalor and I suggested to Sam she should give it a go and we were both delighted with the results.” Explained Sam: “Within ten days we saw a big difference, he was much freer in his movement and more comfortable and I was so happy his progress was going in the right direction. “LaminAid is a blend of essential oils and has been developed for horses and ponies with sensitive hooves. It is great to see Ed relaxed and enjoying life. “Combining LaminAid with keeping his legs and hooves warm with the help of stable wraps and hoof boots is really working as we have found he doesn’t cope very well with big changes in temperature which we have experienced this winter.” Cavalor LaminAid is recommended for horses and ponies with sensitive hooves due to metabolic problems. It supports the sensitive intestinal flora and brings hormonal and metabolic processes back into balance while improving blood circulation and flow in the hoof. Cavalor LaminAid is a unique, balanced combination of several essential oils including Eucalyptus globulus, Allium sativum and Betula alba. When incorporated into a blend, they complement each other and have a synergistic benefit.

www.cavalor direct.co.uk

Dressage Pony Gigolo Ready to Dance...

Dressage pony superstar, Gigolo, owned by the Lickley family has been a stalwart of British teams for many years. Ridden by Izzy Lickley, the talented veteran competed in the Pony Europeans in Denmark in 2016 but started his British team debut aged just 6-years-old. Now twenty-two and very much enjoying his retirement he has been in fantastic health until a bout of laminitis last summer.

Explains Izzy, “As he’s got older he developed cushings which we have managed really well with advice from the vet but last summer when he was looking in great shape he just developed laminitis overnight. All was well when we turned him out for a few hours but when we came to bring him in he was crippled and it was really distressing to see. “He is on a low sugar and low starch diet and we added Cavalor LaminAid to his diet and used Cavalor PodoSens hoof oil. It was so great to see him gradually improve and by week seven he was back to full fitness and thankfully has never looked back.”