ASK THE EXPERT.
A SOUND BASE FOR PERFORMANCE ABOVE: INTENSIVE WORK PROGRAMMES, ARTIFICIAL RIDING SURFACES, LONG COMPETITION SEASONS AND STABLING ON DRY SURFACES CAN ALL PLACE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE HOOVES OF A DRESSAGE HORSE.
CAN YOU BUILD A HOOF FOR DRESSAGE? BEN BENSON AWCF MASTER FARRIER AND
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NAF’S NUTRITION TEAM LOOK AT HOW CARE AND NUTRITION CAN HELP.
orkloads and environmental stresses can quickly expose any weakness in an initially healthy foot. Increased farriery visits, remedial shoeing and focused nutrition can help support the weakened hoof, but what is the recipe for success? Ben Benson, Team GBR Farrier, comments: “As farriers we have seen a marked change in the way horses are managed over the last 20 years. More horses are stabled and schooled on manmade surfaces. If not managed proactively, this can have a hugely negative impact on the health of our horses’ feet.” Sometimes it can be as simple as good foot maintenance such as picking the feet out properly, he explains: “Ensure the hoof pick goes under the inner rim of the shoe and down each side and in the middle of the frog. As time goes we see more horses washed off each day rather than the traditional grooming routine they once had. Horses are also stabled on rubber matting and for longer than before.”
Ben points out that we have witnessed a huge change in the intensity and style of riding in the UK. “The technical ability and standard across the board has increased over the last 20 years and as a result we see more horses worked harder on surfaces. We have also seen an increase in the length of the sport’s season with some horses performing 12 months a year, and to an older age. As farriers we are
much more aware of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and as a result we have a much greater understanding of how we can support horses to maintain their soundness. He comments that the different types of synthetic surfaces each bring a different type of footing, resistance and energy absorption. “This also requires horses to cope with different levels of deceleration and tor ue through their feet and joints when they work
HOOF DRESSINGS Products ideally should be applied daily. If your horse has fantastic feet, using an application regularly will help to protect the horn for the future. Helping to prevent bacteria gaining access to a small crack and creating havoc with your otherwise healthy hoof should be a safeguarding approach. Dressage horses are regularly exposed to dry surfaces for training, on top of the dry bedding we stable on. The right daily external support gets to work straight away to nourish the horn as well as protect it without forming a barrier as the horn has to breathe. Dressings should have the ability to penetrate the structure itself and not sit on top leaving a greasy residue. They should also be able to protect the horn from environmental threats and protect clenches/nail holes and cracks/splits from contact with anaerobic bacteria.
BRITISH DRESSAGE // Issue 1 2021 // 35
