Knowledge
Vet Insight
Robert Stevenson is a world class farrier with many decades of experience in equine podiatry and hoof care and has worked and consulted in some of the most prestigious equine organisations and centres around the world. After experiencing first-hand the wide range of hoof problems and lameness issues that horses can face, many of which are exacerbated by traditional shoeing, Robert started working on a concept that would provide a supportive, effective and non-invasive solution. The result was Formahoof for which Robert consults on technical applications
Treating Laminitis FormaHoof as part of Lamanitis Treatment
Photography courtesy of FormaHoof
If you have ever had a horse with laminitis, you know just how painful and debilitating a disease it is. Severe or recurring episodes can quickly make laminitis a welfare issue and all too often can lead to a decision having to be made as whether it’s kind to let the animal continue to suffer. Horse and pony management should always be with a view to helping to prevent laminitis occurring in the first place, but for those that are afflicted, a revolutionary new hoof care system – FormaHoof – seems to offer laminitic horses and ponies vastly increased comfort, protection and support and allows the hoof to repair and reform, naturally. A healthy hoof has a naturally concave sole, whereas in horses with flat soles and no concavity, the coffin bone or P3 bone is directly weight-bearing on the ground, as there’s no airspace between the ground and the protective sole. This compromised hoof structure is a major
Libby’s feet on arrival
48
Polo Times, October 2020
cause of the pain associated with laminitis. FormaHoof creates instant concavity by rebuilding the compromised solar structure immediately. This is different to having soft or hard material added under a shoe as the airspace allows the foot to expand and contract and redistributes the weight off the affected and very sore area at the tip of P3. FormaHoof also allows the vet or farrier to apply a medicated solar pack, which remains in place and facilitates abscess drainage, making FormaHoof a functional medicated bandage in which the horse can start to move. For the illustration of what can be achieved, we are taking a look at a case from outside the UK: Libby is an 18-yearold registered Canadian Horse in Ontario, Canada. She was entrusted to the care of the Canadian Horse Rescue and Re-Homing society to find her a new home; being fans of the breed Andrea and Karli White signed up
as a foster home. Andrea had no knowledge of what condition Libby was in, other than a picture of her in a field. She didn’t look to be in terrible condition, so finding her an adoptive home through CHRRS would have been easy. When Libby stepped off the trailer after a three hour journey, there was a feeling of shock and heartbreak seeing her condition. Her coat was long when it should have moulted, her feet were like platters, overgrown and cracked. She was obviously experiencing a lot of pain in her feet, but her personality shone through and knowing there was more going on, Andrea and Karli adopted her anyway. The first step was to fix Libby’s nutrition. “We got Libby on a probiotic immediately and some low NSC supplements. At the time we didn’t realise how important this was for Libby, it is just a normal thing we do with our horses.” The second step was to take off Libby’s excess hoof. “This was done in two sessions, as she had obviously not seen a farrier in a very long time, it took well over an hour to get her trimmed up properly.” Libby was vaccinated, her teeth were checked and blood work was done, which diagnosed Cushings and Inuslin Resistance. But Libby was very, very sore, so it was time for X-rays. Andrea continues “Libby had X-rays that would break your heart. X-rays, that in former times would have been a death sentence for her. I knew by the look on my vet’s face and his words that this would be a long shot in saving her life. We had to try though, we owed it to her, and Karli and I were not going to give up without trying. So, we began our journey with Laminitis.” Libby was placed in casts in August and Andrea was told to keep her in a stable with deep bedding and as little movement as possible. Her legs and hooves were iced with ice boots twice a day and with ice gels in between – four times a day. Libby stayed in her stall 24 hours a day for the first four weeks, until she started www.polotimes.co.uk
