Below are key farrier takeaways from several of the features found in the September/October 2025 issue of American Farriers Journal.
“Misguided Practices” are Damaging Horses’ Coffin Bones
- Excessive, abnormal or focused compression features should not exceed osmotic cellular pressures, ensuring that growth period occurs timely and correctly.
- Excessive movement of P3 within the hoof capsule causes focalized soft tissue tearing, compression and grinding. The normal hoof capsule bears between 60 and 78 psi and deforms at loads above 78 psi and fractures at more than 100 psi.
- Keeping P3 closer to the ground increases the likelihood of abrasion and subsequent degeneration or absorption of the bone as it gets captured between the ground and the force going down the limb.
- Horses’ hooves that are routinely cut as short as humanly possible, have the toes of the wall rasped back and sole packs on the bottom are candidates for changes of P3 morphology.
A Year in the Life of a Horse
- In addition to Jackson’s trim, Esco Buff also tracks Jackson’s nutritional changes, environmental conditions and workload shifts.
- Subtle hoof clues such as slight flares, changes in chalkiness and shifting postures often precede bigger concerns. It’s important to recognize and act quickly.
- Jackson’s journey highlights how vital it is for farriers, vets and owners to collaborate in real time. No single perspective is enough.
Farriery & the Equine Gut: How Nutrition Supports the Hoof
- A balanced diet — including protein, vitamins A and E and minerals such as copper, zinc and collagen — is vital for strong, healthy hoof horn.
- A horse’s current diet should be evaluated by a farrier, nutritionist and the owner to determine if supplements are necessary.
- Supplementing vitamins and minerals can act as preventative care for the horse and make the farrier’s job easier.
Understanding Laminae Strain in Sport Horses
- Performance laminitis is characterized by inflammation, micro-damage and instability of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. This condition is often the result of sustained mechanical stress.
- Unlike classic laminitis triggered by grain overload, chemical insult or systemic illness, performance laminitis doesn’t follow a dramatic or recognizable course.
- When a horse experiences discomfort, it often instinctively repositions its limb(s) axially — toward the midline.
