There’s nothing routine about hoof avulsion.

There is a wide range of types and severities of hoof avulsions that a farrier might be presented with. They might be a result of trauma or because a farrier had to resect hoof wall to rid it of white line disease. They might come as an acute injury or be chronic in nature.

Regardless of the cause, a seasoned farrier might be challenged to provide the horse with the best support and protection possible. In an American Farriers Journal web­inar, Leighton, Iowa, farrier Jeff Ridley explains how he approaches avulsions.

The Farrier’s Role

When presented with a hoof avulsion, there are five critical elements for a farrier’s success — seek veterinary assistance, understand foot anatomy, think outside the box, farrier skills and communication.

Veterinary assistance. Ridley considers getting assistance from a vet a top priority before addressing an avulsion.

Whenever sensitive structures are involved, it is within the realm of vet­­­erinary expertise. One not only wants to call upon their expertise to remain in compliance with veterinary practice laws, but they also have access to diagnostic tools that a farrier does not.

“Depending on…