Once a horses hoof begins to fail and collapse, pathology becomes their treatment. The definition of pathology is: "the science of the cause and effect." It is believed that 90% of all domesticated horses suffer from some level of hoof lameness. During the study of the hoof, it is is observed that there are three constants in the hoof's failure: the earth, gravity and the horses body weight (mass). Therefore, the culprit to the lack of bony column support is the instability of the hoof given the proliferation of pathological repair and the inability of this dysfunctional repair tissue to support the weight of the horse. Pathological tissue repair is much weaker than the functional repair. Without proper bony column support to counter the weight of the horse and the concussive energy caused, repair can not catch up with the hardness of the ground, gravity and the concussive forces of the horse’s weight. Meanwhile, the resulting chronic and unyielding pain is debilitating. With out proper bony column support there is no realistic expectation for functional hoof repair to occur. At KeyStone HoofBridge we have used the following steps to seek a solution to soundness: Education: Define the possible solutions to the issues you are experiencing. Knowledge is the key to understanding. Regard all information as valuable, including all perspectives. Responsibility: Through education you are now empowered to provide the care your horse requires. Accountability: You are solely your horse’s advocate, not their care givers. e.g. vets, farriers, trimmers, body work, dentist, trainers, etc. Action: Once you have knowledge and understanding, you can move forward with proper treatment.
If you are considering KeyStone for your horse consider the three elements: Functional Support, Healing & Soundness Functional support represents the KeyStone Bridge and how it supplies the Hoof with bony column support. Functional Healing takes place when the Hoof is provided with the proper support and nutrition, and Functional Soundness is achieved when proper healing and support are provided for the horse.
Please contact a Hoof Bridge if you have more questions.
