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Summary: Thrush is the term commonly used to describe nonproliferative pododermatitis of the frog epidermis caused by a bacterial infection. Thrush is commonly encountered in veterinary and farrier practices yet information on the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of the disease in the equine veterinary literature is lacking. There is a plethora of proposed products and treatments on the market for thrush, yet most lack clinical evidence of efficacy. Clinical signs of thrush can range from black exudate in the sulci of the frog accompanied by a foul odour to bacterial invasion of the frog corium and digital cushion resulting in lameness. Thrush is primarily encountered in a conformationally compromised hoof capsule that is generally associated with an unhealthy frog. As thrush is rarely encountered in a healthy frog, it is important to focus on the farrier practices that may play a role in both the pathogenesis of thrush and its prevention. For successful treatment and prevention of thrush, good basic farrier principles must be incorporated into the treatment protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: White line disease (WLD) is a significant pathological condition that affects the equine hoof. White line disease continues to frustrate veterinarians and farriers due to the diversity regarding the aetiology, diagnosis and especially treatment. Furthermore, WLD lacks a definitive definition as the disease becomes apparent only when the hoof wall is compromised with an extensive separation, a hoof capsule distortion is present or when lameness exists. Clinical signs can range from a minor hoof wall separation to an extensive disruption of the external laminar bond resulting in displacement of the distal phalanx within the hoof capsule. There has been a myriad of treatments and topical preparations proposed for treating WLD, but most remain controversial with few having any scientific documentation or evidence of efficacy. This review of WLD is based on the sparse information available in the veterinary literature, the large number of WLD cases treated successfully in the authors' combined practices using conventional farriery and the relevant questions that hopefully can be answered in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The extensive nature of this topic warrants this review paper to be divided into two parts: 'Basic trimming in foals' and 'Therapeutic farriery in foals'. Management of the feet and limbs during this juvenile period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. Overall hoof care in the foal is often a joint venture between the veterinarian and the farrier. The orthopaedic disorders discussed in this paper that require input from the two professions are flexural limb deformities (FLD) and angular limb deformities (ALD). The concept of protecting the foot from the deleterious effects of mal‐loading created by many FLDs and ALDs is just as important as using the symptomatology as an instrument to correct the deformity. This paper presents a review of the current information regarding the farriery for these two limb deformities while dispelling some of the anecdotal methodology, such as the use of toe extensions to treat flexural deformities, that presently exists. Considering the deficiency of information in the literature, segments of this text will be based on the author's extensive clinical practice, comprehensive clinical records and comparisons of case outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The extensive nature of this topic warrants this review paper to be divided into two parts: 'Routine basic trimming in foals' and 'Therapeutic farriery in foals'. Hoof care in the first few months of life is serious business and should never be taken lightly. Good farriery is vital for the development of the hoof capsule and the conformation of the limb. Management of the feet and limbs during the juvenile period will often dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or mature sound athlete. Overall hoof care of a foal is often a joint venture between the veterinarian and the farrier. Part 1 of this paper will outline the concept of a footcare programme, examination of the foal's feet and limbs along with what constitutes good basic farriery to properly apply the trim. It will also emphasise the importance of maintaining a good veterinarian‐farrier relationship ‐ the farrier being responsible for basic trimming with veterinary oversight when necessary, and if orthopaedic disorders develop, the farrier will have significant input with therapeutic farriery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The wooden shoe provides the clinician with an alternative option to conventional farriery when treating a variety of foot problems such as acute/chronic laminitis, white line disease, distal phalanx fractures and poor‐quality hoof capsules. The wooden shoe provides a simplified method to apply many of the principles of therapeutic farriery which include redistributing the load or forces on the foot, repositioning breakover and providing heel elevation when necessary. Understanding the biomechanics of the wooden shoe along with understanding good basic farriery which include the appropriate foot trim, proper size, fit and placement of the wooden shoe on the foot combined with the appropriate application are essential for consistent success. This paper outlines what is considered to be the proper application of the wooden shoe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of the equine foot have the unique ability to adapt, change shape and restore. There are multiple benefits in shod vs. barefoot or in allowing the horse to be without shoes for a given time period to improve the palmar section of the foot. However, it requires a transition period, a change in the manner in which the foot is trimmed, a commitment from the owner/trainer and, in the case of leaving the horse without shoes permanently, it depends whether the horse can perform the desired function without shoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]