Anuario Raza Polo Argentino Anuario2017 | Page 262

The same concept of force distribution explained for
foals applies for the rest of its life: during development;
work and reproductive retirement or rest.
Their base of support must be level and in the right
place.
There are critical stages in which leveling and exact
location of the base is indispensable. There are
other stages in which, although that is correct, one
may be a bit more permissive, since the demands
of the foot allow for this. This concept may cause
productive discussions. The fact remains that
paring must be carried out always. Even when
environmental conditions keep hooves relatively
short through natural wear, it is still necessary to
check and level the contact area. And anyway,
doing the job well or not-so-well involves the
same amount of effort. The difference resides in
concentration and the conviction that one must
respect every detail that contributes towards the
whole.
The question then arises as to when to start to shoe
them. The answer is simple: as soon as they need
it. They need to be shoed when the demands on
the hooves are higher than what they are capable
of as regards wear, as well as supporting weight.
This usually occurs during break-in or even later.
When shoeing, the same force distribution
concepts apply. Base location and leveling.
260
Foot deformity due to bad
weight distribution.
The
consequences
of not following these
two rules will no
longer be deviation
but overload and then
injury of the structures
involved, such as joints,
ligaments, muscles or
tendons.
The incidence of injuries due to leveling and location
defects is very high. Injuries not always appear
immediately; very often they are accumulative
micro-injuries that are diagnosed when they have
already become chronic and cannot be cured, and
require palliative management. In the sport that
brings us together, studs or caulks are used on the
external heel of hind leg horse-shoes.
Players, understandably, tell us that there are many
things they would not be able to do if it weren’t
for the use of these. If we take into account the
extended concept of leveling the contact area, it
becomes clear that while using a studded horse-
shoe, that contact will be uneven. The outcome
of this is force overload on the external heel. This
affects not only the hoof in that particular place,
but also the internal structures of the foot; the joints
close and far from the foot, including the muscles
and ligaments far from the foot. Adapting to real