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Life at Lane’s End: Time for a Trim

Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End

It’s that time! Baby Z just had his feet trimmed for the first time. Dr. Scott Morrison is the farrier that trims all foals and yearlings at Lane’s End. He is a veterinarian who specializes in podiatry, and he was kind enough to write this piece explaining the importance of foot management in young horses. Thank you Dr. Morrison!

-Team Z

Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End

The Horses foot provides several functions such as support, shock absorption, traction and proprioception (ability to feel the ground and negotiate limb position).  In the foal however the foot also plays an important role in limb development.



At birth the hoof is covered with a soft, feathery unpigmented tissue called the perinychium.  This tissue forms a soft covering to prevent the hard hoof capsule from piercing or damaging the mares’ reproductive tract during gestation and the birthing process. This tissue quickly dries out and is worn away during the first couple days after birth.

The newborn hoof is fairly soft and pliable compared to a mature horses hoof. But over the first month it dehydrates and matures to more closely resemble that of an adult horses hoof. The newborn hoof is also perfectly symmetrical at birth. Over time the hoof changes shape in response to the forces above. Limb conformation dictates the shape of the developing hoof. The foal’s hoof goes through various shape changes during the first several months of age. These shape changes closely follow changes in limb conformation and posture.

Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End

The hoof is designed to serve as a protective barrier for internal sensitive structures as well as provide a base of support and leverage for proper bone, tendon and ligament development. Therefore the shape and integrity of the hoof can have a significant effect on the development of these structures.  The relationship between limb conformation and hoof shape plays an integral role in the conformational development of the growing horse.  Therefore, maintaining a healthy hoof and intervening with special foot management when necessary, is important in the development of the young horse’s limb.  

Routine, proper trimming is the most important element of the foal foot management program. Maintaining a healthy balanced foot is the goal.  Simply preventing a foot from breaking up or becoming misshapen or distorted will go a long way in promoting proper limb development.  However some foals, in spite of routine proper hoof trimming will have a tendency to develop a crooked limb.  In these instances shoes or extensions can be used to provide additional support and influence the forces on the growth plates and encourage straightening of the limb.

The first trim is usually done at one month of age.  But the foal’s feet should be handled and cleaned daily; this will make the first experience with the farrier less stressful. Typically trimming at 3-4 week intervals is sufficient for most foals.  If there is a tendency for the limb to grow crooked or with an angular deformity, the hoof may need to be trimmed more often to prevent the hoof from developing a distortion or adverse shape in response to the abnormal forces, often a 2 week trim schedule is then recommended.  Various shoes can be used to help a hoof support various developmental abnormalities such as: club foot syndrome (contractures), weak tendons (laxity) and angular deformities.
            

-Scott E Morrison, DVM

Reader Interactions

1,240 Comments

  2. / Reply

    Z Dumplings–what a wonderful time you had on Sunday
    Love reading the stories.
    Supported a great charity with the walk.
    And, capped off the day with dinner with Mike.
    Must have special memories.
    On to Hollywood Park.
    Hugs, Keta

  3. / Reply

    Team Z – thank you for the timeline Watch B♥by Z Grow! He is just too cute, adorable, adorable! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well, video is ten times worth that! We all would love to see little l♥ve licks in some videos once in a while – please!? He is too precious not to video! And besides, they grow up so fast!
    You only have the chance just once in life to enjoy that, after all HE IS THE QUEEN’S FIRST BORN!

  4. / Reply

    BTW, dumplings, anyone out there who wishes their photos to be included in my video of yesterday, please post them here at the forum or on Z’ FB – full credit will be given to you! Or e-mail them to me please. I can not get into peoples FB, nor friends FB, only horses. Go figure! I can not post comments nor video nor photos! Don’t ask me why – crazy FB! They are still working on it – THEY SAY! Thank you! (I did not take too many photos, only video)

    • / Reply

      I just emailed mine to Marty R. Post your email and I can forward to you or if Marty reads the post maybe she can later this evening. Only use the good ones please. Thanks. I am not a good photographer. Do you think you can get Casey Phillips photos. she took a lot and seems more pro than I.

    • / Reply

      Karen G
      Can’t wait to see the video, will you post it here ???
      So glad everyone had a great time; so much fun to walk in a big
      group for a great cause on the Last Day of Racing at Santa Anita
      for this season.

      • / Reply

        I will post the link here, yes. But forewarned – It was very dark inside Mikey’s tent at the Derby, I lightened it up as much as I could! So I didn’t take too much video inside. I just learned how to lighten up video too. LOL! (I wish I had known how to do that before the party, I would have taken more video!) The video of the walk was great, no problems!

  5. / Reply

    To the Friends of Zenyatta Team at Santa Anita Sunday, I thank you so much for including me in your walk. As I said to Trina way up above in here, I am humbled. If you see a red glow over Colorado, It’s only me…Blush, Blush, Blushing. God bless you all.

  6. / Reply

    Dear California Dumplings/Friends:

    Delia has e-mailed me that all of you included Russ on a Friends of Zenyatta Team card in the walk to fight cancer yesterday at Santa Anita. Thank you with all my heart. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      He was one of us. I refer to him and Kari as celestial members of the club. Kudos to the walk members for including him.

  8. / Reply

    Dear Skip:

    Happy, Happy Birthday. Hope you are feeling better. Tried to e-mail you like everyone else did, but e-mail came back. Love and Hugs, JB

  10. / Reply

    Hello to all who have tried reaching me today. I am still without email and phone, and Verizon doesn’t seem to be rushing to help me! My Explorer came back on about a half hour ago, and I was so happy to have a way to reach everyone…

    Trina, i am speechless. I know you work wonders with your poetry, but this one is about me, and no one has ever written a poem about me. I keep reading it and reading it…I am amazed! Last time we communicated, I asked you to make it short and funny, and you agreed! This long tale of Skip and Juliet is so terrific i cannot believe everything you were able to put into it! Sweet Trina–how do i say thank you to such a dear friend? All I can say is–Trina, thank you with much love and gratitude! I am greatly in your debt! And little Juliet thanks you, too! She never thought she’d be celebrated in a poem, either!!! I am so proud of that poem that I will enlarge it and have if framed and proudly display it in my home. That’s how precious it is to me.

    To everyone–to my beloved team mates and friends who wished me a happy birthday here, close to Zenny where we all met, I am honored to be remembered and very touched by your thoughtfulness. You all made it a very happy night for me, indeed. Aften my computer gave me back my Explorer, this is the first place I went to. I made the right choice.

    Thank you, dear EAN team, for the lovely flowers. Wonderful surprise. Very strong and vibrant yellow and green bouquet–lights up the room!! How proud I am to serve with you !

    Love, hugs and sincerest good wishes from me and from Juliet! Thank you all again!

  11. / Reply

    Thank you Raylene for the photos! And thank you Marty R.! They are great! I will only use Z best ones!

    • / Reply

      Glad you got them. And thank you Marty R for forwarding them. Cannot wait to see video, you are so good videotaping. Almost as good as your posts!

      • / Reply

        Thank you Raylene! I am giving FB one more day to resolve the issues, if not, I will rejoin and start anew! I can not finish video until that is resolved.

  12. / Reply

    @Barbara Grimaldi,
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY! All the best to you and to Juliet, too. Many thanks for all your
    good work to help the equine nation! Hugs!

    @Terry Crow,
    Loved the horse at the movies joke! Great redneck funnies, also!
    Thanks again!

    @Trina N.,
    Another outstanding poem! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    • / Reply

      Marshall,
      Are you on the Z Forum under a different name? Just wondering – haven’t seen any signs of you there.
      Sandy

      • / Reply

        Sandy,
        I have signed on at The Forum as marshall_NC; however, I have not posted anything there as of yet. Perhaps later in the year after I have gotten more used to all the different topics. I find this site much easier and quicker to use.
        Thanks for asking, though! Occasionally, I do check in to read some of the things at The Forum, but I am staying up too late as it is just keeping up with this blog which is very special (and familiar) to me.
        All the best! Hugs to you!

      • / Reply

        That’s why I want to see it because I hear that it’s a whole new ballmage. But I really enjoyed Marlon Brando he’s one of my faves. Missouri Breaks with him and Jack Nicholson is a terrific Western.Did you notice how all of the nice people in The Godfather died (like James Caan’s character) and all of the jerks survived (only temporarily longer, though)?

  13. / Reply

    Yippee–Skip is back with us….sort of!
    @Keta–thank you so much for the link. It was great seeing all the photos of Baby Z. I particularly love the one of him dancing, and the one with Mommy and Baby grazing nose-to-nose!

  15. / Reply

    Good Morning all my wonderful Dumpling friends in Zenyatta land!

    I think I am coming down with something. Sweaty palms, rapid heart beat, short of breath, butterflies in my stomach, cant sleep and overall feelings of anxiety. Oh yeah! It must be Derby Fever! I had been thinking Hansen all the way but now I am thinking I pick I’ll Have Another”, simply because that precious Lava Man will be his lead pony. Also I’m thinking Bodemeister because our dear Mikey is aboard him for the Derby. Oh, I just dont know??
    I cant say it enough. THANK YOU Team Z for all you share with us about Zenyatta and that awesome little 12Z. I love them so much.
    This blog and all these people are so precious to me. I love you all and get so much happiness from you all.

    As a sidebar here, I feel I must mention in the ongoing saga of the tomato plants, (see post farther up above if you dont know what I’m talking about.) @Terry Crow, No we were not wearing bib overalls, however from the conversation and our behavior that attire would have been most appropriate. Also I failed to mention that our home sits on little more than an acre and faces the east so the best sun is from the south and west. The west sun being in the back of our home. As of now we are at a standstill and the plants have not been planted. Stay tuned all for further updates. Have a wonderful day everybody and I’ll keep you posted.

    • / Reply

      Hi,
      I really like all 3 of your horse choices. I am torn on the same 3. I just hope one of them wins. I am kinda pulling for our Mike. I think Z would like that.
      As you mentioned a side note I had an interesting trip home from my Dogs vet last night. The vet here is considered a country vet as she mostly cares for large animals. I was driving home from out there it is in the sticks and came across a white pickup with a full size confederate flag on a flag pole stuck in the back tailgate. Yes I am in RN country. Again Terry good thing you promoted me. On those old back roads some of them are just sand I still saw McCain posters. lord so grow those tomaters anywhere you want Darlene

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Karen. Hopefully, those boys (Kobe & Pau) will actually spend time to get to know and love their horse.

    • / Reply

      Hi Karen:

      Thanks for the info on Black Caviar. I hope she stays healthy and strong.
      She will be in my prayers for Saturday.

      Hugs, Marilu

  21. / Reply

    The Kennedys; Just read your enlightening message about visiting at Barn 55.
    I can picture E so well!!! She is gentle like our Z, how sweet is this. I just love to be able to get so up close and personal with these TBs. At least I got to do this with A.P. Indy, but he did not give me a new hair style. ha

  22. / Reply

    @ Sue Fl CPRC
    I saw someone else’s comment and went back and found your “Blue Neck list” – what a hoot, and I fear they would probably think I needed oxygen (but don’t tell you-know-who — I AM a chapter president :-)

    • / Reply

      Sandy-Yes you are and you are one of my better appointees. However, you have not seen fit to change your handle as Sue has done.

      • / Reply

        Let’s see . . . “Sandy Mae”? “Sandy Bubba”? Nah – not happening. (Sigh . . . I tried to tell you that this might be too far north). But maybe I could help YOU with a handle change! How about “Terry Joe”? (it rhymes and everything :-)

        • I will consider it. However, you are never too far north to be a redneck. Ask Brenda and Abigail, our Canadian members.

  26. / Reply

    Three Chimney’s tweeted that Dynaformer won fan photo of the week! It’s a great head shot of the old guy we all love so much! Since I can’t do links, if anyone is interested, do a twitter search for Three Chimneys and you can see it. He looks so dignified! I just love him!!

  27. / Reply

    @Terry Crow – I’ve listened to your words of wisdom and I’m going to share a really bad joke with everyone. I tried to come up with a way to incorporate a horse into it, but I just couldn’t do it. Believe it or not, I told this joke on a local radio show years ago and I won a prize. (I think they just felt sorry for me.)
    There once was a hunchback who was looking for a job. He saw a sign posted that the local church was looking for a bell ringer. His arms were severly disabled and he couldn’t use them at all, but he told the folks at the church that he would ring the bell with his face. They were desperate to get the job filled so they hired him. Every day he would climb up in the belfry and every hour on the hour he would run across the room as fast as he could and ring the bell with his face. This went on for years. One morning he climbed up to the belfry to do his thing, but unbeknownst to him someone had left the window open. After he rang the bell he went flying out of the window and laid dead on the street below. A stunned crowd gathered around his body. Someone asked “Does anyone know who this is”? A gentleman answered “I don’t know his name, but his face rings a bell”. See, I told you it was bad!

    • / Reply

      So did I, But, as an example, you could have made the hunchback a sway back horse who rang the bell with his teeth.

    • / Reply

      Debbie G – god, that is bad! I very much liked it! Terry is right about the sway-back horse, but I think it would have lost some of its punch, that way. It is SO bad. Thanks.

    • / Reply

      Debby G,
      I loved that joke. But then I have a warped sense of humor as you may have noticed.

    • / Reply

      Sounds like a joke my Dad would tell! LOLOL

      Here’s one that he always told…. His jokes, even though, corny were so funny in person because, of his gestures while telling them.

      “What do you call it when a Gorizzila and Parot breed?? ” ” I don’t know, but, when it talks, you better listen!” So silly! lol

    • / Reply

      Debbie.

      This is a Great, Bad joke. Laughed out loud. Thank you for sharing.

      Are you going to Court Days this year? And, are you a Cincinnati Reds fan? They are redhot. OOH and that Joey Votto! WOW!!

      Love your posts. Have a great day.

  29. / Reply

    Dear Z Family I received my it’s a Boy poster and love it. I can’t wait to get it framed. I love you Zenyatta and Little Prince. Hugs and Kissess, Shari XXXOOO

    • / Reply

      Yes, that was a good article, Max. Thanks! Quite a crapshoot, from two-years old, to three.

    • / Reply

      Dear Max:

      Thanks for the link to the article on The Derby and for the photo of Dynaformer. He looks so gentle there, you would never guess he can be a handful. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Great article Max, definately getting through a
      20 horse field as a 3 year old is a challenge.

      Great comments by those trainers who have won
      The Derby.

    • / Reply

      This article is very interesting. It points out some of the reasons why I do not like Bodemeister in this race. He is attempting to become the first Derby winner not to have started as a two-year-old. Of course, now that I have said I don’t like this horse, everyone should load up on him.

    • / Reply

      Very interesting comments by the trainers. So very true about the circus atmosphere, large field, very young horses. I read that I’ll Have Another will have an advantage having dealt with a raucous celebration after the Santa Anita Derby and taking it all in stride.

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