About Us

Welcome to Indian Farriers association, professional farriers Services, in delhi NCR , we service in all types of horse shoeing, hoof trimming, and surgical shoeing, and hoof care problems. We are starting a very new concept in favour of farriery, our aims is to make farriery professional job in India, and help to awareness in farriery. such us like in other countries America, new Zealand, Switzerland, England, Italy.

The Indian farriers association would not be in a position to develop its projects without the invaluable support of its sponsors, donors, and partners.

Whether their support be financial, material or through advertising, their backing contributes to giving the foundation its owners to farriery We extend our sincere thanks to them all of you. We are heartly welcome to all of our farriers friend who join with our board of director's Team, to make farriery brightest future in India, and joined all farriers to works together in a big farriers association.

There is an old saying that goes “no hoof, no horse” and the saying holds true. Healthy feet are essential for the horse. In the wild, a horse that can’t run, can’t survive. Hoof problems can be detrimental to a horse’s health, since lameness can make them uncomfortable to the point that people sometimes make the decision that they have no choice but to euthanize to stop their suffering in extreme cases. Knowing what makes a healthy foot can help you become a more responsible horse owner and be able to more easily recognize potential issues before they become major problems.

First of all, it is important to know the basics. Let’s talk anatomy. The horse did not always have hooves as we know today. Eohippus, a dog-like prehistoric horse, had four toes. It is believed that the ergot is all that remains as evidence of the long forgotten toes, and the other toes developed into the splint bones that run from the horse’s knee to pastern along the cannon bone. Inside the hoof consist of three bones, known as the short pastern bone, navicular bone and coffin bone. Several tendons and ligaments run down the leg and attach these bones inside the hoof.

Hoof anatomy

The horse’s hoof is made of many parts. The outer shell is the hoof wall, in which lies an inner and outer wall. Between the hoof wall and the sole, the bottom of the foot, is the white line. Also in the foot are bars that grow from the heel of the wall, 3 bones, the V shaped frog that points toward the toe and the hairline known as the coronary band.

Parts of hoof and leg

The hoof wall, the inner and outer wall are similar to horn, the hoof wall is called horny laminae. It is hard, has no feeling and protects the inner and outer wall. On the outermost part of the wall is called the periopole, which hold the moisture in the hoof. This is all part of the wall up to the white line, in which your farrier can use to determine how high they can trim the hoof or nail shoes. The wall is similar to our fingernails in function and constantly grows. The sole is the bottom of the horse’s foot. It is a thick, hard but flexible padding of tissue that protects the sensitive sole underneath the bones of the hoof. The frog is the V shaped part of the hoof that starts widest at the heel and narrows toward the toe. There is an obvious frog that is not squishy, nor hard. The function of the frog is to contact the ground and circulate blood flow throughout the foot. Sometimes the frog does begin to shed as they get closer to being due to a trim, so don’t panic if you notice some shedding of the frog. The function of the frog is to contact the ground and circulate blood flow throughout the foot. The bars that grow in from the outer heel of the hoof wall help to provide stable suspension for the wall and the frog when the horse’s hoof impacts the ground. The coronary band is the hairline where the hoof meets the leg. It is a blood rich part of the hoof that acts very much like a cuticle.

Hoof Diagram

Ok, so now we know the basics. The hoof is obviously important, and there are a lot of parts that make up the hoof. So let’s talk about some issues that can happen with horse’s feet.

Thrush

Around the frog is the most common place where thrush runs happens, normally in the deepest recesses of where the frog and the sole meet by the bars. Manure and moisture easily build up here and create thrush. Thrush is easily identified as a black, stinky, gooey ooze that feeds off of the frog. It has been said to be fungal, but is argued it is bacterial. Regardless it is unhealthy and needs treatment. The most common remedy is a thrush treatment from your local tack shop or feed store that contains copper nathenate. The most important part of thrush is prevention. Clean your horse’s hooves regularly and make sure they are in a clean dry area. A dirty stall is thrush’s best friend.

Abscess

Abscesses are another common cause for lameness in horses. They can appear suddenly and without possible warning to the owner. In reality, an abscess started days before, but it is not normally evident until it is infected and therefore causes discomfort to your horse. An abscess can be caused in multiple ways. A close nail or incorrect nail in shod horses, a bacteria buildup in between the hoof wall and the white line, or a puncture or bruise to the sole are usually how abscesses come to pass. Basically an abscess is an infection caused by bacteria and pus is causing discomfort in the foot. Think of an infected sliver or a whitehead and you get the idea. Abscesses can erupt on their own, usually out of the coronary band or bottom of the foot. If a horse has an abscess it can be drained by a vet or farrier if it is not coming out on its own. It is recommended to clean the hoof thoroughly and try to identify the affected area. Make sure the area has no foreign objects in it and then soak the affected hoof in warm water and epsom salts for 10 minutes. After soaking is complete, cover the sole with either icthamol or an epsom salt poultice and a cotton padding bandage or a diaper. Secure the bandage with elastic wrap and then secure that with duct tape. Normally, a horse becomes sound again after just a few days but it depends on the severity and location of the infection.

Hoof Cracks

Hoof cracks can happen from a variety of things. They can be superficial or serious depending on the circumstances and may be permanent. These cracks can be vertical or horizontal and can start from the bottom of hoof wall and travel vertically up, down from the coronary band and travel vertically down, or horizontally across the hoof. If you notice any cracks, work with your vet or farrier to identify the reason and come up with the best solution to correct the cracks. They can expose the horses feet to bacteria and infection, allowing the perfect place for an abscess to develop.

White Line Disease

White Line Disease is not actually a disease. It is a bacterial or fungal infection that affects the white line of the horses hoof. This weakened state of the white line can allow foreign matter to migrate behind the hoof wall, or weaken the actual wall and allow it to break off, exposing sensitive tissue. Separation of the white line is also a concern and is generally seen in horses with long toes due to poor trimming or a lack of trims at all.

long toe diagram

Laminitis

Laminitis is a an inflammation of the tissue that bonds the hoof wall to the coffin bone also known as the pedal bone. This causes a tearing of the tissue and suspends the pedal bone. It is normally brought on by metabolic changes, such as Cushing’s Disease or insulin problems often brought on by a sugar rich diet or insulin resistance. It can also be brought on by an over-intake of grass, called pasture induced laminitis, or infections. The infected foot is extremely warm to the touch, painful for the horse and can cause permanent damage called founder.

Contacting your vet right away is key if you suspect laminitis. Catching it early can allow you to identify the cause, make lifestyle changes for your horse to help stop the laminitis, and hopefully prevent founder. Not all horses with laminitis are destined to founder.

Founder

Founder is the word that horse owners fear the most. It can be crippling to a horse. Founder is when the coffin bone actually rotates. It can be to either side or rotate down, pressing against internal sensitive tissue beneath the sole. When a horse has foundered they will often stand with their front legs in front of them, attempting to alleviate the pain by standing on their heels. Depending on the rotation will determine the soundness of your horse in the future, but prevention is key. There is no founder without laminitis first.

These are some of the basics in understanding your horse’s feet. Regular visits from a good farrier, a healthy diet and a healthy environment for your horse can prevent many hoof issues.