Horse-man-ship Mentality – Hairline on horse’s feet tell you what?
Increase your knowledge from this insert of Dennis's book, Horse Trimming Made Simple. Available on Amazon and through Cappel Training and Shoeing.
Dennis has been a farrier for over 4 decades and in 1993 started teaching people how to do their own work or make a career of it. Dennis works for the horse’s comfort, soundness, performance, and longevity.
Horse Evaluation:
When I am evaluating a horse as he stands still, I will get out in front of him and look at the hairline. The hairline will tell me if the horse is high laterally (outside) or high medial (inside). Is the hairline pushed up or is the hairline straight?
If I were to run a line along the hairline (let us take the back feet for example) would the hairline strike the horse in the belly if the line continued out? Or would the hairline be at the horse’s front legs?
Ideally, the line should be down on the horse’s front legs and the front feet should be similar in the slope of the hairline. When the hairline is pointing straight up, that is an indication we have a negative palmar angle, this is not always the case, but it is a good indication. What this means is that the coffin bone is closer to the ground at the heel than at the toe.
This arrangement causes strain on the internal structures of the horse, especially the navicular area and the deep digital flexor tendon; these areas will be stressed because of this angle. The hairline of the foot is a good indicator of the palmar angle.
Mindful Riding,
Dennis Cappel - Master Horseman
Cappel Training and Shoeing
D/C
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Horse-man-ship Ranch Clinic
June 7-9th
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June 29th
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August 2-4th
Good Day Dennis, Although I should know but honestly I don't. What angle should there be? A picture to compare would be inferable for me.
This is just my second week and I honestly look forward to your post.
Thank you & GOD BLESS
George