Zenyatta

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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

  1. / Reply

    Dear Ashton, Trina, Vicki B., Marshall, Brenda S. ,Ingrid A., Keta, Arlene, Luv’n Zennie and Junior and all my Z Family:

    Thank you all for your kind words, condolences and birthday wishes. Love and Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    My tribute to Ruffian in honor of her birthday! I know it’s late, but I had to post this!

    Racing’s greatest filly and one of the greatest female superstars, Ruffian.

    She ran with fire everyone assumed was a male attribute. From the very beginning, with lightning workouts, and freakish ease. Her light movements, and big girth spoke of something new, and exciting. *But still the doubters doubted her, the fat freak they called her, the filly who won’t run*….but she proved to be the most dominant filly ever to set foot on a racetrack and NO ONE could compare to her greatness. She wiped some noses, and in royal fashion. She had no competition, no equal, and no flaws, something so perfect only death could take that away from her. She was a study of grace, elegence, balance, and was built with a head and neck so refined, it was like a drawing by the great master, DaVince. She was built like a watch,everything was there for a reason and everything ticked in fine percission; tuned like a fine instrument.

    She was a performer,and the track was her stage. She put on displays no one came even close to matching. She was racing, and she was power. She was the Queen of Fillies. She was a freak; there was nothing normal about her. Not her stride, not her looks, not her attitude, not her times, not her wins, not anything. She had the perfect racetrack romance and no one could take that romance away. Her stride defied her rivals and mocked the clock… and only confirmed her status as a great. Even the man who trained the immortal Secretariat, admitted her dominance was in contention to surpass his Great. After all, “The Lady’s a Champ!”

    Always winning, and always doing it with uncanny ease. She re-lite the sport, and for the first time, the ladies were front and center. Our great get-back was at hand, and it would be served as all revenge is best served; ice cold with a quick lash. She was invincible it seemed, and it was as if she would never lose. But she did. The only race she didnt win, was the one that killed her. But she lives on and regardless of what the paper says, she won that race. She was in the front when she broke down, and even after awaking in the hospital, she kept running; as a true champion never gives up, no matter the odds stacked against them. But she just barely missed winning the greatest race of all. The one for her life. She was euthenized and left complete to be buried, to preserve her dignity, and her universal beauty.

    But what she left in her passing, is a bar set so high for front runners and mares alike, it would take another fellow freak mare and many many years to match it. Ruffian provided a feeling only the one’s who witnessed Secretariat’s Belmont felt for those amazing 2 minutes could explain or even compare to; a feeling of exuberant joy, and the need to hug people you don’t even know. Knowing that they were looking at an un-repeatable event, and one that will forever be engraved in the minds of those who witnessed it. The twenty length maiden win, the record setting performances, the sweep of the Filly Triple Crown. She is the only horse to have the great honor of being buried at Belmont Park, at the finish line, always first. She left hoof beats in our hearts, and ones that ring through the hallowed halls of the tracks she graced. Today as we celebrate this Grande Champion, let us be thankful for the joy she spread, the popularity she brought, the crowds she amazed, and the fans she re-kindled the long lost flame for the sport. Let us light a candle in memory of a Champion; one who never truly died.

    I may not have been alive to see her, but I know some have. I hope those enjoy this piece.

    *This was included because of some of the interviews on the DVD that I watched about her. This is not saying anything about her in anyway negative, this is what the interviewees *made up word wink wink* said and this is merely brought up to explain how unique she was.*

    • / Reply

      Very nice Pati. What are you planning to major in in college? I hope journalism has some part of it. You may be a famous writer some day and we will all say “hey, I know her from the Zenyatta website” Dont forget us when you are rich and famous.

      • / Reply

        I am planning on majoring in the Equine Business Management field. I selected journalism as my minor though. I am sending my application to Cazenovia College on Monday. I was originally going to send it today, but I couldn’t find where my mom had put my Social Security card LOL and I turned my house upside down looking for it all yesterday.

        Oh, Z family! I forgot, I am going riding today and I have advanced so much, that I am already jumping the show routine! This is so awesome! I rode Gus last week, a Holstein who is a grande ole’ man at 27, but he still jumps like he’s 10! He was trained in the German cuircut, so he has plenty of experience and spends most of his time correcting me. X-D

    • / Reply

      Pati–thank you so much for this tribute to the great Ruffian. I watched her race many times and was at Belmont when she fell–the entire park just shut down and was more quiet than I’ve ever experienced at a track. Many tears in the crowd, including men’s tears. We adored her. I adore her still.

  4. / Reply

    Thank you Ashton for your lovely video of your time at the Bluegrass Stakes. GHD really is beautiful! And I love Hansen! Enjoyed the video so much. Wish we all could see these beauties in person!

  5. / Reply

    @All DUMPLINGS, this particular diary has been spectacular!! It is this feeling of camaraderie that I find so wonderful with racing people in general. The talking horse joke (yes you know who you are), the links shared (I still have some to go through), the serious discussions and very thoughtful concern for each other in times of crisis, and even the agreeable disagreements. I liked what you said, Terry Crow (I hope it’s you) regarding the Elks saying, “may his faults, whatever they may be, be written on the sand.” A big HIGH HOOF to the Z team for having put all of this in motion in first place. Once again, thanks LE for allowing it to continue.

    • / Reply

      Anne,
      Agree with you and Darlene completely. Also, we hope everyone has a wonderful rest of spring and summer filled with many blessings. Love this Family of Zenny’s!
      also.

      Just had a thought about the first pic above of the ‘first trim’. I think Zenny is saying, “OK. . . from behind Baby Z I’m watching you, Dr. Morrison & Dumplings, you keep your eyes on everything going on from the front… That pic is just so cute!

    • / Reply

      Thank you, Anne. As a member of the BPOE, I can assure you that when a brother passes on and the family chooses to have an Elks funeral, that is part of it. The other part is may his attributes be chiseled in stone.

  6. / Reply

    Does anyone think Tasty just might be missing our girl? How often do mares reject their foals and is this a type of equine PPD as we human females have after giving birth?

    • / Reply

      Trisha,

      I dont know enough about the equine world to give an educated opinion, but if I was best friends with Zenyatta and was then separated from her, I CERTAINLY would be depressed too. So I think you may be on to something there.

  8. / Reply

    Good morning, all.

    @Pati–your lovely piece about Ruffian makes me even more thankful that OUR Zenyatta retired healthy.

    @Ashton–this is off-topic, but just wanted to tell you I’m thrilled that Holly is taking over where Coach Pat left off. She has been a part of the program forever, and I know she knows everything there is to know about it. Pat will still get to be involved. And the Medal of Freedom! Our Kari is looking down with approval, I’m sure!

    • / Reply

      How cute Keta,
      Guess those two Curlin colts are going
      To be on the hot side, hope they don’t have
      To geld them.

  12. / Reply

    Churchill Down PR tweeted
    Union Rags goes 4F in :47.40 according to Keeneland clocker Stephen Skaggs.
    Splits: 12 & 24, 35.80. Out 1:00 & 1:15

    Triple Crown Insider‏ tweeted
    A slew of breezes this morning. Gemologist 5/8’s 1:00.84 in co. El Padrino 5/8’s in 100.48 Union Rags 5/8’s in 1:00

    Jude Feld tweeted
    Creative Cause runs without the blinkers in the Derby according to Harrington.
    Hansen is the one who really needs them.

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Keta. This just reinforces my opinion that Union Rags is the horse to beat. Michael Matz knows how to prepare a horse for the Derby.

      • / Reply

        Terry,
        Here is what Jay Privman DRF tweeted after workout
        Matz said Union Rags cooled out real well after half in 47.40 at Kee. this morning. Heads to CD Wed. “We’re one step closer.”

        So, Rags is looking good
        Keta

  13. / Reply

    Those videos from Three Chimneys are awesome and I love that they give the stallions that morning exercise. What a thrill to gallop around the paddocks on such amazing, outstanding horses. I’m sure the horses enjoy it and it must help with their overall health and contentment. It was especially nice to see the Flower Alley ride, we were fortunate to see him cover a mare when we were at Three Chimneys.

  14. / Reply

    wow, what a great moning ride on Flower Alley. Thanks so much. Really fun feeling right there with the rider.

  15. / Reply

    Love,love,love the video of Flower Alley! He was the one we saw “do the deed” at Three Chimneys also. He is beautiful. I’ve always wondered who the mare was. They told us they like to ride all their stallions that are ridable (in other words, NOT Dynaformer).The folks at Three Chimneys are wonderful.

  16. / Reply

    First of all, I would like to welcome Sue from Florida as the newest inductee into the club. She being the only one from Florida with the wisdom to join so far, she is designated as the president of the Florida chapter. Sue-watch your mail for special offers. I will be on the run today and may not have time to post again. Therefore, I apologize in advance that today’s joke does not have anything to do with horses. Rather, I think those of us who are of a certain age might appreciate it. A woman was rather worried about going to a new dentist. However, she noticed that the dentist’s name was the same as a boy she secretly admired in high school but was afraid to talk to. She said to herself that it couldn’t be him after all these years. She was settled in the chair when he walked in. The man was bent over and practically bald. What hair he did have was gray. He also had deep wrinkles in his face. She also thought to herself, nothing ventured nothing gained. She said “Did you go to Oakmont High School?” The dentist said yes. “did you graduate in 1960?” The dentist said he did. She then said “Do you recognize me?” The dentist then said, “Can’t say that I do. What subject did you teach?” Some rednecks. You know you have a redneck Santa if he shows up in a sleigh with flying coon dogs rather than reindeer. You might be a redneck if, when your hear a triangle at the opera you say “Its time for dinner.” You be a redneck if your yard has been proposed as a new landfill site. You might be a redneck if you think farm is spelled e-i-e-i-o. You might be a redneck if you found your husband’s Christmas present along the road.

    • / Reply

      Hi Terry
      I thought you and some of the other club members would like this list.
      How to tell if you’re a “Blue Neck”

      Hailing, as I do, from the south I have encountered a seemingly never ending stream of “redneck” jokes. Most are pretty funny I guess but it sure is nice to extract a little revenge. So kickback, read on and see if this might be you.

      You just might be a Blueneck if:
      1. You think barbecue is a verb meaning, “to cook outside.”
      2. You think Heinz Ketchup is really SPICY!
      3. You don’t have any problems pronouncing “Worcestershire sauce” correctly.
      4. For breakfast, you would prefer potato au gratin to grits.
      5. You don’t know what a moon pie is.
      6. You’ve never had an RC cola.
      7. You’ve never, ever, eaten okra, fried or boiled.
      8. You eat fried chicken with a knife and fork.
      9. You’ve never seen a live chicken, and the only cows you’ve seen are on road trips.
      10. You have no idea what a polecat is.
      11. You don’t see anything wrong with putting a sweater on a poodle.
      12. You don’t have bangs.
      13. You would rather vacation at Martha’s Vineyard than Six Flags.
      14. More than two generations of your family have been kicked out of the same prep school in Connecticut.
      15. You would rather have your son become a lawyer than grow up to get his own TV fishing show.
      16. Instead of referring to two or more people as “y’all,” you call them “you guys,” even if both of them are women.
      17. You don’t think Ted Kennedy has an accent.
      18. You have never planned your summer vacation around a gun-n-knife show.
      19. You think more money should go to important scientific research at your university than to pay the salary of the head football coach.
      20. You don’t have at least one can of WD-40 somewhere around the house.
      21. The last time you smiled was when you prevented someone from getting on an on-ramp to the highway.
      22. You don’t have any hats in your closet that advertise feed stores.
      23. The farthest south you’ve ever been is the perfume counter at Neiman Marcus.
      24. You call binoculars opera glasses.
      25. You can’t spit out the car window without pulling over to the side of the road and stopping.
      26. You would never wear pink or an applique sweatshirt.
      27. You don’t know what applique is.
      28. You don’t know anyone with at least two first names (i.e., Joe Bob, Faye Ellen, Billy Ray, Mary Jo, Bubba Dean, Joe Dan, Mary Alice, etc. al).
      29. You don’t have doilies, and you certainly don’t know how to make one.
      30. You’ve never been to a craft show.
      31. You get freaked out when people on the subway talk to you.
      32. You can do your laundry without quarters.
      33. None of your fur coats are homemade.

      • / Reply

        Sue-It is apparent that I got it right when you were appointed president of the Florida chapter. After reviewing the list, I must admit that numbers 16, 18, 22, 32 and 33 apply to me and to a lesser extent, 31 since the only subway I have ever been on was in Washington, D.C. Let’s see-five and 1/2 out of 33. Where does that put me on the blue neck scale?

        • I have to confess I speak Pittsburghese and yunz is my tell.
          I have am a half breed New Red/Old Blue but my blood runs Black and Gold forever!

        • If I had my choice, it would be red. As I have often said, I am not laughing at them but with them. The LA Rams were the team of my childhood but no one can deny the greatness of the Steelers.

  17. / Reply

    Did not not about Alydar until i looked it up. Too bad they did not tie them to a truck and pull them apart. Bless his heart. People will go to any lengths for money. If humans would only look at the blessings of animals and learn from them.
    Love to all and thanks for all the info. I am learning so much, some i would rather not know about, but prefer not to be ignorant about what really goes on. It is up to us to make a difference.
    Have a great week end
    Love hugs and kisses

    • / Reply

      Trisha-I was hoping someone would look this up and report on it. Anyone who becomes familiar with this will be outraged.

  18. / Reply

    Such a fantastic explanation Doc! Thanks for your week keeping the young ones ( and the big ol’ ones ) comfortable and healthy

    __
    AND THAT DOES LOOK LIKE A POLAR BEAR!

  19. / Reply

    Getting caught up on the recent posts.

    We visited Barn 55 last Sunday — Elégante Eblouissante looked gorgeous — like black velvet. Just love her — a personality so like Zenyatta’s — intelligent, gentle and loves people. She even gave me a new blow-dry and style. I also whispered in her pricked ear that if they try to schedule your debut during our upcoming travel to Europe, plant your hooves and say,”Mais NON.”
    According to her connections, Eblouissante is over 17 hands and, of course, still growing. She is shorter coupled than Zenyatta, similar to Vertigineux, and less coltish than the younger Z was. She is more muscled than the last time we saw her. Always have to remember that Zenyatta was almost a year older when we first “discovered her” in January 2008.
    We also stopped to see Creative Cause, I’ll Have Another and Lava Man — who says he “taught the kid (IHA) everything he knows.” His connections said Lava Man was pawing the ground in his stall before the SA Derby, certain he was going to race that day.

    • / Reply

      I love that Ebby blew dried, coiffured your hair! LOL!! Lava man is a character, and I bet he could beat some of those running today too!! This post even tops your other ‘LOL!’ post below! LOL!

    • / Reply

      What a descriptive & fun post!
      Hair styling seems to run in the family
      Nice to know Lava Man is feeling good-even if it’s a different job!
      Sounds like a great trip coming up.
      Hugs, Keta

  20. / Reply

    High hoof to Blu Jon, gray 5-yr-old bred and owned by the Mosses, trained by John Shirreffs! He finished 1st by 4 1/4 lengths this afternoon at SA in Race 1 under Smokin’ Joe Talamo!

  21. / Reply

    Dick Clark’s recent death brought back the time I first met him and appeared on American Bandstand in Philadelphia. My best friend and I at 16 played hooky and drove from Harrisburg to Philly in her father’s new red Pontiac convertible — top down, of course. We were found out when my younger brother called my mother to the TV after seeing me dance across the screen. What a memorable experience!

  23. / Reply

    Hollywood Park News aka Betfair Hollywood Park
    INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 20, 2012)—Martin Panza, racing secretary and vice president-racing, announced Friday that Betfair Hollywood Park will offer some maiden allowance turf sprints for 2-year-olds in June and July.
    These races will help leading into some newly created turf stakes for juveniles that will be run later in the year at Del Mar and Santa Anita’s fall meet.
    The two races for 2-year-olds Del Mar will offer for the first time in 2012 are the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies, which will be run Sept. 3, and the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile, which will be contested Sept. 5, closing day of the season.
    The two races at Santa Anita – as yet unnamed – will also offer a $100,000 purse.
    http://betfairhollywoodpark.com/news/betfair-hollywood-park-will-offer-turf-sprints-for-2-year-olds

  24. / Reply

    Keeneland Assn‏ tweeted
    Julien Leparoux ties the record with six wins on a single card at Keeneland.
    Congrats!

  25. / Reply

    A horse CSI story. Interesting. Below are excerpts for easier read. Link is at bottom.
    The Real Bend Or
    Written by Byron Rogers | Apr 20, 2012 | From: True Nicks
    Pedigree historians have long been suspicious about the exact parentage of the 1880 Epsom Derby winner. The record books will tell you that the winner was Bend Or, a son of Doncaster out of the Thormanby mare Rouge Rose, bred and owned by the 1st Duke of Westminster
    The claim was based on the account given by a disgruntled stud groom at the Duke of Westminster’s stud who said that two colts—both chestnut sons of Doncaster—had been inadvertently switched when they arrived at their trainers’ yards, and that the colt who raced and won the 1880 Derby as Bend Or was in fact Tadcaster, by Doncaster out of the Newminster mare Clemence.
    While it has been previously reported elsewhere, a team led by Dr. Mim Bower at Cambridge University extracted mitochondrial DNA from the skeleton of Bend Or to discover whether he came from the No. 1 family to which Rouge Rose belonged, or the No. 2 family of Clemence. The team published their findings April 11 in an early view of the peer-reviewed journal Archaeometry.
    Well, it turns out that it might be time to change some pedigrees. It now appears that the skeleton of Bend Or belongs to the No. 2 family and, therefore, “Bend Or” is most likely to be the colt by Doncaster out of Clemence. The question is now, in light of this scientific paper, will the likes of Weatherbys and The Jockey Club update their historical records to reflect the corrected pedigree?
    http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/truenicks/archive/2012/04/20/the-real-bend-or.aspx

    • / Reply

      Keta-Very interesting. Every once in a while, you will have a breeding line something like this (fictional): b colt by Tapit or Bernardint out of Rachael Alexandra. I don’t remember the name of the last horse I saw this on, but the explanation was that the mare escaped during the night and visited another barn and the breeders were not sure which party was responsible..

  26. / Reply

    Wow! I just won the D Double in Keeneland, in race 9 Pachattack and in race 10 Bond’s Babe, Ingrid.

    • / Reply

      Ingrid, that’s fantastic. You have some great betting skills. Have you decided on your pick for the Kentucky Derby? I’m still floundering. LOL Keep up the good wagering. Marty R.

      • / Reply

        Keta and Marty, thank you so much, for the Derby I like four of them, by next week I let you know the names, because maybe I change one. Ingrid.

  27. / Reply

    Stonestreet Farms posted on Facebook
    Rachel Alexandra’s co-owner, Hal McCormick passed away last night.
    Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts are with his family and friends.
    Here he is during a very happy time, after Rachel won the Preakness.

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