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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

    12Z is only five and a half weeks old, and he is SO BIG, and BEAUTIFUL, I can’t BELIEVE it! I LOVE his EARS…..just like MAMA’s! Thanks for explaining the process. Love, Jean.

  2. / Reply

    Thanks for the update Lane’s End! Zenyatta and her boy look relaxed and very comfortable which just goes to show what a good job everyone has done preparing him for this. Thank you so much for the pictures!
    xoxoxo

    • / Reply

      @Karen: Thank you from “Deputy Broad” and “No Day Off”.

      @All: Still lurking – too busy lately to come out and play here. (3 days of intensive – tax doing!)

      Love the tutorial by Dr. Morrison! Love the photos of Baby Z getting his mani-pedi! Love Terry’s talking horse joke – nearly fell off the chair laughing. Hope I can still be a redneck – I’m so tardy I’ve probably been kicked out of the club! S’okay – Tressia and Keta can hold down the fort for me.

      Judy Berube: Big hugs to you! So glad to see your post. Will email you separately.

      diastu-still-kicking-in-tempe

  5. / Reply

    Thank you Dr. Morrison and thank s for the pictures. Zenny and baby Z look so beautiful, he actually looks much like his Mommy. I knew Zenyatta would be a good Mother because she is so smart and she likes to win so she is going to teach her Prince son to be just like her I’m sure of it. Zenny I’m so proud of you and love you and baby Z so much. It was such a pleasure to see the new pictures today of both of you. You look fantastic and baby Z is growing so fast, his ears are just beautiful and bigger than yours is seems. He will have your long legs and I see his body is already shaping up quite nicely. It looks to me like baby Z is going to be quite a handsome big boy. I can see when he hits the track the crowd will go crazy just like they did for you Zenny. I’m very proud of you sweet Zenyatta for the great job you did having baby Z and also for teaching him what he needs to learn. Hope we see pictures more often of the two of you so we can watch baby Z grow. Thank you Z-Team for your efforts to keep us all informed and we really appreciate it. Zenyatta Love and Kisses to you and Baby Z, miss you much.

  6. / Reply

    Thank you for posting and for the wonderful information from Dr. Morrison. So great to see Z12 growing and to see Zenny watching over him. Love them both.

  8. / Reply

    What a great way to start and end a Monday! Finally got a chance to read Dr. Morrison’ informative and educational treatise of Z12’s footcare. Thank you Lane’s End for the wonderful pictures and the opportunity to see how these two are doing. Mom and baby look terrific. Baby Z you are getting so big and so handsome. Your Mama watches over you with her kind eyes that we have gotten to know so well.
    Life is good in Kentucky for you both! Thank you again Team Z for this update on our beloved Zenyatta and son.

  11. / Reply

    @Max, thanks for the link yesterday about the Grand National at Aintree. I’m just getting caught up. It’s incredible how the guy’s horse died, he’s so upset now, yet he was willing to take the risk! 11-year-old “According to Pete” was “in the prime of his life”. He said, “It’s terrible. He was a family pet, part of the family. … Everybody’s absolutely upset. We’ve had loads of people knocking on the door. We’ve had loads of telephone calls and flowers given and bottles of wine.” “But all of that doesn’t bring him back, does it?” “It was devastating. We’d had him since he was a foal. We’ve still got his mother. We had a stable at the back of the garage and a little paddock for him to run in.” At least he’s finally seen the light, and won’t do it again.

    Talking about the race, Mr Nelson said: “If he’d have done well we’d have been chuffed for him, but it’s a chance you take. You always think it’s going to be someone else’s horse.” Not me, not with half the field unseating their riders. It just sounds so crazy, excitement be hanged! They need to find a less crazy way to get their adrenaline going. I did enjoy watching it, I was so shocked, I could hardly believe it, and kept thinking maybe they’re all right. But knowing now the real cost, I couldn’t participate in something like that. I hope more people see the light about that one, tradition or not.

    • / Reply

      Vicki B. There were also other horses who needed vet care after the race. It was very sad to see these injuries to beautiful horses. Some of the jockeys could have been hurt too. The deaths of the two horses were really very shocking especially to the favorite, Synchronized. This happened even after they had made safety improvements to the course from the previous year. It seems however that thought might be given to reducing the numbers of entries for more racing room.

    • / Reply

      I could never watch the National when I lived in England, those “jumps” are cruel and It’s long past time that the race is cancelled.

      • / Reply

        I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. BARBARIC. IN THE HISTORY OF THE RACE, HOW MANY YEARS HAS THERE NOT BEEN A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY? WHO WOULD EVEN LET THEIR HORSE RUN IN THAT DEATH TRAP OF A RACE?

  12. / Reply

    And I am also glad, Max, that 12-TT’s stepmom is attentive to him, I don’t like the idea of a foal’s being hurt and rejected. I couldn’t be in a hurry to mate Tasty again, for that reason. There is no shortage of horses in the world.

    • / Reply

      Vicki B. Lane’s End probably made the substitute of the nurse mare so quickly that baby 12TT would not really have noticed that Tasty had gone AWOL. Tasty might be one of those types who cannot raise their babies, but leave it to others. Next time might also be different. Tasty has an excellent pedigree. This foal or another could be a fabulous racer so that it makes sense for Lane’s End to breed her again. Tasty is also lucky that she is owned by Lane’s End, who know how to deal with these issues. There is no question however that Tasty’s a rebel, at least for now.

      I would love to see a photo of 12TT when he gets his first trim. He was a sweetheart as a baby.

  15. / Reply

    Awww, Baby Z with mom looking on, so cute. It’s great to see pictures of them again!! I miss the updates.
    And re the Grand National – 40 horses in a race of that length (I think 2 1/2 miles, it might be longer, but my memory is failing – I know they race the course twice) is a recipe for disaster just due to the numbers involved and how tiring the race is. I would think if they could cut it in half, that would help a lot (20). But it’s still a cavalry charge over those fences….. I know the horses that win are revered, but too many have died. And I’m a big traditionalist generally, but it does seem cruel to me. I think they need to make some more changes. Unfortunately, with numbers like that it’s a foregone conclusion that if one goes down on a fence, its’ going to take down others with it (usually).

    • / Reply

      Sue, the other day, Max said it is 4 miles + 4 furlongs. Long, anyway. And from some of the articles, it looks like reducing the number of entrants is likely, then they won’t be so likely to trip each other. One of those killed made the jumps, but fell over a horse who fell in front of him. And there’s an interview with the winning “Neptune Collonges” owner, John Hales, so emotional, choked up, about his fear for his horse, as his own wife and daughter didn’t want him to race him, and refused to watch. That’s it, he’s retiring the horse. But this was the 3rd horse he’s lost. He said, “You have to somehow decide whether you want to be part of and try to win the Grand National, and accept the risks that go with it.” But I have to say, it’s the horse’s neck on the line.

  17. / Reply

    To add to my post above – The GN is over 4 miles long…. So the length of the race and horses getting tired definitely has a lot to do with the rate of attrition.

  18. / Reply

    Good Morning All,
    Just a reminder, there are Gratefulness Candle sites for Zenyatta, Kari Bussell and Russ Berube. The “danger”, if you will, is if there are no candles burning, that particular site will disappear. I had thought they would remain, just waiting for new candles to be lit, but that is not the case. I love these candles, thought others might as well.

    http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Zenny

    http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Kari

    http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=RussB

    • / Reply

      Thanks for the reminder Marty. I will try hard to remember where these links are. I’m afraid it doesn’t stick in my brain to do this.
      Sandy

  20. / Reply

    Cletus and Billy Bob

    Cletus is passing by Billy Bob’s hay barn one day when, through a gap in the door he sees Billy Bob doing a “bump and grind” like those fancy ladies at that show downtown. In front of the old John Deere, Billy Bob slides off one strap of his overalls then the other. He wiggles them down to his hips and rips off his plaid shirt and his stained t-shirt and throws them on the hay. Cletus had seen enough and runs in and says, “What the world’re doing, Billy Bob?” “Good grief, Cletus, ya scared the bejeebers out of me,” says an embarrassed Billy Bob….”But me ‘n the wife been havin’ trouble lately in the bedroom d’partment, and the therapist suggested I do sumthin’ sexy to a tractor.” (Now please….I know I don’t have to explain this…..Read the last line again, slowly.)

  21. / Reply

    oh my goodness….our lil prince charming is so big!!!! & he stands just like his momma already…so calm….beautiful & EARS PRICKED : ) : ) & Zenyatta is absolutely glowing : ) : ) i am smiling from ear 2 ear…thank you so much for the article & pictures : ) : ) i know the name will come as soon as Jerry & Ann decide….but no matter what he does in his lifetime i am still going 2 call him…. “I AM THAT I AM” for he is the first son of our QUEEN in the sport of kings : ) : ) GOD BLESS : )

  22. / Reply

    Thanks so much for the pictures and news. I never thought about how soon and important an early start for hoof trimming was. 12Z looks like he’s enjoying it. Our dog enjoys the attention when my husband trims her toe nails. LOL, Arlene

  23. / Reply

    Baby Z the children love the pictures and hearing all the info about You. They all commented on your cute ears. We all Love you and Mama. Love, Homeroom 215

  25. / Reply

    WOW Z, Did you notice the VERY watchful eye the Queen is keeping on her not so little one!. . . .and those ears!!! Is there any doubt, “Who’s your Momma”?
    WONDERFUL to see these pictures & read comments again.
    Thank you to Dr. Morrison & Lane’s End for this very informative article. I never knew how much early care could help determine the strength & quality of the hoof. I always thought you had to “deal with” how it developed.
    Terry: Still laughing!
    Marty: Thank you for the reminder on candles.
    Dottie: Miss your TOO CUTE journal entries. How is Blingo doing?
    LOVE & PEACE to ALL

  26. / Reply

    It was nice to see the Queen and her little Prince again. Thanks Lanes End, I was beginning to despair but all is well with the world now. Mother and Son look so well,
    but Prince, how he has grown. he is almost as big as his ever attentive and loving mom. LOL to both, my undying love and affection always.

    Sad about Tasty, but she is a good girl, maybe she was missing her friend Zenny and just depressed!, they were always together and to be separated from her without notice must have been to much for her to take, horses too have feeling and like humans, each deal with issues differently.

    I agree, she should be bred again, she comes from good pedigree and the behavior has no bearing to the quality of her off springs. LOL Tasty, you are fine.

  27. / Reply

    Very informative, Thank You Dr. Morrison for all the great information. 12Z has really grown, and just look at those ears. In the picture with the two of them coming down the hall there is know question that it is mother and son. Thanks to Lanes End for the great pictures. Love You Zenny and the Prince.

  28. / Reply

    I love to see how intent Mom is. She is a good mother but trusts the staff. I will send this to my grand daughter as she is in love with Zen. I sent her the Plushy for her birthday but she told me the baby is a “girl” not a boy. No need to argue grammy it just is. LOL she get it some day.

  29. / Reply

    Your postings and pictures are precious – keep um coming!! Baby Z is getting to be a big boy and Mama Z has to be very proud of her son. I love them both – still miss Zenny on the race track doing her dance. Bless you for keeping us fans so well informed. We love it!!!

    • / Reply

      I see that Ruffian’s jockey was not above doing a little race riding. But, to use the whip when the horse had what looked like a 20 length lead? Nevertheless, she was one of the best of all time. We’ll never know how great she might have been.

      • / Reply

        The Great Ruffian trained by The Great Frank Whiteley.

        Two days after her death he glanced at her old stall at Belmont and said, “That stall will never be occupied as long as I have this barn. There’ll never be another horse worthy of entering it.”

      • / Reply

        Yes, the first link was from the movie. Also, the horse that played Ruffian was a gelding. Plus, he was heavier than her and not as tall or elegant. But, I still love the movie regardless. Same with the Secretariat movie: they used a filly that was more bay than chestnut but, the same, I love love love the movie!! Diane Lang did such a superb job playing Penny!

      • / Reply

        Zenyen, thanks for the link. She was one in a million, I always said to Zenyatta that she is one in a million and I do believe these two incredible fillies are both one in a million. Hugs Ingrid.

      • / Reply

        Yes, my You Tube was acting silly again – so I posted the only link that came up – I should have stated that it was from the moivie – MY BAD!! Thanks for the real Ruffian link!

      • / Reply

        “Ruffian will never be forgotten” quote. Happy B-day Ruffian!! Also watched on U tube The Tribute. I revisited that day when she broke her leg. I did not know it would be in the tribute, I must just like to cry. What a filly she was, beautiful and with HEART. I thank God nothing ever happened to our Zenyatta. I can not bear this happening to any horse. hugs Sally

    • / Reply

      So glad I was not the only one remembering Ruffian on her birthday – 40 years ago. I just wrote on the “April Birthday” forum that Zenyatta is the greatest mare of the 21st century, Ruffian was the greatest filly of the 20th century. I’m sure everyone has read Jane Schwartz’s book about her, but if you didn’t I recommend it; “Ruffian, Burning From the Start”.

      • / Reply

        I would like to add my remembrance to the magnificent Ruffian. What a gorgeous animal she was and heart in abundance. Unfortunately I watched that match race and the vision of her breaking down and trying to run on that broken leg is forever etched in my memory. She will always be one of the best fillies I’ve ever seen. RIP black beauty.

      • / Reply

        I, too, was in front of my television that fateful day and will NEVER get that image out of my mind. I remember praying and praying that a miracle might happen and she could be saved even though I knew better after seeing how bad it was.

        And I shudder every time I even HEAR anyone mutter the words MATCH RACE! I remember when it was mentioned once or twice when Zenyatta and Rachel were still running and I was HORRIFIED at the very THOUGHT of it!

        And I totally agree — Ruffian was the greatest of the 20th century and Our Queen the greatest of the 21st Century (and perhaps EVER!) Only time will tell!

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