In this Christmas Special of The Hoofcare Companion, host Marc Jerram reflects on the demands of elite racehorse farriery while thanking listeners for their incredible support throughout 2025. This episode takes a deep dive into the specialised art and science of shoeing the Thoroughbred racehorse — an athlete operating at the absolute limits of biomechanical performance.

From breed-specific hoof challenges to trimming protocols, shoe selection, and the key differences between flat and National Hunt racing, this episode brings together practical farriery insight with evidence-based understanding. Whether you’re working on the track, in training yards, or managing performance horses in other disciplines, this episode highlights how precision hoofcare underpins soundness, performance, and career longevity.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why racehorse farriery is different
  Understanding the extreme forces placed on the hoof at racing speeds and why small errors can have major consequences.
• Thoroughbred hoof characteristics
  Thin walls, shallow soles, long pasterns, and how selective breeding for speed influences hoof integrity and injury risk.
• Static & dynamic hoof assessment
  The importance of evaluating balance, hoof–pastern axis, landing patterns, breakover, and how movement reveals issues unseen at rest.
• Conservative trimming protocols
  Why horn preservation is critical in racehorses and how functional balance matters more than cosmetic symmetry.
• Shoes & shoeing strategies
  Aluminium vs steel shoes, toe clips, breakover modifications, heel support, and surface-specific considerations.
• Flat racing vs National Hunt shoeing
  Key differences in speed, endurance, traction, durability, and how shoeing strategies adapt between disciplines.
• Common Thoroughbred foot problems
  Thin soles, underrun heels, white line disease, poor horn quality, and how farriery plays a preventative role.
• Collaboration in elite hoofcare
  The importance of teamwork between farrier, veterinarian, and trainer in managing soundness and performance.

🎄 Christmas Message

Marc also takes a moment to thank listeners, guests, and supporters for being part of The Hoofcare Companion throughout 2025, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for a sound, successful, and progressive 2026.

🎧 Who This Episode Is For

• Farriers working with racehorses or performance horses
• Equine veterinarians and students
• Trainers and industry professionals
• Anyone interested in elite hoof biomechanics and applied farriery

📌 Subscribe & Support

If you’ve enjoyed The Hoofcare Companion this year, please subscribe, share the podcast with colleagues, and leave a review — your support helps keep evidence-based hoofcare conversations moving forward.

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books

In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, we take a look into one of the most fundamental yet often misunderstood concepts in farriery and hoof care: the hoof pastern axis.

Using anatomy, biomechanics, and real world farriery principles, this episode explains what a normal hoof pastern axis looks like, why it matters for soundness and performance, and how broken back and broken forward alignments affect the horse over time. We explore how trimming and shoeing choices influence internal structures, why visual assessment alone can be misleading, and how radiographs have transformed modern hoof care decision making.

This episode is essential listening for farriers, veterinarians, and hoof care professionals who want to improve long term outcomes rather than chase cosmetic balance.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

In this episode we cover what the hoof pastern axis actually represents anatomically and biomechanically and why it is more than just a straight line on the side of the foot. We explain how the alignment of the pastern bones and distal phalanx influences load distribution through joints tendons and ligaments during movement.

You will learn how a normal hoof pastern axis supports efficient locomotion shock absorption and tendon function and why there is no single ideal hoof angle that suits every horse. We also discuss why breed type discipline and individual conformation must always be considered when assessing alignment.

The episode breaks down the broken back hoof pastern axis in detail including how long toes and low or underrun heels develop over time and why this alignment places increased strain on the deep digital flexor tendon navicular apparatus and suspensory structures. We discuss the early warning signs farriers should look for and the long term consequences if the imbalance is left unaddressed.

We also explore the broken forward hoof pastern axis including upright and club foot type presentations and why aggressive heel lowering can sometimes do more harm than good. The episode explains how concussion loading changes in these feet and why some horses cope better than others depending on workload and surface.

Finally we look at how to balance conformation function and intervention using radiographs dynamic assessment and collaborative work between farrier and veterinarian to support soundness rather than force visual ideals.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is designed for professional farriers apprentice farriers equine veterinarians veterinary nurses and serious horse owners who want a deeper understanding of hoof biomechanics. It is particularly relevant for those working with performance horses managing chronic foot issues or looking to improve long term soundness through evidence based hoof care.

Key Discussion Themes

• The anatomical definition and function of the hoof pastern axis
• Why external hoof appearance does not always reflect internal alignment
• The biomechanical differences between normal broken back and broken forward axes
• How trimming and shoeing influence tendon and joint loading
• The role of radiographs in modern farriery decision making.

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books

In this episode, we explore Angular Limb Deformities (ALDs) in foals—one of the most important developmental challenges faced by breeders, farriers, and equine veterinarians. These early-life limb deviations can influence a horse’s long-term soundness, athletic potential, and overall welfare. This conversation unpacks what ALDs are, how they develop, how to diagnose them, and the full spectrum of modern treatment options.

• What Are Angular Limb Deformities?

• Definitions of valgus and varus deviations
• Commonly affected joints: carpus, fetlock, tarsus
• Why early identification is crucial

• The Anatomy Behind ALDs

• The role of growth plates (physes) in young foals
• How asymmetric growth creates crooked limbs
• Why mild carpal valgus in newborns is often normal—and when it isn’t

• Causes and Risk Factors

We explore both congenital and acquired causes, including:

• Incomplete ossification in premature or dysmature foals
• Trauma to physes and soft tissue support
• Rapid growth rates and mineral imbalances
• Environmental loading factors (footing, trimming)
• Genetic predisposition in certain lines

• Clinical Signs to Look For

• How to assess a foal from the front and rear
• Distinguishing true ALDs from rotational issues
• Subtle signs that deformities are worsening
• Consequences of leaving ALDs untreated

• Diagnostic Tools

• Radiography as the gold standard
• What imaging reveals about deviation severity and growth potential
• When ultrasonography adds value

• Conservative Management Strategies

• How controlled exercise helps (and when it doesn’t)
• Corrective trimming principles for valgus and varus
• Use of extensions, glue-ons, and wedges
• The importance of balanced young-stock nutrition

• Surgical Options for Moderate–Severe ALDs

• Periosteal stripping: When it works and why age matters
• Transphyseal bridging: How implants guide growth correction
• Rare but possible: osteotomy for severe late-stage cases

• Prognosis & Long-Term Outlook

• Which cases resolve on their own
• Age-related windows for effective correction
• Potential long-term issues if treatment is delayed
• Realistic athletic expectations for corrected foals

• Prevention & Early Monitoring

• Managing the pregnant mare’s diet
• Footing, exercise, and early handling
• Weekly limb assessments in the first month
• The importance of vet–farrier collaboration

📚 Key Takeaways

• ALDs are common but highly treatable when identified early.
• Farriery, nutrition, management, and veterinary intervention form a single, coordinated system.
• With early correction, most foals enjoy excellent long-term soundness.

📖 References

This episode draws on established research by Adams & Stashak, O’Grady & Poupard, Ralston, Redding & O’Grady, Santschi et al., and others exploring equine orthopaedic development and ALD correction.

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books