Flares

Lancelot

Lancelot

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I've also posted this on the Phoenix forum but am also posting here for the wider audience :)

As also said there, I'm SO sorry to bring this old chestnut up yet again but.... I seem to continuously return to a question, I think I resolve it in my head and then I read or hear something that challenges my understanding and gets me all in a tizz again

So, can someone tell me what's good about flare? In what circumstances is it a good adaptation that needs to remain present? Assume diet is watertight and no metabolic issues.

How do you know if flare is meant to be there or not?

I've had an alternative view on it today which makes as much sense to me as my previous understanding did and now my brain is doing overtime
 
All flares will be created for a reason:
1) neglect
2) change in circumstance i.e. foaling (med hind)
3) non permanent compromise, like to support an injury, laminitis ect.
4) PERMINANT FLARE TO SUPPORT BIOMACHANICS

This last reason is the one most trimmers, farriers vets and owners have trouble with.
If a horse has a biomechanical defect that needs support beyond the normal footfall or support then a flare will start to be created, it can be from the coronary band thus making one side of the foot look wider and out of balance, or it can be that as the wall starts to get around 2/3rds of the way down it seems to deviate outwards but on observing the WL there is no great stretching of the laminae.
These feet will often in fact almost always have a very upright opposite wall. And the flare is doing a very important job. Plus the flare will be made of extra thick and very good quality horn.
In the case of change I.e. foaling I find nearly all the mares in my Dartmoor herd will have a flare on the med wall before foaling, soon after it starts to leave the ground surface (M roll )and not be needed, thus the new wall that grows down does not have a flare.
If you remove the dorsal wall of a laminitic you will automatically encourage med& lat flares along with a weakening of the WL thus taking away the only support the foot had in the way of good attached laminae
 
Heelfirst that is a perfect explanation, thank you so much!

The hoof that inspired the discussion definitely has, in my opinion, number 4.

So how would you tell the difference between the 4 options, by whether there is WL stretch?

Also, is it possible that option 4 can also suffer from option 1? For example, if a supporting structure is in place and exercise has to be abruptly stopped for some reason, will the structure itself become overgrown and then begin to cause a problem rather than be helpful?
If so, how would you return it to its helpful state? How would you know where it should be trimmed back to?
 
Yes it is very possible in my opinion to have a flare which WAS useful and then becomes enlarged due to neglect.
For me the reason is always more important than the effect, so ask why the flare was needed before or, why does it not need one now.

Trimming:
Ok this is where I am not so helpful.
I believe it to be unprofessional to give trimming advice. Unless working with vet, farrier or trimmer on a referred case, having observed the biomechanics and relevant information available.
Sorry to be so vague, but it is the way I work.
 
Can I ask what triggers the support of the bio mech response? Does this apply to all capsule deformation? How can you decide which flare is an appropriate response to the horses movement? How do you decide the flare is to big and needs redressing?
 
Heelfirst said:
Yes it is very possible in my opinion to have a flare which WAS useful and then becomes enlarged due to neglect.
Click to expand...

In this scenario, could the flare tip the hoof, unbalancing it and enforce a continued lateral landing? I'm wondering if its possible for a lateral landing resulting in a medial flare that is the neglected to become locked in a vicious circle with the enforced lateral landing stopping the flare from ever improving?

Heelfirst said:
Trimming:
Ok this is where I am not so helpful.
I believe it to be unprofessional to give trimming advice. Unless working with vet, farrier or trimmer on a referred case, having observed the biomechanics and relevant information available.
Sorry to be so vague, but it is the way I work.
Click to expand...

Totally understand that. I guess what I'm trying to get to is not how it should be trimmed exactly. More whether a neglected flare can be trimmed back to a point where it's useful or whether it would need to be taken off completely and the horse allowed to regrow it under better, more conducive conditions? Actually, they make still stray into an area you don't wish to comment on in which case, please just ignore the question!


A Guilding said:
How do you decide the flare is to big and needs redressing
Click to expand...

^^^ exactly!!
 
Careful you don’t confuse flare with uneven wall length on the palmer surface (Med. Lat.)
As for being able to answer the other question you are right I cant really be of any help
But, just remember that controlled concussion stimulates growth, so it follows that unsupported tissue often retracts, withers and sometimes dies, don’t always be looking at the flare, think of what is not going on as much as what is.
I sometimes get far more worried about thin upright walls that are either not bearing weight or are being crushed due to excessive overload.
 
A. Guilding, not wanting to dodge the question but I feel if your trimmer/farrier was standing there they would hopefully be able to explain what is going on with your horse and why tissue is behaving the way it is.
Often when I see a horse walked/trotted up for me I find myself saying I hope there is a wider section of horn in med or lat area due to the conformation.
As for the trigger that causes extra horn stimulation, IMO it is either concussion or the natural healing process after damage, (infection etc.)
 
Thank you, I think I understand.
I am going to go and take a real good look at the entire hoof, actually all 4 hooves tomorrow.
 
Heelfirst said:
A. Guilding, not wanting to dodge the question but I feel if your trimmer/farrier was standing there they would hopefully be able to explain what is going on with your horse and why tissue is behaving the way it is.
Often when I see a horse walked/trotted up for me I find myself saying I hope there is a wider section of horn in med or lat area due to the conformation.
As for the trigger that causes extra horn stimulation, IMO it is either concussion or the natural healing process after damage, (infection etc.)
Click to expand...

Thanks I will chat with him next time he is in the yard. :D
 
brucea said:
Look up MMP and MMPI's
Click to expand...

Thank you, I have looked it on google and think I grasp where you are coming from. Have looked on wiley online library and cant find a relative article. Do you have a link to an article I would be interested to read.
 
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