ABSTRACT: Foals are born with soft, ‘slipper-like’ almost gelatinous hooves. However, within a few hours their feet will harden. In foals with correct limb conformation, there is little need for major interference with the feet. It is common practice for good stud farms to call upon a farrier to assess and dress foals’ feet on a regular basis. The first farrier contact, in normal circumstances, is at four weeks. By this time, mild angular deviations and other limb abnormalities of newborn foals, such as fetlock hyperextension as a result of flexor tendon laxity, will usually have improved. The hooves will require trimming before becoming overgrown and training can begin while the foal is small and receptive. The conformation and hoof shape should be constantly monitored throughout development.

Author

Prof Tim Greet BVMS, MVM, CertEO, DESTS, DipECVS, FRCVS

Tim is a Glasgow Vet School graduate of 1976, who was awarded a Master’s Degree for work carried out in its surgery department. At the Animal Health Trust, he obtained a Fellowship of the RCVS for work on equine respiratory disease.

In 1982 he joined Dr Peter Rossdale’s Newmarket practice, becoming a partner in 1984 and now senior and managing partner: An RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Surgery, his interests are in general and minimally-invasive orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery

He was awarded the Centenary and the Chiron Awards of the BVA and the Richard Hartley Clinical Prize of the BEVA. He has lectured around the world on a variety of equine surgical topics and has had papers published on a number of subjects as well as several chapters in veterinary textbooks.

He was made an honorary professor of the University of Glasgow and an associate lecturer of the University of Cambridge. He is a past president of BEVA, BVA and WEVA, a Diplomate of the ECVS and a member of its board of regents. He is vice-chairman of SPANA and an honorary member of BEVA,

BVNA and the BAEDT Email: tim.greet@rossdales.com

Keywords: Clinical, Deformities, Limb

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 30 (12) • December 2015 • pp352-355

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