In this episode, we take an in depth look at one of the most critical yet often underestimated structures of the equine hoof: the coronary band. This episode is essential listening for farriers, veterinarians, and serious hoof care professionals who want a deeper understanding of how coronary band health directly influences hoof wall quality, growth, and long term soundness.

We begin by exploring the normal anatomy and function of the coronary band, explaining its role as the primary germinal tissue responsible for producing the hoof wall. You will learn how the epidermal and dermal components work together, how coronary papillae form horn tubules, and why the vascular and neurological supply of this region makes it both highly productive and highly vulnerable.

The episode then examines the coronary corium in detail, discussing blood supply, lymphatic drainage, innervation, and how mechanical loading and movement influence horn production. We explain why disruptions at the coronary band are always expressed distally in the hoof wall and how farriers can interpret growth rings, horn defects, and changes in wall quality as a historical record of coronary band health.

The second half of the episode focuses on coronitis and coronary band dystrophy, conditions that can have lifelong implications for hoof integrity. We discuss:

• Common traumatic, infectious, environmental, and systemic causes
• The difference between acute inflammation and chronic dystrophic change
• How repeated low grade trauma and poor environmental conditions contribute to long term damage
• The relationship between systemic disease, laminitis, vascular compromise, and coronary band pathology

You will gain insight into the clinical signs seen in both acute and chronic cases, including swelling, pain, discharge, scarring, altered horn growth, cracks, and capsule distortion. We also explain how to distinguish coronary band abscessation from other hoof pathologies and why accurate assessment is critical.

From a professional perspective, this episode outlines the diagnostic process, highlighting the role of the farrier in recognising abnormal growth patterns and working alongside the veterinary surgeon. We cover veterinary investigations including blood work, imaging, ultrasonography, and when biopsy may be indicated.

Finally, we discuss medical and farriery management strategies, focusing on:

• Controlling inflammation and infection
• Environmental and hygiene management
• Conservative trimming approaches during active disease
• Shoeing strategies to reduce mechanical stress on compromised horn
• Long term management, prognosis, and owner education

This episode reinforces the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and positions the farrier as a key professional in early detection, ongoing management, and long term hoof care planning.

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Sidebone is one of the most commonly encountered structural changes within the equine foot, particularly in heavier horses and those exposed to repetitive concussive forces. In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, we take an in depth look at sidebone from a farriery perspective, exploring not only what it is, but why it develops, how it alters hoof biomechanics and how informed trimming and shoeing decisions can significantly influence long term comfort and soundness.

This episode moves beyond sidebone as a simple radiographic finding and places it firmly within the wider context of hoof balance, conformation, workload and management. Whether you encounter sidebone regularly in practice or want to deepen your understanding of its functional significance, this discussion provides practical insight grounded in anatomy and biomechanics.

What We Cover in This Episode

What Is Sidebone
 

Anatomy and Function of the Lateral Cartilages

Pathophysiology and Development
 

Causes and Predisposing Factors
 

Conformational Faults Associated with Sidebone
 

Static Assessment of the Horse

Dynamic Assessment and Gait Evaluation
 

Clinical Signs and Differential Considerations
 

Radiography and Its Role in Farriery Decision Making
 

Trimming Principles for Managing Sidebone
 

Shoeing Strategies and Traditional Sidebone Shoes
 

Pads and Supportive Materials
 

Long Term Prognosis and Case Management
 

Who This Episode Is For

Farriers and farriery apprentices
 Veterinary surgeons with an interest in hoof biomechanics
 Equine podiatrists and hoofcare professionals
 Advanced horse owners seeking a deeper understanding of foot pathology

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In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, Marc Jerram takes an in-depth look at the suspensory ligaments of the lower limb, exploring teir anatomy, function, common injury patterns, and most importantly the farriery principles that influence both injury risk and rehabilitation.

Suspensory and navicular-related injuries remain one of the most common causes of chronic lameness and loss of performance across sport and leisure horses. This episode is designed to give farriers a clear working understanding of how hoof balance, trimming and shoeing decisions directly affect these structures, and how to work effectively alongside the veterinary surgeon during diagnosis and rehabilitation.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the suspensory apparatus is a critical load-bearing and energy-storing system
• The evolutionary anatomy of the suspensory ligament and its functional implications
• Key anatomical differences between front and hind limb suspensory ligaments
• How the muscular component of the hind limb suspensory influences performance and injury presentation
• The role of the navicular suspensory structures, including the impar and collateral ligaments
• How hoof conformation, toe length and heel height affect suspensory and navicular loading
• Common suspensory injuries:
  • Proximal suspensory desmitis
  • Mid-body and branch lesions
  • Navicular suspensory injuries
• Why front limb injuries often present as lameness, while hind limb injuries present as performance problems
• Diagnostic tools explained:
  • Palpation and gait assessment
  • Ultrasonography
  • Radiography
  • MRI and its role in distal limb soft tissue diagnosis
• Recognising altered gait patterns associated with suspensory pain
• Evidence-based trimming principles for suspensory rehabilitation
• Shoe selection strategies for:
  • Front limb suspensory injuries
  • Hind limb suspensory injuries
  • Navicular suspensory pathology
• The importance of farrier–veterinary collaboration throughout rehabilitation

🧠 Key Takeaways for Farriers

• Small changes in hoof balance and breakover can significantly alter suspensory strain
• Front and hind limbs must be approached very differently in both assessment and shoeing
• Suspensory injuries are rarely just a “rest and hope” problem—mechanics matter
• Correct trimming and shoeing can reduce reinjury risk and support long-term soundness
• Ongoing reassessment is essential as the horse moves through rehabilitation phases

🛠️ Who This Episode Is For

• Registered and apprentice farriers
• Equine podiatrists
• Veterinary surgeons working with lameness cases
• Therapists involved in rehabilitation
• Horse owners wanting a deeper understanding of suspensory injuries

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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Medio-lateral balance is one of the most influential and most misunderstood principles in farriery. In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, we explore what medio-lateral balance really means, why visual symmetry can be misleading, and how poor balance contributes to long term lameness and pathology.

Marc explores how farriers should assess medio-lateral balance both statically and dynamically, explains how conformation dictates loading patterns, and discusses why trimming and shoeing decisions must always respect the horse’s functional anatomy. From long-axis assessment of the forelimb and hindlimb to the role of radiography in modern farriery, this episode provides practical, evidence based insight for working farriers, students, and equine professionals alike.

⏱️ Episode Chapters / Key Topics

• What medio-lateral balance really means in farriery
• Common misconceptions around “level” feet
• Why functional balance matters more than visual symmetry
• Static assessment: what to observe before lifting the foot
• Using the coronary band, hoof capsule, and growth patterns as indicators
• Assessing medio-lateral balance through the long axis
• Dynamic assessment at walk and trot
• Understanding landing patterns, stance phase, and breakover
• How discipline and surface influence medio-lateral forces
• Conformational faults and their impact on hoof loading
• Toe-in, toe-out, base narrow, and base wide horses explained
• The role of radiography in accurate balance assessment
• Forelimb assessment and weight-bearing considerations
• Hindlimb assessment and propulsion-related imbalances
• Pathologies linked to chronic medio-lateral imbalance
• Trimming strategies: restraint, precision, and gradual correction
• Shoeing options for managing imbalance
• Bar shoes, spiral lifts, pads, and frog support explained
• Long-term management versus short-term correction
• Key take-home messages for farriers and hoofcare professionals

🎯 Who This Episode Is For

• Working farriers
• Farriery apprentices and students
• Equine vets and therapists
• Educators and exam candidates
• Horse owners interested in hoof biomechanics

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Medio-lateral balance is functional, not cosmetic
• Visual symmetry does not always equal correct loading
• Conformation dictates how forces travel through the limb
• Long-axis assessment is critical for accurate evaluation
• Radiography can reveal hidden imbalances within the foot
• Over-correction can be as damaging as no correction
• Small, incremental changes produce the best long-term outcomes

🔧 Practical Skills Covered

• Static and dynamic balance assessment
• Long-axis limb evaluation
• Identifying compensatory hoof distortions
• Interpreting wear patterns and landing preferences
• Selecting appropriate trimming and shoeing strategies

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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Hoof wall cracks are one of the most commonly encountered yet frequently misunderstood conditions in equine hoof care. In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, Marc Jerram takes an in-depth look at hoof wall cracks, breaking down the different types, why they occur, how they affect soundness, and how farriers and veterinarians can work together to manage them effectively.

From superficial cosmetic defects to painful, performance-limiting cracks, this episode explains how hoof anatomy, biomechanics, trimming, shoeing, environment, and nutrition all play a role. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how to assess cracks both statically and dynamically, when veterinary diagnostics are required, and what realistic long-term outcomes look like.

Whether you’re a farrier, veterinary professional, student, or an owner wanting a deeper understanding of hoof health, this episode provides practical, evidence-based insight grounded in real-world hoof care.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

In this episode, we discuss:

• What hoof wall cracks are and why they develop
• The anatomy and biomechanics of the hoof wall
• Vertical versus horizontal hoof wall cracks
• Complete and incomplete cracks explained
• Sensitive and non-sensitive cracks and their clinical relevance
• Toe cracks and quarter cracks: why location matters
• Common mechanical, environmental, nutritional, and pathological causes
• Recognising clinical signs and indicators of pain
• Static visual assessment of hoof wall cracks
• Dynamic assessment and how movement influences crack progression
• When and why veterinary diagnostics are required
• Trimming principles for managing cracked hooves
• Shoeing strategies to stabilise and unload the hoof capsule
• Long-term management strategies and realistic prognosis

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is particularly relevant for:

• Registered and apprentice farriers
• Equine veterinarians and vet nurses
• Farriery and equine science students
• Hoof care professionals
• Owners managing horses with recurring hoof wall issues

Key Takeaway

Hoof wall cracks are rarely a simple surface problem. Effective management depends on understanding hoof biomechanics, identifying the underlying causes, and applying consistent, long-term farriery and management strategies rather than short-term cosmetic fixes.

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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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.

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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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 farr

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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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

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In this episode, we explore how the major dietary macrominerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulphur shape the health of the equine hoof from the inside out. We break down the biological roles of each mineral, their influence on keratin formation, circulation, immune function, and inflammation control, and how imbalances can lead to structural hoof defects or systemic health issues.

What You’ll Learn:

• How calcium supports keratinisation and immune cell signalling
• Why the calcium–phosphorus ratio is crucial for healthy hoof development
• The role of magnesium in keratin production, stress regulation, and inflammation control
• Potassium’s importance in fluid balance, vascular function, and immune activation
• Why sodium and chloride deficiency is common and how it affects hydration, circulation, and immunity
• Sulphur’s essential role in keratin strength and antioxidant processes
• How macromineral imbalances contribute to conditions such as laminitis, poor hoof horn quality, and systemic inflammation
• Practical feeding considerations and when supplementation may be beneficial

Key Takeaway:
Hoof health doesn’t begin at the hoof, it begins in the diet. Understanding macrominerals empowers farriers, vets, and horse owners to support stronger hooves, better immunity, and reduced inflammation through informed nutritional management.

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 In questo episodio di The Hoofcare Companion, il conduttore Marc Jerram approfondisce uno degli infortuni più importanti ma spesso fraintesi del piede equino: le fratture dell’osso pedale. Con il contributo di esperti in veterinaria e mascalcia, Marc spiega come si verificano queste fratture, la loro classificazione e i più recenti metodi di diagnosi, trattamento e riabilitazione.
Gli ascoltatori scopriranno l’importanza della radiografia, della ferratura terapeutica e della gestione del proprietario durante la guarigione, oltre al ruolo cruciale della collaborazione tra veterinari e maniscalchi.
Un episodio ricco di informazioni pratiche per professionisti del settore e proprietari di cavalli che desiderano comprendere meglio la salute del piede equino. 

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To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

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