{"id":7097,"date":"2022-05-06T19:33:08","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T19:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifedatalabs.com\/blog\/?p=7097"},"modified":"2022-05-24T19:24:12","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T19:24:12","slug":"correlations-between-equine-hoof-and-joint-health-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifedatalabs.com\/blog\/2022\/05\/06\/correlations-between-equine-hoof-and-joint-health-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Correlations Between Equine Hoof and Joint Health: PART 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Equine<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever considered the substantial influence the health of our horse\u2019s hooves and joints have on one another? For example, can poor hoof quality negatively impact joint health? Can a joint injury add extra strain to the hoof? It is easy to look at our horse\u2019s health from a narrow perspective, only considering the problem at hand. When it comes to the longevity and comfort of the horse, we need to look at the whole picture. The horse\u2019s joints and hooves function together in its movement and balance. When one is afflicted, the other is often affected as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effects from offloading, poor nutrition, hoof balance, terrain, and body condition accumulate over time, weakening the horse\u2019s extremities and creating real problems in the horse\u2019s locomotion. These influences become even more important for older horses, who are more susceptible to joint pain, arthritis, and hoof problems such as laminitis. In part one of this blog, we will discuss the impact that body condition and nutrition have on the health of the hooves and joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overweight Body Condition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Obesity continues to be a growing problem in the horse community. Approximately 50% of the horse population in the United States is considered overweight. It is almost guaranteed that an obese horse will eventually develop hoof and\/or joint problems. The additional weight increases the strain and pressure heaped onto the hooves and joints. The excess weight will also boost the risk of problems developing when combined with unbalanced hooves, frequent exposure to hard terrain, and offloading. In addition, most of these horses also do not receive enough exercise or balanced diets. This sedentary lifestyle does not provide the needed exercise to maintain joint strength and quality. Providing an imbalanced diet only adds to the problem. Nutrient and caloric excesses in the diet are typical in overweight horses and can have many consequences on the health of the hooves and joints. Common problems that can occur in obese horses are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n