Winter Foot changes

[DoubleCFarrierService]

Ok have a question for the winter wonderland farriers out there. What is it exactly that causes the top of the foot near the hairline to look somewhat rubbery almost like a layer of glue. I have only seen it on horses in the winter, so I know that the cause is something with winter. Anyone know?

[Ray_Knightley]

Thanks for this one !!!
I have been wanting to know the name of this for years now ..
In the human finger nail it is called Eponychium.
But when you use that name for horses it means then the the deciduous hoof that is lost after foals are born ..

But as you say the thing is this layer is not seen in sommer or is warn off in grass or bedding ,and in winter it swells up and is easy to see ..

the function is as far as i know to protect new growth and is seen on some horses more than other ...maybe in winter its prominent because the growth is slower ??

I hope someone can clear theis question up for us!!

regards Ray knightley.farrier.

[calshoer]

Its the periople . It is a skin that extends down the hoof from the hairline about an inch or so. In winter (snow ) it gets waterlogged. The same thing happens to it in wet rainy conditions. Do not peel it off or otherwise remove it. After it dries, if the lower edge is really torn and rough, then a little FINE sandpaper can be used to smooth that Lower edge.

[Ray_Knightley]

Its the periople . It is a skin that extends down the hoof from the hairline about an inch or so. In winter (snow ) it gets waterlogged. The same thing happens to it in wet rainy conditions. Do not peel it off or otherwise remove it. After it dries, if the lower edge is really torn and rough, then a little FINE sandpaper can be used to smooth that Lower edge.

Thanks ,i can`t find a name for it in german..Hve asked a long time ,but have had answers like ,no such thing ,and thats horse muck!!

Periople is also the name for the bulbs of the heel??

always up to translation problems when latin is not involved ,even if the thing is infront of your eyes ,german has its own language regarding the horses hoof ,but i have the feeling this one has gone under somewhere ,maybe because vets don`t like cold wet and stay in at that time then the periople is not seen??

ray.

[DoubleCFarrierService]

Thanks Patty, I have been asked that question I don't know how many times, and I got tired of telling them I don't know what it is just that it has to do with the winter.

[Julie Plaster]

Thought this was of interest. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1877762


This is a fantastic photograph.
http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-is-this-can-you-identify-this.html

I have no idea what language this is in. Have a look at the third photo down. http://asgardur.123.is/blog/record/246224/


Julie :-)