122. False Sole - nature really is amazing...

Recently due to Spice losing the back quarter of her hoof wall i have noticed that she has developed some rather thick sole. Having done some research on the internet i now know this is 'false sole' which she has created to give her the support she needs until her wall grows back...when it does, the sole should naturally shed itself so should be left alone to perform this process...In time, the hoof will naturally create it's own concavity...

'False sole is live sole which is still being fed and develops because the foot needs this extra protection.

Often when we remove shoes, the heels, and wall are often not strong enough and break off, leaving a foot with very little height to protect the sole, therefore, the sole takes more pressure than it is designed to and compensates and creates false sole.

The false sole is there to compensate for a lack of other structure, the horse needs this extra protection, so to remove the sole which the horse has laid down to protect itself is a debatable procedure and as you have found out, the horse is sensitive!

The false sole will drop out when the foot doesn't require this extra protection, i.e. when the horse develops heels height, wall height and has a foot where each structure takes the correct amount of pressure. The concavity will come with time when the foot recovers and functions as it should.

The structures of the foot are designed to work in equilbre with each other, where one doesn't function as it should, another steps in..

Creation of false sole is basically the sole stepping in for a lacking of another structure, therefore, the foot should be assessed to identify the weak structure and the conditioning work can be structured to stimulate this structure.

Re infection in the sole.. that is also questionnable.. it is very very unlikely that infection will reach the dermal layer through false sole unless there is a puncture wound, and any bacteria will only be surface, and quite frankly.. by removing sole, you are exposing sensitive sole, which may not be fully keritanized, which is equally a lot closer to the dermal layer, therefore, common sense.. exposing the more permeable sole to infection!

I would ask nicely not for the sole to be carved.. and when the horse is sound, get stimulating the feet on all surfaces, maybe give a little arnica (?) as if the horse is sensitive he may have bruised himself.. and if you are worried about keeping the feet clean, something like cider vinegar works nicely.. or negerol from the vets/pharmacy..

Hope this helps, and don't worry the false sole will budge when the foot feels it doesn't need it anymore.'

tazilla