These images belong to a horse that is difficult to keep shoes on because the feet readily break up.

It is clear that there is a radically reduced amount of blood flow to the foot relative to the lower leg.

Even after exercise (below) the increase of blood flow to the feet is not significant; as reflected in the heat shown at the coronet band.

If degenerative foot conditions and poor hoof quality are associated with poor blood flow then we could start to make more informed choices about the management of an individual horse if it presented with an apparently lowered blood supply to the feet.

With good information and feedback we can make the right choices for the individual horse and perhaps succesfully engage in preventative measures that might lengthen the lifespan of our horses.

These images belong to a horse that is in an acute phase of laminitis and under veterinary guidance and supervision.

You can see the heat pattern relating to the pressure and descension of the pedal bone in the hoof capsule.

Thermographic imaging can be a convenient method for assessing progress through the acute and recovery phase.

Back feet are unshod.

Front feet are shod.

These images belong to the same horse and have been captured on the same temperature settings.

The only difference is that the fronts are shod and might indicate a lesser blood supply when compared to the unshod hinds.

Look at the variations as shown at the coronet band and the comparative differences.

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This image on the left clearly showed this pony's young owner the necessity of tubbing and treating that hot infected foot!

This image on the right shows a horse which has four distinctly different feet. Notice the interrupted blood flow pattern seen at the coronet of the FR. 

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