Lameness is one of the most common problems that working animals face, causing suffering for thousands of horses, donkeys and mules every year. Lameness refers to when an animal is unable to walk properly due to injury or pain in their legs or hooves. It can be caused by anything from arthritis to a wound, but a major cause seen by SPANA vets in the countries we operate, is inadequate farriery.
Preventing Lameness Through Proper Hoof Care
Farriery is the care of the hooves of horses, donkeys and mules. It is a specialist skill that involves tasks including shoeing, shaping, trimming and balancing.
Working animals need regular farriery care to ensure their hooves do not become overgrown. Left untreated, overgrown hooves can lead to lameness which can cause imbalanced weightbearing. In severe cases, this can cause long-term damage to the tendons, ligaments and joints in animal’s legs.
Symptoms of lameness include walking slowly or awkwardly, stumbling, limping or visibly misshapen and distorted hooves.
If a working animal is brought to a SPANA veterinary centre or mobile clinic in need of farriery care, a SPANA vet or farrier will examine the animal’s lower legs and hooves. They will then trim their hooves with specialist farriery tools until they are all well-balanced and in good condition.
The owner of the working animal will be advised to bring their animal to SPANA regularly for farriery treatment. They will also be invited to attend community training sessions about the importance of good farriery care.
Common causes of lameness in horses
A major cause of lameness in working horses, donkeys and mules is when an animal’s hooves become overgrown or misshapen. In some countries where SPANA works, this can happen due to the terrain that a working animal is used to walking on. For example, in rural Mali, donkeys can suffer from overgrown hooves after the rainy season has ended. This is because they have been walking on softer terrain, so their hooves have not been able to wear down as much. You can read the story of how SPANA vets in Mali helped Nana, a donkey suffering from sore hooves
Lameness can also be caused by foreign objects, like sharp thorns or discarded nails, that have become stuck in a working animal’s hoof. The excruciating pain from a foreign object can cause working animals to limp and to avoid putting any weight on the offending hoof.
Working animals may also suffer from lameness due to arthritic pain and inflammation. Pain, stiffness and swollen joints in their legs may cause them to limp or walk slowly, especially when they are suffering from arthritis. Read about how SPANA vets in Tunisia helped ease the arthritic pain of Asmaa the donkey.
Leg injuries caused by accidents or trauma can also result in lameness. Working animals often work in dangerous environments and, just like humans, are at risk of breaking bones, damaging tendons or being injured in an accident. SPANA vets in Mauritania were on hand to help Pape the donkey when he was hit by a vehicle.
The role of farriery in preventing lameness
If you’ve ever suffered from the agony of a blister, or walked all day in a pair of ill-fitting, uncomfortable shoes, you will know how important it is to make sure your feet are looked after properly.
Lameness can be absolutely agonising for working animals, leaving them at risk of permanent injury. Good farriery care ensures that every working animal can live a healthy and valued life.
In 2023, SPANA provided 5,940 farriery treatments to working animals in need. Whether they are providing treatment, expert farriery, owner training or holistic care at our stables, SPANA vets, technicians and farriers are committed to treating and preventing lameness in as many working animals as possible.
In many countries where SPANA works, our charity is training local farriers so that they have the knowledge, skills and equipment they need to prevent serious issues, such as lameness.
We’re also providing community training sessions to help owners learn about the importance of good farriery care and to recognise the signs and symptoms of lameness, so they know when to seek professional veterinary care.
Thanks to the compassion of our supporters, SPANA can provide expert veterinary care to sick and injured working animals, to empower their owners by providing training in good animal welfare and to teach children about the importance of working animals, all so that we can achieve a long-term, sustainable transformation in the welfare of working animals. If you’re interested in supporting SPANA, learn how you can get involved.
How to help a lame horse
If you have concerns regarding an animal in the UK, please contact a local animal charity or vet.
If you are a tourist, you can positively influence the way in which owners treat their animals. SPANA’s Holiday Hooves guide provides you with the information you need to help make ethical choices for working animals while travelling.