01/09/2026
Which hoof does your horse have?
A very important photo comparing 2 digital cushions. One bad one good.
Both were Standardbreds, both feet were forefeet. Similar ages, both paddock pets.
What makes a good cushion? Its size and its composition, its elasticity and its resilience to loading. It protects the inner foot from damaging concussion forces at every foot fall and we can see nicely it is an important support for the bony column. Its important for blood movement inside the foot
Note how the bones are slumped in the top photo and how much straighter they are in the bottom photo?
If I moved the bones to a better, straighter position, I’d have to move the DDFT and skin and I don’t think I’d get the stretch!
I often this the slumped P2 in radiographs and it’s very commonly associated with a poor, crushed, low volume digital cushion that has lost its vital fibrocartilage
This leads to broken back bony column.
I am loading a video onto my Patreon page showing the digital cushion and its weakness.
Details in comments.
