Sound Hooves Sound Horses

27/01/2024

Hi all, just like to announce that I am planning to get back in the trimming arena. I appreciate all the support I have had. At this stage I will be working part time trimming.

Available for bookings for now from 2nd to 5th February inclusive.

SOUND HOOVES......SOUND HORSES.

08/03/2023

To all my constant clients,
Regrettably I have to take leave from trimming for the time being. This decision was a difficult one to make and quite unanticipated.
Thank you for trusting your horses
and allowing me to care for them.
Don't dismiss me completely, however, when I'm ready to get back on the horse 😉, I'll let you all know

Kindest, Craig

03/03/2023

I make every effort to juggle trims, days, hours and people don’t appreciate it.

Trims are done between 4-6 weeks as arranged but on the days I’m available.

Other farriers won’t juggle the way I do I won’t be either.

My work is exemplary and sound and should be accommodated by the respect of knowing the day I finish the trim you know I’ll be back within 4 weeks.

If you miss next arranged trim day not by problem. I won’t be juggling times or days anymore.

Sorry for those faithful ones that are loyal.

Thanks

28/01/2023

Hi all I am struggling with an Injury that should resolve in next few days. Then I’ll be in touch with you all. Ready for next round of trims or any I have missed.

Sorry I’m advance.

Sound hooves……..sound horses!!

20/01/2023

We trimmers are human, we get injured, have emergencies etc. it is ok for clients to cancel at a drop of a hat. But if we have to reschedule we are dropped. Good luck finding trimmers that will bow down to every beck and call, and chop and change when you get 4 weeks notice of the next trim. Sorry we are just human.

Sound hooves…..sound horses!!!

11/01/2023

Runs coming up:
Toowoomba 13th
Yandina 14th
Jimboomba 16th
All will be contacted this evening

23/12/2022

🎄Wishing a happy Christmas and wonderful New Year to all our clients and their horses 🐎 ...even the grinchy ones! Catch you all in '23

09/10/2022

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cje52_FLH7c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Credit to Issy Preece, long time loyal client for producing this clip 🤗

02/07/2022

Share our page, no one will be disappointed with our work. Reliable, competitive and most of all…..

Sound Hooves……..Sound Horses!!!!

01/07/2022

27/06/2022

Finally, new business cards arrived - note; not the hands of the trimmer 😉😊

22/06/2022

Why is my initial consult $125?

Well my initial assessment and diet review, exercise regime, setup trim and measurements and documentation on the initial consult is comprehensive and takes up time I could be trimming other horses. It is a one off fee to establish what the horse needs moving forward and advise you on my plan. Sorry but I am not like other farriers and trimmers. I take this very seriously.

I document all of my recommendations, actions and discussions to ensure you as the client and I as the practitioner are covered from any form of ambiguity or attempted blame or litigation if a horse suddenly goes lame.

Yes it seems expensive but if you want your horse like every other service you expect to be good. It comes at a cost.

Happy to negotiate individual pricing, payments plans etc on individual circumstances.

Thanks……..Sound Hooves…….Sound Horses.

21/06/2022

previous work with Hoofs2010 inc Brumby Rescue

so wonderful to share the day and brumbies with Craig, the care he gives is absolutley amazing and 8 Brumby foals had their feet attended . We highly recommend Craig for all your trimming needs

20/06/2022

Servicing the SEQ region and beyond on request 🐴
Trimming every 4-6 weeks, ideally 4 week schedule, we can care for your horses. Either transitioning to barefoot or maintaining naturally, sound hooves.
Bear in mind, winter can bring on its own unique issues, due to rough, icy ground...message, call or book directly

18/06/2022

Clarendon to Helidon (QLD) and surrounds trimming run to be done on Friday 24 June 2022. First appointment Clarendon at 1000am.

PM for bookings.

“Sound Hooves……….Sound Horses”

18/06/2022

11/11/2021

Taking on new clients across CQ and surrounds. Experienced and proven equine hoofcare practitioner.

Remember SOUND HOOVES………SOUND HORSES!!!!

02/11/2021

LAMINITIS and P3 Rotation

All everyone seems to understand about laminitis is that it is really bad and therefore the horse has P3 rotation.

Let's have a look at the diagram below and explain to you what the reason is that the P3 "rotation" occurs. If you cant understand the structure of the hoof, and many farriers and trimmers don't, most assume it is P3 rotation causing the issue. It is more than that!!!!

So LH diagram, Green Lines. (Assume Normal, even though it isn't, as the toe is too long)
- Distance between hoof wall and coffin bone (P3) is usually or ideally 12-15mm
- Thickness of sole, in a normal unshod horse, will have a sole thickness of 12-15mm
- The solar angle of the P3 is of a "positive nature" of usually 5-8 degrees above baseline.
- Passive quarters, seen by air present under the hoof from about apex of frog to the front of the bars.
- There is usually but not proof of a sound hoof, the old correlation of the hoof wall at same line of angle as the pastern if laying a rasp down the front of the hoof wall and fetlock

So RH diagram, Red Lines (Laminitic Hoof with P3 Rotation)
- The distance from the edges of the red lines to the bottom edges of the red lines widens closer to the ground
- This is due to an extended or months (usually 7 months for hoof growth cycle) of continuous laminitic episodes, only determined as severity by the lines externally on the hoof and the deformity of the hoof
- The laminar integrity is affected by a "toxin" and continually damages the strength and connection of the laminae. Causing the lamina connection to fail badly.
- At the same time the hoof will have the same accelerated growth at the heels as it does in the toe. WHY? It is an inflammatory response against pain and inflammation.
- With the combination of the lamina failure and the heels growing quickly we end up with "rotated P3".
- Heel growth is seen easily in the right x-ray

SO, can this be fixed and NOT have the animal put down? YES!!!

I'm not going to reveal all of the solutions for this except to say, in this x-ray, this horse has been suffering from acute and chronic recurrent episodes of laminitis unchecked and not had any attempt to rectify.

Immediate Actions:
1. Drop the heels closest to anatomical correctness as possible
2. Shorten the toe as far as able with anatomical knowledge of hoof and experience
3. Pain relief, preferably NOT Bute!!!
4. Encourage exercise, do not place or lock up in stalls
5. Regular trimming by experienced rehabilitative trimmer
6. Assess and change or restrict diet as required (NO one treatment of diet in this case will work for every horse. The horse, trimmer and owner and a vet needs to be talking on same page and working to change, alter, restrict the diet that this horse is on to enable the continual subtle or aggressive episodes of inflammatory laminitis from occurring).

I specialize in the rehabilitation of these types of cases and not very often do I see a horse that is NOT affected by some form of inflammatory laminitic response.

A simple way to think about the bond of the coffin bone (P3) and the hoof wall is like Velcro. Un-ironed the velcro is strong. The inflammatory "toxic" response of the hoof commences at the coronet. The laminar (velcro) is damaged, similar to ironing the velcro, it no longer sticks. IF, this is a one off, no damage except some lameness occurs. If this occurs for a whole hoof growth cycle or longer, the entire stability and function of the hoof is compromised to where the P3 sinks, can punch through soles and then have major functional and rehabilitative difficulties.

NO horse should be put down for having laminitis, OR be recurrently having laminitis if the trimmer or farrier knows what to look for to indicate this before the P3 rotates.

In most cases in a case above, as soon as the heels are dropped and the toe dumped and a little analgesia, the horse will immediately have relief and begin the healing process.

Contact us for assistance in cases of laminitis, and happy to assist in the treatment and management of these horses to get them back to what we want and that is able to ride them.

Remember SOUND HOOVES....SOUND HORSES!!

28/09/2021

These are x-rays of a very challenging and old pony that I have been managing for some 18 months and a colleague before going to England was managing. No pictures of the horse but the point I want to make is ponies are very resilient and can endure a lot before they start to show the debilitating effects of founder/laminitis.

When I first met Maddie she was good on her feet and I knew she was a constant laminitis candidate but initially was not concerned as I believed she was suffering more from the diagnosed arthritic changes more than her hooves until they were x-rayed.

The most important thing in any horse regardless of size, that is succumbing to either an acute or chronic recurring laminitis is to dump the toe back as far as practicable and lower the heels which also includes trimming the frogs.

I never trim frogs at all if I can help it, however especially in small ponies the hoof lays down heel thinking the hoof is encountering 'frog" pain. Heels grow fast and punched the coffin bone into the sole. This is where some vets used to and I hope they don't still used wedges to increase the heel height. Worst thing that can be done.

The heels need to be dropped to nearly produce a flat or negative plantar angle for the recovery period to allow the sole to recover.

Having a radiological understanding by the trimmer can advise and work with the vet to produce a good outcome. However many vets will not liaise with a trimmer as we allegedly don't and are not recognized as a profession.

Bute is the worst drug to use for founder/laminitis, even though it is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, it actually increase the effects of founder/laminitis. It is a toxin and its action, and the by product is secreted within the hoof and increases the toxic response.

In most cases dropping the heels, removing what sole can be evacuated to start to make them convexed (you may argue it to be concaved, but its only concaved turned upside down when you look at it) and exercise, and having toes dumped as short as possible is most often all we need to do.

I wont discuss the analgesia option preferred as that is a conversation to have with a vet when I am trimming, however suffice to say there is a better option and the better option is more efficient in abscess management also. But that is another post on its own.

Remember...SOUND HOOVES........SOUND HORSES!

26/09/2021

X-Rays

I don't waste money on x-rays very often but they are extremely helpful for the client to understand the affect on the structures and damage within the hoof.

26/09/2021

Found and changed for a bit of tongue in cheek humor.

IT’S NOT HIM, IT’S YOU
Why your trimmer won’t return your phone calls and what he really wants to tell you but never will

I see it ALL the time, people posting on social media, looking for a new farrier because the last one has “disappeared.” I quietly think to myself, “And you wonder why you got ghosted.” Here is a list of ISO trimmer ad faux pas that will definitely keep him from responding to your ad or calling you back:
🤦‍♀️ Looking for a reasonably priced trimmer: A good trimmer ain’t cheap and a cheap trimmer ain’t good. If you mention anything about price or reasonability, etc. you’re off his list. Maybe not for a young kid that’s starving, but even if he does get your business now, he’ll quickly figure out what a bad idea trimming one for cheap is and you’ll fall to the bottom of his priority list for someone who’s willing to pay what he’s worth.
🤦‍♀️ I need a patient trimmer, Trigger is sensitive and scared of men: Your trimmer’s job isn’t to train your wild brumby. He spends his days bent over, holding up 1000 lb. animals. His body hurts, and the last thing he has time for is to put up with your spoiled donkey. Please work with your horse to pick up all 4 feet and stand quietly before scheduling an appointment.
🤦‍♀️ I need someone ASAP: Dude, a good trimmer is booked weeks in advance, has a schedule of good clients and works his schedule around the locations he’s traveling to…not to mention he’s most likely a family man and has to juggle his kids’ activities as well. So, trimming Trigger tomorrow morning may not be at the top of his priority list, and you might to have to be OK with that.
🤦‍♀️ I need a corrective trimmer: All horses are different and need to be trimmed accordingly. A good trimmer has enough education to handle all situations and should have veterinary recommendations for the works he’s done.
🤦‍♀️ I keep Trigger on a 12 week schedule: A trimmer is not a magician. A good one can keep your horse sound with REGULAR trimming. Calling him when feet are grossly overgrown, or you FINALLY get around to it is not acceptable. This causes lameness issues and creates so many other unnecessary problems. Keep him on a regular 4 week schedule, for the love of God! Best to just put a reminder to call him in 4 weeks to schedule on your calendar.
A few more pieces of advice that seem like no brainers, but you’d be surprised what people don’t understand:
👍 Don’t make him hunt you down for payment. Have a check or cash waiting when he shows up.
👍 Put your damn dogs away. The last thing he needs is Trigger kicking at Fido as he’s trying to steal a piece of freshly cut frog out from under him.
👍 Make sure he has a place to work in the shade, free of obstacles and dangerous objects for Trigger to get hung up on.
👍 Things come up and schedules change, but please don’t make that a regular thing. He has a schedule to keep and your last-minute cancelation really messes up his day.
👍 Don’t give Trigger a bath or mud his legs right before your appointment. There’s nothing worse than trimming a wet/muddy/liniment-soaked horse.
👍 It’s OK to ask questions and have convos about your trimmer’s plan, but you’ve hired him because he is a professional and you trust him. You wouldn’t tell your mechanic how to fix your car would you? If you don’t trust his ability, find someone you do trust!
👍 A little appreciation goes a long way. Most guys don’t get a lot of credit for the work they do but they are one of the most important people your horse knows. A simple ‘thanks for all you do to keep Trigger happy’ means more than you know.