Bea Bare Hoof Care

20/09/2022

It's a surprisingly common problem if the examination of bones is anything to go by (and it is).

19/09/2022

Minerals have direct and indirect involvement in virtually every action in the body, and have important effects on Insulin Resistance (IR) or its consequences. IR is different in the horse than in …

27/06/2022

08/08/2021

💪🥈 Who said top level OLYMPIC horses needed SHOES?

**BREAKING NEWS!!** Two Swedish barefoot horses have just taken SILVER and 4th Place at the Tokyo Olympic Showjumping!!

🥈 Peder Fredricson riding H&M All In, took SILVER at 38.02, coming in just behind Gold Medallist Ben Maher’s time of 37.85.

❹ Henrik Von Eckermann riding King Edward came in a close 4th at 39.71, just being pipped by The Netherlands at 38.90.

👉BOTH these barefoot horses were previously SHOD and were transitioned to barefoot.

The barefoot SILVER MEDALLIST - H&M All In - last competed shod at 15 years old, approximately 6/19/21, in Stockholm and competed barefoot at Rotterdam, approximately 7/4/21

4th Place barefooter - KING EDWARD - last competed shod at 11 years old in the 1.60m in Doha 2/27/21, and competed for the first time barefoot in the 1.55m 3/5/21 in Doha

“Well done to Grevlunda Fredricson Show Jumping & Henrik Von Eckermann for pushing our tradition based sport towards evolution.

For those interested Peder Fredricson’s barefoot horses are:

💙 H&M All In
❤️ Catch Me Not S
💛 H&M Christian K
💚 Hansson WL
💜 Jumper d’Oase
🧡 Sienna SN

Henrik Von Eckermann’s barefoot horses are:

💙 King Edward
❤️ Hera de Landetta II
💛 Hollywood V
💜 Hugo Boss
🧡 Tovek’s Mary Lou

…and probably more, those are just the ones I’ve looked into” Katie Pontone - (thanks Katie for such amazing work on finding out all this information about these two BAREFOOT OLYMPIC PIONEERS!) and of course your own success at top level showjumping barefoot in the USA! 👏👏

Show jumping is a TOUGH sport for horses and riders, and the equine world has always perpetuated the narrative that horses just could not compete and succeed at these lofty high levels unless they were SHOD…

… THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TRUE…

… and now these amazing horses and riders HAVE PROVED IT TO THE WORLD!!🙌🌎

So come on EQUINE world… stop believing that horses need metal nailed to their feet to be the TOP COMPETITORS ON THIS PLANET!

We SALUTE YOU… 🇸🇪 Peder Fredricson & Henrik Von Eckermann & SWEDEN 🇸🇪 … and all your brilliant BAREFOOT HORSES! 🇸🇪

We hope to have more in depth info for you in Issue 32 coming out in the Autumn - don’t miss it!

Bust those traditional myths and read The Barefoot Horse Magazine… and shout it out from the rooftops…

….BAREFOOT IS BEST!

👉ISSUE 31 just released👉https://bit.ly/BHMIssue31

👉or SUBSCRIBE and never miss an issue👉http://bit.ly/ANNUALsub

Top level HORSE athletes can do it BARE! 💪

The BHM Team ❤️

02/02/2021

Hi if you would like to message me ,text by phone 0403121730 .please leave a message as i dont seem to be able to find messenges on fb all the time and have missed some
Thank you

02/01/2021

Happy new year ..may it get lots better than last year

09/11/2018

06/09/2018

What if you learned that your TB or TB-derived breed horse had an inherited skeletal problem that could directly lead to arthritis, instability, stumbles and falls?

15/02/2018

29/07/2017

We happened to notice 6 years ago when we were reporting to the AAEP on navicular syndrome that the coffin bone of these navicular horses had 1/3 less bone than other horses

20/07/2017

Why being dirty is natural and beneficial for horses.

27/12/2016

Dr. Robert Bowker at the 2012 International Hoof-Care Summit. The researcher from Michigan State University, a member of the International Equine Veterinarians Hall Of Fame, offered his ideas on some of the characteristic of good vs. bad horses' feet.

19/12/2016

While steeped in tradition, feeding bran mashes can cause GI distress in horses. Learn why, and discover alternatives.

19/12/2016

Ringbone

The leg on the right shows a horse with high ringbone, whereas the left shows a normal leg. Amazing to see the difference.

01/10/2016

From fat pads to feet- the descent into laminitis.
‘Cresty’ necks are unsightly lumps of fat found on the neck of an overweight or obese horse and there is a growing awareness amongst vets and horse owners that having a ‘cresty neck’ predisposes it to laminitis.
Some breeds are more prone to having a ‘cresty’ neck than others, native breeds such as the Welsh, Connemaras, Highlands and Shetland ponies are among the more susceptible as they require less food with lower sugar/starch than many of the other breeds, they also have a natural leaning towards insulin resistance because they have evolved from an environment where food supplies are often scarce and available nutrients change from season to season. Susceptible ponies (and cross breeds) are called ‘good doers’ and they possess an insulin resistant genotype as a survival mechanism which makes them more likely to develop insulin resistance, a good thing as it helps them to survive their native harsh mountain/moorland environment. These ponies naturally have a higher level of insulin secretion and a slower glucose disposal rate which is a positive adaptation for sparse food rations.
During the harsh winter conditions when glucose is unavailable or scarce the ‘good doer’ will switch to an alternative energy system to ensure survival and as the available food changes from grass to shrubs/herbage such as gorse, tree bark and marsh grass the metabolism will also switch to a more conservative system of energy use and storage which prevents any ingested glucose from entering the muscle and adipose tissue. Deprived of glucose the tissues then start to use another energy supply (lipids/triglycerides) allowing the dwindling but precious sources of glucose to support vital organs. ‘Good doers’ have lower insulin sensitivity and higher insulin secretion plus high circulating levels of triglycerides. This tendency towards insulin resistance is a natural efficient adaptation which also involves the ‘pay it forward’ insulin system which exists in the gut.
The problems start when the ‘good doer’ clashes with the modern management system and change of environment, and switches to a diet containing too much sugar and starch from hard feed, high quality hay and grass (perennial rye) designed by modern farming methods as suitable for high milk yielding cattle, with no drop in the quality of nutrients through the winter months. ‘Good doers’ are more predisposed to laminitis but any horse receiving more calories than required for work will store the excess as adipose tissue and fat pads will soon appear as ‘cresty necks’, tail pads, shoulders, sheath etc and has the potential to develop endocrinopathic laminitis.
What happens next?
The ‘cresty’ neck is not just a layer of fat but it is a hormone factory manufacturing at least 10 different types of hormones which set in place several mechanisms which eventually lead to the catastrophe of laminitis. In humans, adipose tissue around the stomach has been found to contain large amounts of chemicals which are inflammatory in nature, the same chemicals have been found in the ‘cresty neck’ and tail fat pads of horses. These inflammatory chemicals have a massive impact on health with multiple complex interactions between glucose and lipid metabolism, control of appetite and energy levels to name just a few.

Countdown to Catastrophe
1. The first stage of the breakdown is the release of a chemical (MCP-1) from the fat pad to attract and recruit white blood cells (monocytes) from out of the blood stream into the adipose tissue . CP-1 is responsible for recruiting MCP-1 both can be found in blood tests but it may not been seen until obesity has been present for some time, this chemical is also breed specific to natives and cross breeds. The monocytes cause the fat cells to grow and to swell hence the hardness of a ‘cresty neck’ before an attack of laminitis.
2. Step two is the setting up of a low grade inflammation throughout the body, to achieve this effect the monocytes convert to macrophages and to a chemical called TNF-1 both alter the normal metabolism and signal the release of triglycerides from the adipose tissue which is a normal response to infection/inflammation and disease. Low grade inflammation results and chronic insulin resistance sets in.
3. The third step is the release of yet more insulin to deal with the transport of triglycerides, whilst in the adipose tissue IL-1 and IL-6 are produced and have a negative impact, producing greater insulin resistance, these immune cells also have an effect on the appetite and energy levels by producing a hormone called leptin. This hormone is often measured in a blood test as it is indicative of insulin resistance.
Breakdown
The final stage in the process is endocrinopathic laminitis caused by;-
• High levels of circulating insulin (above 200 micro iu/ml)
• A disrupted glucose supply to the foot.
• High levels of triglycerides/lipids cause an altered blood flow to the foot.
• Pro inflammatory chemicals TNF-1, IL-1, IL-6 are influential in many diseases states in humans and are anticipated to play a significant part in the final breakdown of the hoof.
• With the increased levels of insulin also comes an increase in the hormone insulin growth factor-1 this hormone causes rapid cell division.
High insulin levels can cause changes to the foot (lamellar) within 6 hours with significant structural breakdown occurring at 48 hours. At six hours the secondary epidermal lamellae are becoming longer and narrower and at 12 hours this damage is even more marked. There is an increased amount of cell division which causes the tissues to swell and an increase in vasodilation together with an increased hoof wall temperature. High insulin levels cause cell division as do the other pro inflammatory chemicals released by the adipose tissue. The injury is more severe around the pedal bone with some of the sections of the basement membrane almost completely disintegrated within a short period of time.
A ‘cresty’ neck is a hormone factory that manufactures many signalling chemicals that have a major impact on the health of the horse including laminitis. Some horses (natives and cross breeds) are predisposed to this disease because they have a good survival mechanism that allows them to use alternative energy systems to stay healthy. Native ponies are part of our heritage and culture, we should endeavour to become good stewards of these unique animals and adapt our modern management systems around their needs rather than our own.

01/09/2016

26/07/2016

31/05/2016

31/05/2016

by Linda Chamberlain Meet Marc Ferrador. He was a much-respected farrier who had serious doubts about nailing shoes to horses’ hooves and decided to do something about it. Colleagues thought …

31/05/2016

Blanketing a horse in the winter is not only unnecessary but is also harmful.

02/05/2016

How to help an over weight horse stop eating so much

15/04/2016

The health of the horse shows up in their hooves! It is usually the case that symptoms of pathology in the hooves - such as 'white line separation' must be 'treated' by what goes into the horse and not by a trimming technique or with a shoe. A horse with 'white line separation' is likely a horse grazing on a pasture rich in sugars & carbs or being fed a diet high in sugar and/or carbs or has been the recipient of too much medication in the way of vaccinations, chemical wormers, steroids, sedatives, pain-killers, etc. Eliminate the pharmaceuticals, throw out any feed with beet pulp, molasses, sugar, artificial sweeteners, corn or high concentrations of rice bran and, if you are not in an arid climate, consider tracking your property to eliminate - or limit - access to most of the grass without limit the horses' ability to move. Instead, feed as much low sugar/low carb grass hays as the horses want to eat as the primary foundation of their diet and soon the separation will be replaced with a healthy hoof with well-connected structures.

21/03/2016

Did you know that the use of pea rock can be very effective in getting an acutely laminitic equine comfortable quickly? Go here for more information: http://ecirhorse.org/index.php/conference-proceedings-recordings

03/03/2016

Tradition dictates that racehorses should be shod to get good traction and to protect the hoof, but some trainers believe not all horses should be shod, especially those racing on synthetic surfaces. For the past seven years, Wayne Rice has … Continue reading →

28/02/2016

24/02/2016

Through most of human history, people believed the horse’s hoof was nothing more than a solid block with little, if any, feeling in it. In ...

23/02/2016

15/02/2016

Note: This content is educational in nature and designed for equine health professionals. If you are interested in in, please ask your vet to recommend an ac...

15/02/2016

by Linda Chamberlain Thanks to the growing barefoot movement there are now many farriers who offer a barefoot service. But some have turned their backs on the trade. Some won't shoe another horse. ...

12/02/2016

The circulation in contracted feet has most definitely been compromised to some point – in severe contraction, often to the point of deficient nerve function being.

09/02/2016

Hoof Boot and Natural Hoof Care tips from Christoph Schork of Global Endurance Training Center

04/02/2016

Hoof Care Practitioners share their experiences from the field.

02/02/2016

"Just a kink in the neck, or something more? What is it that we are really seeing and feeling in our horse’s bodies?"

What clues do you think you might find in a horse with changes like these? What might they have difficulty with in training? Can you think of any possible inciting factors?

There are no wrong answers - this page is intended to make you think and question, so that you can do the same as an advocate for your own horses or clients.

There are many facets (pardon the pun) to this particular case, which will be revealed piece by piece... But this is a good place to start, because it is a troublesome area in many performance horses

Hint: I find issues here most commonly in a) dressage horses and b) harness racing horses...

"Is a bulge in the neck just “out” or temporarily misaligned? Is it a muscle that is overdeveloped, or stuck in contraction? Or, are the bones actually in bigger trouble than we might think?

In becoming aware of what we are really feeling underneath the skin, we can make informed decisions about how to manage the problem..."

To see another case of changes in this area that correlated to palpable issues on the surface, check out this piece: http://www.foundationsofsoundness.com/just-a-kink-in-the-neck-or-something-more-what-really-lies-beneath/

25/01/2016

HORSES HAVE THINNER SKIN AND MAY FEEL MORE PAIN THAN HUMANS

For those who think horses don't feel pain as we do - you could be right. They may feel far more. Australian TV programme 'Catalyst' asked vet pathologist Dr. Lydia Tong to look at the differences between horse and human skin, something that has surprisingly never been studied before. She found the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) is thinner in horses and they have a higher density of 'pain sensing' nerve endings than we do. So what happens to the great whip debate now I wonder?

This information was revealed as part of an interesting film looking at the use of the whip in racing and is well worth a watch. Professor Paul McGreevy is also interviewed here, one of the authors of the article I shared a couple of days ago analysing whip use in UK racing. The information about the horse's skin starts around 12.30.

The image below is of horse skin on the left with the thinner epidermis. On the right, human skin.

You can watch the programme here: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4201890.htm

Further information here: http://m.foxsports.com.au/more-sports/horse-racing/pressure-mounts-to-ban-whips-as-new-study-indicates-horses-feel-pain-when-whipped/story-e6frf41l-1227275365083

25/01/2016

For Does your horse suffer from separation anxiety?

'For a herd animal to be anxious when left alone should probably be considered a normal behavioural reaction. But why does separation anxiety affect some horses more than others? And why are some horses so terrified of being alone they panic to such a degree they risk injuring themselves?

Horses kept alone can become extremely anxious. They have no one to watch over them while they doze or sleep, so never have the chance to totally relax.'

Horse magazine have kindly agreed for me to share my article looking at separation anxiety - why these close attachments occur and how you can take the stress out of separation.

The article is here:http://www.equinebehaviourist.co.uk/uploads/2/3/8/9/23898877/separation_proof2.pdf

You can find more information about the current issue here
http://www.horsemagazine.co.uk

23/01/2016

Constantly keeping horses rugged is not good for their wellbeing and health ...

21/01/2016

Cushing’s disease, or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), occurs primarily in older horses — those in their mid to late teens and early 20s — but the disease has been documented in horses as young as 10 years old. Approximately one in seven horses will be diagnosed with P…