The Holistic Hoof / Alternative Equine Hoof Care

17/02/2025

Such valuable information.
By the way I offer f***l egg counts to my clients throughout the year.

We’re halfway through February, which means it is nearly March, which means it is almost “autumn”, which means it's time for this annual post, to catch you all before you drench your horses on the 1st of March.

Mid - late autumn is the No. 1 time of year to worm your horses, because it ties in best with breaking the bot-fly life cycle. A bot fly’s lifecycle is 12 months, so treating just once a year will break that lifecycle (and overtime decrease bot fly populations). By mid-autumn/early winter, the entire population of bot flies will be inside your horse, which means you can target all the bots on your property with a single dosage of a boticide dewormer (ivermectin, abamectin, moxidectin).

If you deworm your horses too early in autumn, you will not be targeting all the bot flies as they are often present well into autumn, laying eggs on your horses coat. If you deworm on the 1st of March, there will be bot flies, and subsequently bot eggs and larvae that come after the treatment and will remain within your horse for the year.

Therefore, hold off on the autumn deworming a little longer, if your horses are in good condition. Wait until the nights cool down and the bot flies disappear before deworming – and make sure that the dewormer you purchase is active against bots, otherwise it will all be in vain. If your horses need to be treated now, do so, but make sure you target bot flies again in early winter. The “first frost” method simply means it is cold enough that the bots will be finished. Australia frosts are not cold enough to actually kill any worms in the ground – these need consistent days of below zero temperatures (think Northern European/American winters)

So that’s my bot-fly spiel. Normally I write about strongyles (my favourite), and so I shall of course make a mention of them here too.
I always recommend a mid-late autumn deworming for ALL HORSES because it a) cleans out any bots and b) all horses really should have a strongyle clean out once a year as well. I may be against deworming for the sake of deworming, however that is only if you are doing it 3 or 4 or more times a year.

Strongyles can have a lifecycle of as little as 6 weeks. In addition, at any one point, about 90% of the strongyle population is living on the pasture, not in the horse. Therefore, the concept of using chemical dewormers inside the horse to break the lifecycle of strongyles would not work. At all. So, we chose our annual deworming-clean-out to line up with as many other parasites as possible.

All boticide dewormers are also effective against strongyles so deworming in autumn is a 2 for 1 type deal. You should also consider using a dewormer that also contains praziquantel to treat for tapeworms to get a complete clean out, just in case tapeworms are present. WormCheck does offer a tapeworm specific FEC now, if you wanted to check beforehand to avoid the overuse of praziquantel. (There have been some scary reports of praziquantel resistance in Europe.)

Lastly… wait, second lastly.. this is a topic too complex to get into here, but: this time of year is key for larval cyathostomins, where encysted larvae have mass emergences from the intestine wall, in response to changes in weather (e.g. in VIC as it cools and becomes wetter again). Deworming and removing adult populations of worms can act as a trigger for larval re-emergence, which is also why I often baulk at deworming horses now. The larvae may slowly re-emerge coming into the cooler weather and treating in mid-late autumn may be a safer bet to remove adults and emerged larvae. The research on this is sketchy as best, however these are patterns shown in cattle and hypothetically should translate over into horses.

And lastly (pat on the back for reading this far): just because I’m recommending deworming all horses does not mean I am not recommending FECs in autumn. A FEC will tell you important things about your horses health, and pick up anything odd that may be happening (e.g. a spike in EPG in a horse that is usually a low shedder; this is a sign of an impaired immune system, e.g. EMS, cushings). Doing an autumn FEC will also allow you to test drug efficacy. Autumn should be a key time for everyone to do a FECRT (faecal egg count reduction test), where you get FECs done before and after deworming to make sure that it worked. If you only deworm once a year, then you’ve only got one chance for a FECRT, and you cannot, I repeat, you CANNOT do a FECRT without a FEC before to compare to.

If you’d like to organise FECs and FECRTs for your horses this autumn, check out the website (link on the FB page) for postal submission and drop off points/events.

24/12/2024

Coming Soon: The TheraRide Introducing the Scootboot TheraRide, the first therapeutic hoof boot designed for both therapy and riding! Join The Waitlist Why Choose The TheraRide? The Scootboot TheraRide is the world's most revolutionary hoof boot designed for both therapy and riding. It's the ideal s...

19/12/2024

Today is my last day of work for this year. I'll be back on the job the 2nd of January '25.

I wanna thank all my clients past and present for trusting their horses into my care. I wish you a lovely Christmas time and a happy new year. I know it's not always a happy affair for everyone, so kindness goes a long way and an extra smile doesn't cost anything.

Be kind to yourself.

See you all again in 2025 🫶

25/11/2024

How cute is this dress up a client did for their kids party 🥳 😍

05/11/2024

I’ve written about soil sulfur and methionine deficiency often. Everything I’m seeing says it’s getting worse. Methionine for hooves and a whole lot more Methionine is an essentia…

03/11/2024

Have you wormed your horse yet?? Did you know that not every horse needs worming in Spring?? Get a FEC test done before you worm. Horses that return a FEC below 200 epg (eggs per gram) do not need worming and can be monitored based on grass growth, rainfall and temperatures until the autumn/winter worming period. Moderate to high shedding horses will need worming; by following this evidence based worming practice you are helping to reduce the overuse of wormers and potential for resistance developing.

06/10/2024

Many horse owners turn to supplements in hopes of reducing insulin levels and preventing laminitis, especially for horses diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome. However, it’s important to note that no supplements have been scientifically proven in peer-reviewed studies to reduce insulin or prevent laminitis. Despite the abundance of products marketed for this purpose, these claims are often based on anecdotal evidence or poorly controlled studies.

Insulin dysregulation is a complex condition that is best managed through careful dietary adjustments, including low-sugar feeds and reducing overall calorie intake, particularly for overweight horses. While some supplements claim to help regulate insulin levels, these have not been rigorously tested or shown to provide consistent, measurable benefits across a wide population of horses. The unwillingness of companies to share their raw data and lack of large-scale, peer-reviewed studies leaves many questions about their true efficacy and safety.

In addition, products like Founderguard contain an antibiotic called Virginiamycin. There is no evidence that Founderguard reduces insulin levels in horses. This product has been banned in countries such as the UK, and the use of such antibiotics in animal products raises concerns about contributing to antibiotic resistance. This highlights the need to be cautious when considering products that may have unintended consequences beyond their intended use.

While a strong marketing campaign can make some products appear compelling, it is important to remember that relying on supplements may delay proper treatment and prolong suffering in a laminitic horse.

� Contact us on 0427 072 095 or schedule an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

06/10/2024

Thanks Sarah, great post.

Edited to add; I'm always a bit reluctant posting these sorts of posts because its always the loveliest clients who worry if they're not being good, and the people who need to fix themselves the most who probably won't read this. Just wanted to say if you've been on my books more than 5 visits I can just about guarantee I don't mean you, and I love and appreciate all of my wonderful ongoing clients so much

05/10/2024

Please read carefully, I still get asked about this product sometimes and even some vets still recommend it. It's not something I would regularly feed to my horses with laminitic issues.

20/09/2024

Due to a family emergency I'll have to fly to Germany tonight and I'll be back on the 1st of October.
I've contacted most that had been scheduled in at that time. Will see you all soon again. 🙏

31/08/2024

I couldn't write it better.

👉 YOU GET THE TRIM YOU STAND FOR 👈

Period.

- Training/Behaviors: It is NOT the job of the hoof care provider to train your young or green horse to stand for trims WHILE trying to trim them. It is the responsibility of the of the horse owner to work with the horse before calling out the HCP and setting the horse up for a comfortable, calm appointment. Of course we will work with you and your baby brained equine as they grow and mature, but do not expect picture perfect trims if said equine cannot hold still enough for them. And do not expect us to wrestle with them if they are not ready.

- Pain: Pain is a FACTOR, not an EXCUSE. Ooooo. I may ruffle feathers with this one. Pain? Behavior? Both? A horse with an old injury, arthritis, etc will need special considerations during hoof care appointments. Yes, 100%. But also realize, PAIN INFLUENCES BEHAVIOR, and can most certainly make for undesirable and dangerous behaviors at that. *Again, it is not the HCP's job to put themself at risk working with an uncooperative equine for any reason.* If you have a horse in pain, it is YOUR job as the owner or caretaker to properly manage that pain and work with the horse to find ways for them to stand through trims as comfortably as possible. Without this attention, behaviors like ripping legs away, kicking out, biting, avoiding, etc. can develop. Just because they are defensive responses due to pain, DOES NOT MEAN THE HCP HAS TO PUT THEMSELF AT RISK DEALING WITH THEM. (Can I get an Amen?) The pain brings about the behavior. If the horse truly cannot stand for trims in a way that works for them AND the HCP due to pain and dysfunction, then that's another conversation about quality of life.

My shoulder was injured last November due to being ripped around by uncooperative horses. It will never be the same. I can speak for countless HCPs when I say we've been injured (sometimes permanently) in our work. Working with horses comes with a risk. Things happen. One way we can reduce those risks is to be selective with the animals we take on. This is our livelihood. These are the only bodies we get. There is no magic farrier dust that comes out of our rasps that solves behavior challenges, regardless of where those behaviors stem from. With these challenging situations, expect either an incomplete trim, or no trim at all. We have limits.

Some tips:

-Take the time! Pick up. Put down. Repeat. Do it again. Hold it longer. Repeat. Build strength and duration and in doing so it will also build trust and patience. We come out once a month. There is no progress if the only hoof handling the horse gets is during appointments.

-Manage the pain! Daily CBD, Equioxx, strength building through appropriate exercise, massage, etc. Make sure the approach to pain management matches the level of pain the horse is in! CBD is great but they may need something more like Equioxx. Equioxx is great but if the pain is acute, maybe some bute or dorm gel needs to be on board.

-Find what works! If a horse has limited range of motion, train them to prop their hoof on something close to the ground and STAND STILL in that spot. Find where they are comfortable and train them to hold there. Home Run Hoofstand LLC is a neat creation for those horses who need their limbs low!

-Think outside the box- Clicker training, "open bar" feeding with hay pellets, tying up a hay net, etc. can be low stress ways to help keep the horse distracted enough to let us HCPs do the work that needs to be done.

The point is, there are numerous ways to address hoof care hiccups. In order for a horse to remain on the schedule, I have to first be able to trim them without putting my physical wellbeing at risk. Horses with repeated and unaddressed challenging behaviors will not be kept on the rotation for long. Losing my physical ability to work is not worth your horse's hooves.

26/07/2024

I'm taking a brief break from the 29th of July till the 7th of August 🌴

12/07/2024

This is so important for proper rest and mental well-being. Now that I have a little family I really have to have clear boundaries.
People sometimes don't realize how much work it is to run a business, reply to up to 20 messages a day, bookeeping and work around childcare + run a household. But I love it and I want to keep loving it. ❤️

When a farrier puts down their tools for the day, it's important to respect their business hours.

Like everyone it's important to maintain a healthy work/life balance ⚖

Messaging out of work hours can feel like an unexpected guest arriving for Sunday Roast with your family to talk about appointments and horse shoeing.

✅ Studies show - people who maintain clear boundaries between work and their personal life have increased job satisfaction, productivity & overall wellbeing
✅ Studies show - people who felt obligated to respond to work messages outside of working hours experienced higher levels of stress and reduced wellbeing (University of Sussex)
✅ Studies show - poor work-life balance is a significant contributor to stress, anxiety, and depression – (The Mental Health Foundation)

‼️If it's an emergency make sure you contact your vet as soon as possible‼️

🧠 Farriers - remember to lead by example & follow your own rules!

09/07/2024

It's always good to say goodbye to cracks 👌

24/06/2024

Happiness is when you are squeezed between two cute fluffy donkey kids 💖

22/06/2024

For all the donkey owners out there, less is often more.
Remember a donkey is very hardy and thrives in desert like conditions.

16/06/2024

I understand pretty is attractive but it doesn't mean it is functional.

Question everything

In today’s age with social media and now meta-AI we have to dig deeper. Soundbites and pretty photos of hooves, generate likes and comments.

But I have to wonder, do those things make you wonder and dig deeper or blindly jump on the bandwagon?

An unpopular opinion, but one truth is that no single individual has the answers about hoof care for every single horse. Hoof care is rather nuanced.

It is my jam to ask ‘why’ so that I can understand. I try to consider the possibilities and the variables that could make someone else’s ‘why’ makes sense to me. While I may have a different approach to addressing something, I try not to discredit the prior approach as there can be many roads to Rome. Variables change, horses change, and what was true six weeks or six months ago may not still be true now. The ‘why’ they made that decision then may not hold true now. Hooves don’t exist in a vacuum, free from change. They are changing and adapting all the time. Which in turn means that we often have to change and adapt our thought process for how we are going to approach a trim and potential shoeing.

I don’t live in either extreme of the hoof care world. There is a place for everything sometimes. The beauty of extremes is that it educates us and push us past comfort levels to open our minds to new research or understanding, try something new or different or better. I believe most answers lie somewhere in the middle of the extremes. Of course, there will always be some outliers, which is why we need to look at all possibilities and question what we think we know.

Most human beings want things to be black and white and fit into a neat little box, myself included. The reality is that is not how life works the vast majority of time. Social media will have you believe that everything does actually fit in a neat little box.

It is up to us to ask the harder questions, to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and not knowing. The only way we can better advocate for our horses is to get comfortable doing our own research and asking questions.