Carani Hoofcare - Leanne Smith

24/09/2023

Super excited to be one of only 28 people Australia-wide to secure a spot in this clinic. I’ve been following Tami’s work for a few years now and have been hoping for a chance to learn from her in person 😁

If you haven’t already, head over to her page Tami Elkayam Equine Bodywork and check her out!

➡Tami Elkayam COMING TO AUSTRALIA‼️

Attention Australian Followers🇦🇺

I have finally been able to find space in Tami Elkayam busy clinic diary to secure her to come to Australia in July 2024. She has agreed to hold 2 clinics that will deliver two of her 3 Day Introductory Tensegrity Balancing Therapy Course.

DATES: Clinic #1 24-26 July 2024 & Clinic #2 28-30 July 2024

LOCATION: Sherony Park Equestrian - 134 Read Road SUTTON, NSW (near Canberra). This location has been chosen as Canberra is easy to fly into from around Australia and has lots of well priced accomodation.

For more information head over to the special group I create for those interested in her visit 🙂 Here is a link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/826905489027303/

19/09/2023

Nothing like a mid-trim smooch 🥰

05/07/2023

Some good info on PPID/Cushing’s and laminitis

Since the 1960s when reports of equine pituitary adenomas and their systemic consequences appeared in the literature, our understanding of Cushing’s disease (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunc…

09/04/2023

👏👏👏

Zoom in on those beautiful bare hooves 😍🥰 That's right! BAREFOOT horse King Edward, with his Swedish rider Henrik von Eckermann, just won the World Cup final!!

30/03/2023

30/03/2023

Hi all, Please see attached new pricing schedule, effective 1/5/23. All current clients have been messaged. Any questions flick me a message.

Cheers,
Leanne

14/03/2022

Something I am seeing more and more of unfortunately 😔

Your farrier is only one piece of the puzzle - diet, lifestyle/environment and veterinary intervention all play important roles as well.

As a horse owner, it is important to recognize the signs of laminitis and seek veterinary help immediately.

Signs of acute laminitis include:
❗Lameness, especially when a horse is turning in circles; shifting lameness when standing
❗ Heat in the feet
❗ Increased digital pulse in the feet
❗Pain in the toe region when pressure is applied with hoof testers
❗Reluctant or hesitant gait, as if “walking on eggshells”
❗ A “sawhorse stance,” with the front feet stretched out in front to alleviate pressure on the toes and the hind feet “camped out” or positioned farther back than normal to bear more weight

Signs of chronic laminitis may include:
❗ Rings in hoof wall that become wider as they are followed from toe to heel
❗ Bruised soles or “stone bruises”
❗ Widened white line, commonly called “seedy toe,” with occurrence of blood pockets and/or abscesses
❗ Dropped soles or flat feet
❗Thick, “cresty” neck
❗ Dished hooves, which are the result of unequal rates of hoof growth

⚠️ If you suspect laminitis, consider it a medical emergency and contact us immediately on 0427 072 095. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance for recovery.

💻 Book an appointment online. We can perform metabolic testing to predict your horse's risk of laminitis based on their current management :
https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

🎥 Watch our full laminitis webinar : https://youtu.be/BvfX9jgD2is

04/03/2022

A good reminder to check your paddocks (and your horses’ hooves) regularly.

Hoof pe*******on injuries can be fatal. I’ve encountered a few over the years but fortunately none were as deep as this and all had good outcomes 🙏🏼🤞🏼

Deadly

My next study. A beautiful horse just 3 years old and loved by her owner since a foal. Rosie stepped on this. In deep grass, In a paddock grazed for years. 3 weeks later euthanised due to massive infection.

I am studying her feet - both forefeet- with Professor Pollitt to see how much internal damage was done and find exactly where the nail penetrated.

No negative comments. Owner is grieving and gave me permission to post to help others. Negative comments will be removed and commenters warned.
It’s always easy after the event to think we could have done better. And remember vet and hospital bills can be in the 1000’s and folks don’t have that spare money.

Have you experience with a nail pe*******on injury. Please share. Good or bad. Let’s learn from each other.

http://www.patreon.com/hoofstudies

Grateful thanks to my Small Business Supporters. ❤️. Please help support them as they help to support me!

Melissa LaFlamme
Equine podiatrist and teacher
Quebec

Tiffani Radake
Owner at Hug Your Horse
US Hidalgo, Consultant
Illinois, US

15/02/2022

I feel like a broken record sometimes 😫

So many fat horses at the moment, and this time of year is when there is the least amount of food in the paddocks!

Fat horses are a ticking time bomb for so many health problems.

It all starts with species appropriate diet and exercise. And if you are doing all the right things and still struggling with your horse’s weight then please consult your veterinarian for further options!

Fat streaking muscle in the equine

It’s not healthy to over feed horses but it’s so hard not to. I’m the first to give yummy hard feeds to my horse but… he is a skinny TB that needs every calorie he can get.

Why should we not over feed? I think it’s like us humans- we put on weight- not muscle but fat. Fat that we should use in the winter when food is scarce but but we don’t use it! Food is not scarce!

I read that fat horses are not healthy. Fat horses create big pressure on joints and I can totally see that in myself. When I put on weight my knees hurt. Loose the weight and I’m prancing again.

In this photo the horse was not particularly fat looking. He was a 13 year old pony with chronic laminitis. He was loved by his owner - too much- and I do understand. He had a huge cresty neck, full of fat, a apple shaped rear end that on post mortem was full of fat. And even his muscles were fat infiltrated. He really did not look fat but I’m pretty sure it helped his laminitis and metabolic syndrome to flare up and cause no end of issues.

My words- I’m learning about this. What’s your thoughts on this and how does obesity affect feet? Apart from the excess weight the feet have to support, does fat have a direct affect on feet?

http://www.patreon.com/hoofstudies

Grateful thanks to my Small Business Supporters. ❤️. Please help support them as they help to support me!

Melissa LaFlamme
Equine podiatrist and teacher
Quebec

Tiffani Radake
Owner at Hug Your Horse
US Hidalgo, Consultant
Illinois, US

24/12/2021

Wishing all my clients and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for a great year, see you in 2021! 🍾🎉

20/09/2021

‼️LAMINITIS RISK WARNING‼️

Heads up to all clients, looks like it’s that time of year 😫

Four of the 10 horses I trimmed today had signs of active laminitis. Thankfully the owners all knew what to watch for and had them off the grass and onto a low sugar diet. If you are tossing up whether your horse/pony needs to come off the grass then I suggest you act sooner rather than later. All four of these cases developed within the last week.

Remember, prevention is better than cure! 🐴🌾

16/08/2021

Some good info here! I have a feeling it’s going to be a bad year for laminitis with some horses/ponies already showing early warning signs 😬

10/08/2021

Really interesting article at the bottom of this post - talking about the effects of excess moisture and wet/dry cycles on hooves

01/08/2021

Good opportunity to stock up on Artimud 🙌

🎈🎉 HAPPY HORSES BIRTHDAY🎉🎈

Today happens to be Mr Rainie's 30th Birthday! To celebrate I decided to have store-wide flash sale 30% off* to celebrate!

Just use the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY at checkout.

*valid 9am to 11.59pm today, only. While stocks last. No holds, rainchecks or laybys. Not valid with any other offer.

29/04/2021

Really interesting dissection showing thrush invasion in the collateral grooves, despite appearing clean from the surface. I highly recommend cleaning the feet daily and packing with an antibacterial hoof clay as a preventative measure.

21/04/2021

Fun fact: did you know that all your horse’s weight is balanced on the equivalent of one of your fingertips?

A comparison between the human hand and a horse’s front leg

Did you know that horses, humans, and all other mammals share a common ancestor- with five toes!So, why do modern horses only have one toe? This question has been a matter of debate among scientists for many years. A study published by The Royal Society in 2017 suggested that as horses became larger, one big toe provided more resistance to bone stress than many smaller toes. As the horse’s body mass increased, their centre toes got bigger and more resistant to stress, whereas their side toes shrank and eventually disappeared.

Reference: McHorse et al. 2017. Mechanics of evolutionary digit reduction in fossil horses (Equidae). Proc. R. Soc. B. 284:20171174.

This diagram nicely demonstrates how the bones and joints in a horse’s front leg compare to that in our hands!

14/04/2021

A video that I wish every horse owner/rider/trainer/farrier/body worker would watch! 🙏🏼

It goes for almost an hour and is a bit glitchy in some places but there is some really important information here!

https://youtu.be/HnyYWuTRJ8E

04/03/2021

Hey guys! While the recent rains have been a blessing for our dams and rainwater tanks, they do pose a few risks for our beloved hooved friends... ⚠️

THRUSH

If I haven’t been out to your horses in the past week or so there’s a good chance your horses’ hooves will have some loose/flappy bits of frog. These flappy bits often trap mud/dirt/bacteria and provide a perfect breeding ground for thrush! Get your hoof pick out and clean your horses’ feet a minimum of once a day and start with thrush treatment NOW! I highly recommend Red Horse products “Hoof Stuff” for deep cracks and ”Artimud” for regular hoof maintenance.

ABSCESSES

We often see an increase in abscesses after the first rains following a long dry spell. Again, clean your horses’ feet a minimum once a day! If possible, provide a dry area for them to stand so their hooves have a chance to dry out. Keep an eye out for sudden lameness in one foot, heat, swelling and a digital pulse.

COLIC

With the first rain of the season comes lots of yummy green pick! Unfortunately if your horse is grazing this green pick before the roots are established they are liable to ingest a lot of sand. Try and keep your horses off the green pick until the roots are established (generally a few weeks depending on the weather). Provide plenty of hay and keep up with your regular sand prevention regime.

LAMINITIS

Again, this fresh green pick is super yummy and also super high in sugar! If you have a horse/pony that is susceptible to laminitis the time to act is NOW. Regular clients should all know the drill by now but if you have any questions please do ask!

SLIPPERY GROUND

And finally, it is likely your horses are enjoying the change in weather as much as you are! Let them be horses and have a nice roll in the mud but also be aware of the possibility of injury due to slips on the wet ground. Keep an eye on your ponies and take extra care when riding.

Cheers,
Leanne

25/01/2021

Diet or Trim – What Makes a Healthy Hoof?

Saying it louder for those in the back!

Diet, diet, diet, diet, diet!! 🙌

(And let me take care of the trim 😉)

If you ask me which is more difficult for an owner to get right, I’d say the trim. If you ask a talented hoof professional, they would usually say diet. It’s actually a trick question. …

13/01/2021

I have just finished reading this book by Tomas G. Teskey Veterinary Insights!! 👌🏼

👉🏼 For anyone wanting a deeper understanding of how our equines are designed to function, and how we can keep them happy and healthy by honouring what they are by design, then I highly, highly recommend getting yourself a copy 🙌😄

The key take-home messages for me were that:

1. The way most of us keep our horses is not in line with how horses evolved to thrive.

🐎 Horses evolved in dry desert environments eating a variety of low-sugar, fibrous grasses. Their food was not available in meals, instead they moved many miles a day, in herds, grazing as they went. This movement, over varied - but dry- terrain is THE biggest thing missing from most domestic horses’ lives and leads to a myriad of health issues.

2. Everything is related.

🐎 The feet, the teeth, the diet, the terrain, the movement, the socialisation... if one thing is out of balance, this sets off a whole chain of reactions in other parts of the horse’s well-being. Learn to recognise what is “normal” verses what is “common”.

3. If we want our horses to be their happiest, healthiest selves then we need to stop focusing on what we want from them, but instead what we can do for them.

🐎 Once we start treating and keeping our horses as they evolved to be (or as close as possible to), a lot of the common “issues” around health and behaviour will resolve or significantly lesson. Horses are horses and if we want to have a meaningful and happy relationship with them then we need to respect them for what they are and allow them to be as they were designed to be!

24/12/2020

Well, I think now is a pretty good time to knock off for the year! 🥵

Thank you all so much for another fantastic 12 months! I am truly grateful to each and every one of you for entrusting me with your horses’ hoof health ❤️

I absolutely love catching up with everyone during my visits and getting to know your beautiful animals 🥰🐴

I will be taking a much needed break over the Christmas period and will be back at it early in the new year. Can you guess what I’ve got planned for the next couple weeks? 😜📚📖

Wishing you all a safe and happy holidays and see you in 2021! 🏖🥂✈️🏄‍♀️

20/12/2020

I told them it was time to have their feet done... So they both played dead 🤣

17/12/2020

Happy mini donk day! 🥰

Nothing official or anything I just made it up 😉

07/12/2020

I’ve heard good things about this product, can’t wait to give it a go! From the same people who make Artimud 😃

24/11/2020

DEREK POUPARD LIVING HIS DREAM WITH GODOLPHIN

Great to see some forward thinking in the racing industry. And to have acknowledgement of the damage steel shoes have to the overall health of the hoof.

A TRUE GENTLEMAN, A GREAT FARRIER AND A WONDERFUL PERSON TO BE AROUND

11/11/2020

Carani Hoofcare - Leanne Smith's cover photo

11/11/2020

📷 photo credit: Claudia Landreville

10/11/2020

Proud farrier moment today 🥰

12 months ago this little mare was terrified of people. Her first “trim” consisted of me spending 45 min trying to get close enough to pet her and just pick up her feet.

Fast forward 12 months and today we had our first trim without the owner present. While still nervous about people, she stood calmly, lead rope on the ground, to have all four feet trimmed. She even managed to partake in a few selfies 😆

This mare is a real credit to her owners who have worked hard to build her trust in humans, and understood that it was more important to get her comfortable having her feet handled than trying to force her to “stand” to get a perfect trim each time.

Helping horses like this is one of my favourite parts of this job 💞

23/10/2020

Woof Woof

Me after a big week of trimming this week 🤣

Have a great weekend everyone!

Me 2 minutes after getting home from work on Friday's... 🤣💤

19/10/2020

Someone felt good after their trim today 🐎💨😆

13/10/2020

- HAY TESTING -

It’s that time of year again! New season’s hay is getting baled and stacked in the shed. As more horse owners are becoming aware of their horses’ nutritional requirements - especially for sugar-sensitive horses - why not take the guesswork out of formulating your horse’s diet and have your hay tested?

Prices start at $50 for hay coring (collecting the sample) and analyses generally cost around $130 for a full nutritional analysis in the US via wet chemistry testing*

This information can then be used to formulate a diet specific to your horse’s requirements, meaning no more guesswork! Feel free to get in touch with any questions or for more info 🌾

*actual price of depends on US exchange rate and analyses performed

18/09/2020

Massive thanks to Wayne and Roz from Rozway Signs in Moora for the flash new car signage! 🤩

If you’re looking for signage you can’t go past Rozway Signs, give them a call on 0412 684 911 👌🏼

10/09/2020

Call out for mineral orders! Will be placing an order this weekend, let me know if you need anything ☺️

08/09/2020

A New Era in Worm Control | Horses and People

Some really good info about worming regimes - something I know can be very confusing for horse owners (myself included!) 🐛

Worm control: Are you unsure which horse wormer to use or when? Brush up with this sustainable and strategic advice that is backed by the latest research.

01/09/2020

I know buddy, this weather isn’t much fun is it 🌧💨🥶

26/08/2020

What a welcoming committee!

I spotted this beautiful flock of Carnaby Cockatoos while out and about trimming this morning. Most were hiding in the roadside weeds but this guy was loud and proud! ☺️

11/08/2020

Sneaking in some cuddle breaks 💞

05/08/2020

Mineral order going in this week! Shout out if you need anything 😊