Коне без подкови България / Barefoot in Bulgaria

23/12/2024

27/11/2024

So you want to buy that horse?

How do you know if it is as you think you see it?

Get a vet check? Yes of course but it will just say that on the day that the horse is ok or not.
X rays? Scans? Again it tells you if at the time of taking those diagnostics if everything is clear or not.
Ride the horse? On the day again.
Get someone else to come and see as well? Again it’s on the day.
Shod ? Depends upon the shoeing cycle and how well shod .
Barefoot ?Again depends upon the trimming cycle and how balanced the hooves are.

So what would I recommend?

Definitely get a thorough vet check, not just limbs and body but heart and lungs and make sure that the vet sees the horse on all surfaces in hand and ridden in all paces. So yes you might have to pay for a whole afternoon but be present at the vetting.
Possibly get a better rider to try the horse out.
Ask to see the horse barefoot after being trimmed for 2 weeks, make a Hoof Wear Pattern Schematic and then you will see the strengths and weaknesses of the whole horse.
Go and see the horse 2 or 3 times.
If someone pushes you to buy, be patient and never trust someone selling even if you know them well.
Take your time especially if you are not a professional.
It’s so easy to let your emotions run wild especially when you feel that you click, so always take someone with you.
If you are uncertain about anything just tell the seller that it’s not the horse for you.
If you like the horse but want to return let the seller know that you are not a tyre kicker and that you are serious 😊

26/11/2024

21/11/2024

Why is it we wait so long until the pathology is so advanced?
Why don’t we start youngsters off properly and avoid so much pathology?
When are people going to stop trying to fix hooves with an outdated material?
Let’s start looking more closely when we see the start of distortion and stop trying to normalise it!

18/11/2024

As hooves start to heal after laminitis, they go through several stages of healing processes.
We have to learn to be patient and recognise what exactly the hooves are trying to do/accomplish.
Getting the back of the hoof to load and land comfortably and balanced,should be the main aim, then the rest of the hoof will redevelop and balance.
We should remove any excess tissue that is trying to shed or is forming a block to movement.
But of course this can only be done if it doesn’t cause discomfort or stress as this would set the hoof back again.
The use of boots and pads or soft surfaces is extremely important and be prepared to change the types of the above as the hooves go through the healing processes.
So I know that everyone will want to comment on what they would want to do to this hoof, but unless you are at this type of hoof in person and can touch and feel the strengths and weaknesses of all the tissues and see how the horse can move on a tight circle then I would warn against it 😊
Understanding of healing processes and levels of stress are such fundamental skills that come with experience 😊
There are a lot of great hoofcare professionals out there that understand what I am saying here😊 and they all know that it’s never black and white.
We must never just focus on the hooves themselves but also be aware of the loads on the joints and the stress effects on the rest of the body.
Treating just at the hoof is never going to be as effective as treating the whole horse.( or any other ungulates that are affected by laminitis)
People ask me what method I use and I say that it’s the principles that I learnt from Jaime Jackson as he set out in his horse owners guide to hoof care for horse owners many years ago, plus of course the many years of experience from travelling to many different countries and treating lots of different laminitic cases😊

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12/11/2024

Trim this - trim that!
Under trim or over trim,both are harmful.
Black and White rules are not helpful.
It’s all about balance and being guided by the horse and the hoof you have in your hand.
There are healing processes that you can and should not ignore, be guided by them when removing (or not) material.
Don’t ignore the reason why the hooves strengthen the weakest parts or around them.
You can’t force a shape, length or angle on a hoof without causing other problems.
The hoof pictured has never been trimmed in its life and has strengthened itself over time formed the shape to optimise its potential when moving over all grounds at all speeds.
Good hooves start from the day they hit the ground and In domestication they rarely get the same start, so are at a disadvantage with everyone trying to play catch up with trying to fix the hooves.
Is it impossible to create good functional hooves in domestication?
Not at all but we need to allow time and strengthening through lots of different stimulation and movement (24/7 turnout) whenever possible.
Learn fully about the Hoof Wear Patterns and they will help guide you to keeping the hooves and horse balanced.

12/11/2024

How high or how low do the heels need to be?
Every hoof is individual and if you look for the red markers/ stress lines these will give you the biggest indication of where the heels need to be.
Remember tubules that run straight are going to be stronger and when they get too long they bend and weaken.
Tubules don’t just grow at straight angles otherwise all hooves would grow like tin cans.
If you force your interpretation of heel height on a hoof, beware you might get a reaction by the rest of the body or joints that you might not want.

15/09/2024

HOOF WEAR PATTERNS.

Do you see the stress line across the tubules?

This line is one indicator of where the heel height needs to be!

But you need to look for other signs in the hoof before you make changes !

Do you know what other signs the hoof will give you?

13/09/2024

Equines just like all ungulates were made to move, gain and lose weight throughout the year as the seasons come and go.
The hooves were designed to carry them over all terrain in all weather conditions, the hooves if in contact with the ground can optimise form and compensate for any change in the body.
Movement keeps the body supple and balanced, stop the ability to move and you cause the body to stagnate ( just like stopping a stream and making a still pond, you know what effect that has?)
If you nail a metal shoe on the hoof it ceases to be able to function properly and compensate, which inevitably leads to imbalances and damage.
As soon as you place anything on the hoof you have changed the balance and then you want to make the horse work with a riders weight?
What effect do you think this brings?
Do you get a bodyworker out every week or sooner to compensate for the imbalances?
The circulatory system relies heavily upon movement to excersize the lungs, move blood and lymph around the body.
Socialisation is more than just standing together, it gives a herd security and protection and imprints learning patterns on youngsters, it calms the mind.
The picture above is from my own horses in the far north of Scotland that were born outside on a track system and have lived there for 20 years, 1 full thorough bred ex race horse and the others were TB mixes.
What a human finds convenient and easy is not necessarily what the equine species needs.
You can create better environments for equines which settle their bodies and minds, having supple,strong ever ready to ride horses that stay healthier has got to be better than ones that are needing more medical input because of strains and sprains, lung issues,mainly caused by stale dusty and smelly air often found in so many stable environments, how does that help health?
I think that in domestication we need to be very honest about why we do things and remember that the responsibility lies directly with yourself and any issues caused are problems that you yourself have created.
So I will not judge anyone but you need to first fully understand the nature of Equus and its needs, then see how best you can implement the care.
Remember this is a partnership and can be extremely rewarding for both parties.
Just a few thoughts and no need for comment, just think about it 😊