Tsunami Wynd Equine Inc

07/08/2025

The Flat Rasp – "A weapon of hoof mass destruction"

The familiar ”flat rasp” can be found in the tool box of any professional farrier or barefoot trimmer, including DIY horse owners. It is commonly the most deployed tool in all trimming camps, requiring less skill to manipulate than the hoof nipper (see my previous post). We see the farrier trying to get the bottom of hoof wall flattened from heel to toe for the horseshoe, and not infrequently rasping the toe wall back to the shoe (a "no no"), while the barefooter finds the rasp far less expensive to replace than the dull, chipped blades of the abused hoof nipper. Horse owners often use the rasp to "touch up" frayed edges of the hoof wall in between visits of their professional provider. It seems everyone is in on the action.

While all this rasping is going on, the Natural Hoof Care (NHC) Practitioner confirmed to a genuine Natural Trim may not use the flat rasp at all. This was the case with me. In fact, my flat rasp spent most of its time in the tool caddy of my tripod hoof stand! Some of my more astute clients noticed this, several asking, “Isn’t that the same flat rasp you were using a year or two ago?” Guilty as charged! The flat rasp's demotion in the hierarchy of trimming tools can be traced to the wild horse hoof model and the advent of new trimming tools designed specifically for the Natural Trim.

Flat rasp - collision with the wild horse hoof!

The very first day I spent at the Litchfield, California BLM corrals 43 years ago (1982) was a total wash out. I remember saying to myself with a farrier's hoof gauge in hand to put on the first wild hoof, "But there’s nothing flat to put the hoof gauge on.” I knew then and there that my days as a farrier freely wielding a flat rasp were numbered. It was just a matter of when.

I also came to see the flat rasp as a potential “weapon of hoof mass destruction.” In fact, it can be easily weaponized by thinning the outer wall to make it look “pretty,” rasping the hoof wall back to the shoe, rasping off unsightly stress waves due to laminitis, getting rid of flare, and over-trimming the Mustang Roll. These are all examples of wall resection that compromise the hoof’s stability and natural growth patterns. In other words, reasons for keeping the flat rasp in the tool caddy.

Don't toss it in the recycling bin, there's still a place for the flat rasp as a Natural Trim tool!

Having said this, the flat rasp still has its place, albeit in a much more limited way. So, it should still be homed in the tool caddy of every NHC Practitioner in case it is needed. The flat rasp now serves the Natural Trim in three important ways: Marking the hooves for cut-lines (Navigational Landmarks), lightly thinning the toe wall's support pillar if it needs it, and using the handle of the rasp to rotate the tool caddy around to access trimming tools during sequencing.

Final thoughts

Today, new and unprecedented tools have arrived to relieve the flat rasp of what it should not and need not do in the Natural Trim. Relegating the flat rasp to the three tasks above are all part of the skill set of the NHC Practitioner, who, in fact, is extending its life into the realm of the unimaginable.

Two flat rasps and a leather rasp cover now available
https://jaimejackson.com/collections/natural-hoof-care

Stay tuned for more tool focused conversations.

07/01/2025

🐎 it's Canada Day! 🐎🍁

06/27/2025

Protein can be a hot topic in equine nutrition. A lot of things can be "blamed" on lack of protein: poor topline, poor coat quality, muscle loss or poor performance, and more. But what does protein actually do for the horse? And what does it do for the hoof?

Once again, Dr. Eleanor Kellon, Dr. Priska Darani, and Dr. Fran Rowe joined the podcast to discuss amino acids - the building blocks of protein - and their importance for hoof health and soundness.

You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2025/06/27/equine-nutrition-protein-and-the-hoof/

Thank you to our amazing sponsors:

Cavallo Hoof Boots is offering 15% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN

A special shout out to Grid as New, Mud Control Grids – they are a game changer for any mud issues, big or small! – mudcontrolgrids.com

Also be sure to check out Hay Boss Feeders – haybossfeeders.com – for all your slow-feeding needs. I get my Hay Boss feeders from Mountain Lane Farm in NH!

06/23/2025

06/16/2025

I was listening to a hoof podcast recently. Pete Ramey was talking about some of the boundaries he sets with his clients. He said -- to paraphrase -- if the client won't address the diet and management then he is not going to waste his time or their money because there are cheaper farriers they can fail with. I've been thinking about that a lot this week.

By and large, my clients are awesome. I am grateful for every one of them and I love getting to know them and their horses. Over the years, I have become more willing to walk away when a client is not ready to hear whatever it is. Situations are complex. I believe people do their best most of the time. I'm not always right, which is why I am a huge advocate for getting the vet involved when needed, and also for working as a team with the vet.

Addressing nutrition is tough, especially when clients have been given incorrect information. It's also really hard when horses are sugar sensitive or lacking in essential nutrition and owners don't want to implement the changes required for the horse's welfare.

Clients can get really stuck on horses needing grass, when unfortunately grass can be very harmful to horses with metabolic issues. Sometimes all it takes is the grass the horse can reach through the paddock fence, if the metabolic issue is serious enough. Hand grazing can also be enough to push a horse over the edge if they are already at the edge. What I usually say to clients who tell me that it's no life for the horse without grass is this: if the horse has a metabolic issue and you give them grass, you need to be ready to go through many months of potentially painful laminitis rehab or you need to prepare yourself to put them down if they founder. As horse owners, we all need to weigh these options and consider each horse's situation. The answer may be different for different animals. Laminitis is not necessarily a death sentence. In fact it is often possible to achieve a complete recovery from laminitis! But the horse owner has to be willing to implement the changes required. Of course it is ideal to make these changes before the horse founders, but it's an imperfect world.

Sugar sensitive horses require a diet that is low in starches and sugars. This means tested hay, careful selection of supplements, care taken around treats and extra feeds, etc. Generally it also means no grass or very restricted grass. Honestly, in my opinion, given all of the horses I have seen and worked on who have laminitis, grass is not worth the risk for a sugar sensitive horse. There are lots of ways to enrich their lives that do not involve playing Russian roulette with pasture induced laminitis.

The tougher cases for me are the ones where the horse suffers with low-grade laminitis but does not necessarily rotate or end up in severe pain. I struggle to call this sub clinical laminitis because there are symptoms! In these cases, it can be even tougher to get clients on board with making management changes, because the issue is chronic and less severe than acute laminitis with rotation so it is easier to sweep under the rug for the horse owner. Horses with this sort of low grade laminitis tend to have more subtle signs, such as:

- persistent flaring / capsular rotation
- poor hoof quality
- low grade foot soreness that tends to worsen after trims/shoeing
- thin soles
- Persistently underrun heels on most or all feet that will not correct with added heel and/or sole support
- Heels that don't seem to grow (because the horse is weighting the heel too much because they are avoiding the painful toes)
- cracks and/or seedy toe and white line disease (though these also happen independently of laminitis)
- exaggerated heel first landings, not the healthy type
- Most or all of these issues will often worsen in the summer months when the horse is on grass (or in the case of Cushings/PPID in late summer / early fall)
- slow hoof growth of poor quality, especially in Cushings horses who are not treated with Prascend/Pergolide. No you cannot treat Cushings with diet alone.

Not every nutritional issue is related to sugars. I also see horses suffering with a lack of sufficient protein, outright lack of calories can also be an issue in some cases, zinc and copper deficiencies, selenium deficiency in this area is also significant. It is not sufficient to just feed hay. Most horses do require mineral and vitamin supplementation in order to meet their basic needs. Horses that are lacking in these vitamins and minerals tend to have poor hoof quality, slow growth, I have seen peeling walls, cracking, feet that lack structural integrity without a huge amount of support, feet that wear excessively. I have told more than one client that they can either pay for a quality supplement or they can pay me for all of the extra support I will have to add to their shoe packages to keep their horses feet from collapsing. Even with that extra support these cases tend to be a losing battle until clients get on board with nutrition and management.

Again, I am reminded of what Pete Ramey said in that podcast: there are cheaper farriers you can fail with. I have a limited amount of time and although making money matters to me because that's how life works, there are much easier ways to make money. I do this job because I want to solve puzzles and help horses, so if the owner is not on board, I won't fight it. I used to, but I won't do it anymore, because it is a waste of energy that can be better spent elsewhere. I would prefer to spend my time solving puzzles where all of the pieces are available to me because that is the way I can help the most horses and solve the most puzzles ⭐️

-------------------------

The usual commenting policy applies on this article. Honest questions and curious, open commentary are always welcome. You don't have to agree with me to have a safe place here to share your thoughts. You do, however, have to share them respectfully if you would like to continue to be welcome here. Snark of any description will not be tolerated and will result in an immediate delete and ban. Thank you 😊

I will also add that comments that promote harmful and incorrect information about laminitis will be deleted. There is a lot of misinformation going around right now and I don't want to turn this post into a platform for that misinformation because that misinformation is harming horses and I do not want that on my conscience. I have already deleted some of those comments and I will continue to do so. The fact that laminitis can be and most often is caused by metabolic disfunction is not up for debate here. There is a fine line between encouraging open discussion and letting my page turn into a circus.
Thanks 😊

06/16/2025

06/16/2025

06/11/2025

Behind every G’s supplement is a personal story which drove us to find a solution. 🤝

When our beloved mare Suzie developed a series of stubborn uterine infections, we searched high and low for a natural, supportive supplement that could work with her body, not against it. After trying endless herbal combinations, we landed on a blend that brought Suzie back into balance, and we knew we had something special. That’s how Hedgerow was born! 🍃

At its heart, Hedgerow is a hormone-balancing, detoxifying blend that supports mares (and geldings!) through the seasonal and hormonal changes that can affect mood, digestion, and overall wellbeing. It’s designed to gently encourage detox pathways and immune strength, which can be especially helpful during transitions, illness recovery, or hormonal stress.

Let’s talk ingredients:
🌼 Chamomile helps calm the nervous system, supporting emotional balance and reducing stress.
🌿 Burdock root and dandelion root are powerful liver and lymphatic detoxifiers, helping the body clear out waste and rebalance hormones naturally.
🍃 Raspberry leaf is well known for supporting the uterus and reproductive system, especially in mares.
🌱 Licorice root adds anti-inflammatory and adrenal-supporting properties, while
🌸 Cleavers gently stimulates the lymphatic system, supporting immunity and detox at a cellular level.

The result? A holistic supplement that works in harmony with the body, helping horses feel lighter, brighter, and more at ease through whatever life (or the seasons) throws at them. 💜

Learn more about how Hedgrow could help your horse find balance at https://bit.ly/3HoaVlp

05/18/2025

Side bone

Side bone is a condition where the collateral cartilage turns into bone, a process called ossification.

This was a 5 year old standardbred mare who had a severe club foot and yet she never got a single X-ray through her race career to check P3s placement. The coffin bone had extensively demineralised and the tip of P3 was gone. She was rehomed post racing as a first hack to a young girl who was devastated by her unsoundness. Concussion forces on a club hoof will often end up in side bone as the body looks to stabilise the hoof. There are other contributing factors into side bone, common in draft breeds and thought to have a genetic component. The side bone was easily palpated and you can see the bone just below the skin in the picture.

In my opinion corrective hoof care would have greatly improved this mares long term outlook.

This mare has a collection of information on my patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/5-year-old-with-121156800?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

03/08/2025

International Women's Day!
2025, let’s commit to breaking barriers, celebrating diversity, and championing equality in the equestrian realm and beyond. Here's to the horsewomen who ride and love with whole heart, passion, and relentless determination—your legacy gallops forward, stronger than ever.

May your reins guide with wisdom, and may your paths always lead to new horizons. 🐎

03/03/2025

No foot no horse!!!

Westwinds is excited to offer our new “Friends of the Farrier” promotion!

We are having a promotion for the whole month of March where we x-ray your horses feet “solely” for you to share with your farrier! 🐴

Package Cost $250 and this includes:
〰️Exam Fee
〰️Sedation
〰️2 views of radiographs on all four feet

We will give you the data on what your horse’s plantar/palmar angles are, sole depth and advise on anything that may pop up and you can take the images back to your farrier to make their job a little easier!

This will help you to “forge” a path to equine soundness with your farrier and give them more insight into your individual horse!

Bundles for additional views will be available, please reach out to the clinic for more information and to get on the list! ⬇️

🖥️ https://westwindsmvs.usw2.ezyvet.com/external/portal/main
📞 250-617-3210
📧 [email protected]

02/14/2025

The letter "V" for veterinarians, venogram, vascular, vitality and of course Valentine's day💘

From us to you "Happy Valentines Day"