Emily Whelan - Equine Podiatrist

01/12/2024

A little hoof appreciation from this weekend ❤️.

28/11/2024

When looking at horses' feet, we rarely see ones that are perfectly symmetrical. Even if it is subtle, there may be a slightly steeper wall, or a side that is a bit more worn. At the end of a cycle, we can often see the way that hoof has worn over the last however many weeks - maybe a toe worn a bit to one side, or a flare creeping up if the cycle has been a bit long.

As a hoofcare provider, I am always looking to see what these patterns might be telling me, and how I can improve each horse's feet to the best of my ability with what that horse has for conformation, previous injuries, environment in regards to turn out, etc.

Because of this, I have always been fascinated with Ula Krzanowska's posts on "The Hoof Architect," and how Ula sees various patterns in feet and is able to identify them and label them to a specific conformation or how the body is put together above those feet. I reached out to her to chat about her architecture background, how it has helped her with hoofcare, and some common patterns she sees.

You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2024/11/22/recognizing-patterns-in-hooves/

And if you want to meet Ula in person, we have a few limited spots left for our clinic next year in Amesbury, MA! You can learn more and register at thehumblehoof.com/product/clinic .

Thank you to our amazing sponsors:

Equithrive offers supplements for everything from metabolic health to joint support – get 20% off your first order at equithrive.com with code HUMBLEHOOF

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 HayBoss Feeders – haybossfeeders.com – for all your slow-feeding needs. I get my Hay Boss feeders from Mountain Lane Farm in NH!

20/11/2024

17/11/2024

23/10/2024

15/10/2024

06/10/2024

6 months into recovery.

I first met this little pony back in March this year.
She was 7/10th lame having suffered an injury to her fetlock joint, which left her unsound with limited joint flexion. Her ongoing lameness, along with possible environmental factors, likely contributed to the significant pedal bone rotation seen in the image above. As a result, she developed high/low hoof pathology: a tall, upright hoof capsule on the unsound limb due to lack of flexion and loading, and a long toe with underrun heels on the supporting limb.

Each visit her soundness and comfort improved, so I was delighted that on our most recent visit in Sept to see her zooming around her track system, fully sound.

Looking forward to seeing that new horn growth hit the floor.

04/10/2024

01/10/2024

Several of our members are currently undertaking Masters in Equine Science (how cool is that?). Catherine Bradley is asking for your help with this one:
"Hoof care can be a dangerous profession. This international survey is designed to ask how equines injure Hoof Care Professionals (HCPs) and how HCPs perceive equine behaviour.
Please take 10-15 minutes to complete the survey, either by clicking on the link below, or by scanning the QR code. Please feel free to share the link to other HCPs that you think may be
interested in participating.
Thank you for your contribution!
Catherine Bradley (final year Equine Science MSc student, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies)"
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/injuries-and-undesirable-equine-behaviourduring-shoeing-trimm

28/09/2024

1st and 4th trim.

Really excited about this lovely Shire's progress.

I have often shared examples of contracted heels, however, some horses, particularly the heavier breeds can actually suffer with the opposite problem of over expanded heels.

In these cases the frog is receiving too much of the weight bearing load and as a consequence grows too big. This can cause the heels to distort pushing them outwards and puts extra pressure in the quarters.

25/09/2024

April - September 2024

I'm delighted with the caudal development that is taking place in these tootsies. Slowly saying farewell to those low heels & long toes.

Her owner has done an amazing job of implementing an environment that encourages movement, offers diversity and exposure to different surfaces all of which help to condition her feet.

Regular bodywork has also played a really positive role in the changes we see above.

24/09/2024

Our Autumn Water Buffet Kit is thoughtfully crafted to nourish your equines through the seasonal transition, aiding them in their coat change while preparing for the serene embrace of Autumn as they prepare to slow down for the chillier months ahead. Our Autumn focus is: Lymphatic Support, Liver Det...

17/08/2024

Great work from Ellen Curnow - Equine Podiatrist.

17/08/2024

Wow, that's a wrap...
Last tootsies trimmed before heading off on our Canadian adventure & what a lovely day it was, seeing clients and having a fab CPD day with Aimee Hocking - DEP, big thank you for all your help today, great to have you back ❤️.

To all my lovely clients I look forward to catching up with you & your ponios on my return.

Thank you again for all your support. X

17/08/2024

Finer Forage Friday Facts:
Why we don't use Alfalfa at Finer Forage 🤓📖

🌱 Alfalfa is a legume, popularly fed as hay in the US, and as chop or pellets in the UK. It has low sugar and starch and high fibre content, so it looks like a good option on paper, until you dig a little deeper....

🌱 Alfalfa is high in nitrogen, or crude protein (not quality protein) which can be problematic, for the liver especially. Excess nitrogen can also cause issues with calcium and magnesium uptake, disrupt normal endocrine function, and lead to inflammation, particularly visible in the hooves.

🌱 Alfalfa is known to increase acidity in the hindgut, by propionate being the dominant VFA produced upon fermentation of alfala. Often, microbial disturbances might follow, as microbes that can't tolerate excessively acidic environments die off, and a cascade of resulting gastrointestinal disturbance and systemic inflammation ensues.

🌱 Alfalfa is an accumulator plant, in other words, it's one of those plants that uptakes toxins, so it can accumulate heavy metals if they're present in the soil where it is grown.

🌱 Alfalfa has the potential to upregulate the immune response - so it's a definite no-no for horses with sweet itch, allergies, or autoimmune issues.

🌱 Alfalfa has high phytoestrogen content, so it can disrupt normal endocrine function and responses.

🌱 Alfalfa has been shown to increase photosensitivity in humans, so it wouldn't be helpful to any pink noses in the summer!

🌱 Alfalfa has a very imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratio, so should not be fed to youngsters, as it risks developmental orthopedic disease (incorrect bone formation in youngsters)

That's why we only use grass chop and nuts and never Alfalfa, at Finer Forage 🌱🌿🌻🌿🌷☘️🌼🌹

05/08/2024

*** HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT ***
* SUN 18th AUG - SUN 15th SEP *

Hellooooo

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend.

The weeks are flying by and I thought I better pop up a little reminder of the up and coming dates I will be away in Canada.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge, huge thank you to all my lovely clients and colleagues for your ongoing support over the years and your flexibility on the lead up to my leave.

I truly love my job and it is such a privilege to be involved in your horses hoofcare journeys... Thank you 🙏.

***Please note***
I will hopefully manage to see you all over the next couple of weeks, however,
If you have any *** hoof related emergencies*** whilst I am away, I will have access to wifi and data at times so please feel free to contact me and I will do my very best to reply as soon as possible to discuss any worries.

Otherwise I look forward to seeing you all on my return.

Thank you again.
Look forward to seeing most of you over the next couple of weeks before heading off ✈️ 🍁.

09/07/2024

A beautiful tribute to an incredible lady who has transformed the lives of so many horses and humans for the better ❤️.

I'm so grateful to Jane, Richard and all the team at Equine Podiatry Training Ltd for working so tirelessly to create an incredible course.

Thank you for all the knowledge and experience you have shared with us, may we continue your legacy making the world a better place for our equine friends ❤️🐴.