Dare2bebarefoot

23/12/2024

Thank you to all my customers new and old this year. ♥️🌲❄️🫎🧑‍🎄 I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas x

12/12/2024

Thank you to all my customers who have been so understanding this week. Me and Dougal have had a winter virus not sure what the hospital didnt swab. Dougal had to spend a night on the children's ward. We are home now and recovering. I will try and catch up with everyone before christmas and get all hooves outstanding trimmed. ♥️

02/12/2024

21/11/2024

Hi, i have been away enjoying a few days off attending the Becks Nairn whole horse dissection. I have enjoyed every moment 😁 lots and lots of information to process.

12/11/2024

Know your enemy: Understanding the Difference Between Winter Laminitis and Cold-Induced Laminitis

Winter is a tough season for horses, but for those susceptible to laminitis, the cold can introduce unexpected dangers. Two common terms, winter laminitis and cold-induced laminitis, are often used interchangeably, yet they have distinct causes and require different approaches to keep your horse safe. Knowing the difference can make all the difference.

What is Winter Laminitis?

Winter laminitis is often linked to changes in horse metabolism and diet during colder months. With the drop in temperature, horses may experience restricted access to fresh forage, leading to an increased reliance on high-sugar/high starch feeds. This shift can trigger metabolic-related laminitis in horses that are predisposed to insulin resistance (IR). It’s especially a concern for horses with conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS).

Frosty grass is especially dangerous when the weather is sunny yet temperatures struggle to get above around 6°C. During sunny weather, grass makes and stores sugars via photosynthesis but when environmental conditions such as low temperatures prevent growth, those sugars are not used up and instead accumulate. It has been estimated that sugar levels under those circumstances can be elevated by up to 30%, making it highly dangerous for metabolically challenged and at risk equines.

Signs to Watch For:

Reluctance to move or “toe-touching”

Obvious pain or discomfort

Strong digital pulse in affected hooves

Cold-Induced Laminitis

Cold-induced laminitis, on the other hand, directly involves cold exposure rather than dietary or metabolic shifts. For some horses, extreme or prolonged cold constricts blood circulation in the hooves via the AVA shunts, potentially leading to laminitis symptoms and, rarely, changes in hoof structure. This can happen even in otherwise healthy horses, especially those with compromised circulation. Specifically at risk though are horses that have a prior history of laminitis and therefore likely damaged/impaired circulation to the feet.The risk increases when temperatures drop drastically overnight, or when horses are left standing on frozen ground for extended periods.

Signs to Watch For:

Sudden lameness after a cold spell

Increased discomfort in the morning or after extended exposure to the cold

Subtle to pronounced lameness without dietary changes

Prevention Tips for Both Types

While they have different causes, winter laminitis and cold-induced laminitis share one key solution: prevention.

Diet Management: Keep hay and forage as the staple of your horse’s winter diet. Avoid excess sugars and starch, especially if your horse is prone to IR or EMS. Ensure that the diet is mineral balanced and substitute as necessary.

Shelter and Bedding: Offer insulated shelters and soft bedding where your horse can stand during frigid days.

Hoof boots or Leg wraps: Consider warming wraps or boots for at-risk horses during extreme cold to encourage better circulation.

Frequent Monitoring: Especially after cold snaps, monitor hoof temperature, digital pulse, and gait for any early signs of discomfort. KNOW YOUR HORSE'S BASELINE VALUES!

13/10/2024

Customers with big feathers, the new expectation 👌👌👌🤣🤭

13/10/2024

Hello everyone. Been super busy the last month or so, so busy i need to start planning my diary until christmas. A few customers have already asked to get the trim dates in until mid january so im going to organise my diary until then. Im planning to be off from the 16th of december to the 6th of january. So please every one get your rough dates to me to get everyone booked in.

22/09/2024

In stock now for winter 😁

19/09/2024

A big thank you to Hoof Armour for very generously donating Hoof Armor starter packs to 4 of Liberated Horsemanship s students at the 2024 UK gateway clinic. A thank you to Emma Bailey and Marjanka Lever for supplying and demonstrating the Hoof Armor application.

https://www.facebook.com/HoofArmor

18/09/2024

Hello, i might be slightly delayed in replying to messages this week as i am hosting and teaching on the UK Liberated Horsemanship gateway clinic.

13/09/2024

05/09/2024

As some of you seen on my personal profile, i said goodbye to my old boy Prince yesterday afternoon. As heartbroken as i am please dont worry im still trimming the rest of the week. He was old (32) had a long wonderful life with me and his passing was planned.