Footloose Barefoot Hooves

23/11/2025

During the cold spell we just had I've spoken to a few people about leg wraps, so I thought I'd put out a post.

There are probably more than these companies out there, but it's a starting place!

These leg wraps are great for horses who have had laminitis and need their legs kept warm to avoid cold induced laminitis, but achy joints will most likely be quite happy about these two.

I haven't got any experience with the hock wraps yet, so if anyone has tried them, feel free to comment with your feedback!

https://dreamchaserequestrian.co.uk/products/set-of-4-fleece-leg-wraps?fbclid=IwY2xjawOP3aVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR5yeIofzGU7FCZoNVGCJMCgaAxfzNHbeloz_-i0UumF10BzH3no-nbhfLV1PQ_aem_TDCHRuawN_u0lpVzBEmyEg

https://www.facebook.com/Cottageequestrian/?locale=en_GB

23/11/2025

In relation to the post I just made; here is my colleague detailing the post mortem we attended together.
Thank you beloved pony for the learning chance you permitted us, and the closure everybody could gain 🙏

Trigger warning! Scroll past if you are of a sensitive nature or have recently lost someone special.

Post mortems can help provide closure. I spent yesterday with some fellow EPs and a some brave friends and including a past client (before she moved over 200 miles away), performing a post mortem on the ex-client's horse's feet and one leg. The horse had some long term conditions in the front feet and had recently had a sudden onset condition in a hind leg which became the ultimate cause of the horse's trip across the rainbow bridge. The damage that we found in the feet/leg with the issues confirmed that euthanasia was absolutely the right thing to do for that horse.
The picture shows the deep digital flexor tendons and navicular bones from two of the feet. The one on the left is healthy, the one on the right shows two holes in the navicular bone and the flexor tendon has been abraided where it passes over the navicular bone.
Don't be afraid to discuss the idea of a distal limb post mortem with your hoof care provider (preferably well in advance of losing your horse), they can help you to understand your loss and your HCP will gain valuable insights by looking at a hoof they are familiar with. You don't have to attend, but will always be welcome.

23/11/2025

I've had the following conversation a few times in the last month; maybe because several beloved horses on my books made their last journey, but it also came up in conversations a few times.

What is to happen with your horse after they pass - specifically if they have questions or issues surrounding their feet? Sometimes performing a post mortem can give some answers and closure.

I have performed a variety of investigations and dissections on feet in the past and continue to do so - just a few days back, I got together with fellow EP's and hopefully managed to give an owner some well deserved closure over their horses' feet and leg issues. Next week, I'll be heading up north to meet up with more fellow EP's for similar investigative work.

It can be an emotional challenge being present at a dissection, especially if it's one's own horse that's being investigated.
I myself, when I lost my mare very unexpectedly, couldn't get involved, and left a wonderful and hugely skilled colleague and friend with said task.
If the horse's last day has been thought about for a longer time (eg due to progressive illness), it may be easier, however the owner doesn't need to be there. It's still possible to have the investigation done, and I will provide the answers either then or at a later time when an owner feels ready.

This is a very personal and often very hard conversation to have, but if any of my clients wish to have a chat, I am always open to help you make a decision.

Pictured is the left fore pedal bone of my mare. I was very interested to see it since I had x-rays showing bony changes, so it was good to see the exact manifestation.

21/11/2025

Seeing vets post this makes me incredibly happy. Most vets, farriers, and barefoot practitioners are in agreement on this one! 👏

19/11/2025

And here's part 2!

19/11/2025

A friend of mine made an in depth training program for hoof trimming. This is part 1; I'll share part 2 in a moment as well. I think it shows really nicely the steps required to make a horse comfortable with the process.

13/11/2025

So the weather has been, no way around it, abysmal. Wet feet and horses all around, and I'm expecting that.
But please guys, do me a favour.

Bring a towel to your trim appointment.

You don't need to wash those legs and feet; unless you do that hours before, the horse will still be soaking for me holding on to those legs. And I hug those legs during a trim, so I will be wet from wrists to armpits, and even my car heating on full volume isn't making a dent in that.

Get a towel and put some elbow grease into rubbing those legs and feet a bit dryer. The horse's own body heat will do the rest and then we're already winning.

Like I say - we're in Scotland in November, and it's shaping up to be a very wet cold winter, I know that. So a towel is an absolutely crucial tool for trim day.

Picture to show you what I mean with wet and dirty from wrists to armpits.
And cute dog nose as payment for your attention. He loves the sniffs, but he also spends his day under a blanket and I don't 😄

02/11/2025

🚨 EXCITING NEWS 🚨

Our most recent article was selected to be discussed at this year’s British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress in Birmingham, UK.

⏰ As a result, it’s FREE to read for a limited time!

We teamed up with experts in both human and equine medicine to write this important review. While these drugs are being used more often in horses, there’s a lot we can learn from the human medical space — especially around their downsides, dietary considerations, and what really drives efficacy.

Different species, yes… but some of the cautionary tales are worth heeding so we can better manage our equine patients.

Most importantly, close monitoring and careful interpretation of laboratory results alongside clinical examination findings are imperative to optimise therapeutic outcomes and prevent negative side effects.

If your horse is in WA and on these medications, or has EMS or laminitis, feel free to reach out on 0427 072 095 — we’d be happy to help with up-to-date advice on management and care.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eve.14071

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

28/10/2025

Halloween special! 😱

Serious heart palpitations case.
I'll keep the back story as short as I can - after a prolonged abscess that burst twice before properly clearing, vet interventions, x-rays, the full boona - this boy was left with a considerably compromised foot.
He now had to grow out a big hole in the sole and abscess exit tracks on the wall; he has been in boots a lot of the time to prevent reinfection and help that hoof capsule while the damage is growing out.

Pictures left to right, top to bottom:

- February, March, May, June/ August, September, October (slide 1+2)

- June, August, September, October (slide 3) for comparison of the hoof capsule

- as a special treat (slide 4), the February foot that did things to both my blood pressure and the equilibrium of my stomach. I also found a bone chip on that visit....Safe to say pictures of that visit went straight back to the vet in case further intervention was needed (it wasn't and everything turned out fine!)!

We're still growing out that weak lateral/outside wall where the crack is, but he's now slowly coming back to work and has been sound 🤞🤞

I may do another longer post at a later point; I have sooo many more pictures, including two sets of x-rays, but this is all I have time to do right now and I wanted to share!

28/10/2025

Since I've been talking about collabs and working together among HCP's; here is one of them!
Tay is a pony on my books, but he needed special advice on a boot that would meet his specific, a bit more complicated need.
Although I have some fit kits, my colleague Laura from Heart & Sole - Equine Podiatry by Laura Evans is the expert when it comes to boots, so she came out and sorted new trainers for this fella.
I gave her pointers in advance, and she reported back to me afterwards, which is great for his rehab going forward.
Doesn't he look so dapper? No more excuses now not to do some more work; sorry mate 😄

Another brilliant review for the Equine Fusion Ultra ❤️

“Sharing the boots I bought last week. Still practicing on the putting on an off but so far I’m very pleased with them. My highland pony had a dreadful abscess a year ago which has left him with a compromised frog so getting him happy on his feet has been challenging.”

Expertly fitted by Heart & Sole - Equine Podiatry by Laura Evans covering all the areas of Scotland we’ve never heard of 🤪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙