Nature's Design Hoofcare

05/29/2023

Today we remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thank you fallen men, women, horses, dogs and many others for giving your all for us ❤️🤍💙

12/29/2022

Hahaha TRUE 😁
credits: Gatsby Quality Products

11/23/2022

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09/08/2022

We have been saying this for a long time, glad to see some reserch that bears it out!

This is what the barefoot world has been saying for about 15 to 20 years….. but glad it is finally becoming mainstream……..

August 30, 2022
New Research on why Barefoot Horses remain Sounder than Shod Horses
The barefoot movement is growing amongst top professional riders worldwide, and finally a comprehensive Swedish research project is to determine exactly why there are so many benefits from ditching your horse’s iron shoes and going barefoot instead.



By Helle Maigaard Erhardsen



Since the Olympic Gold medallist and World number one in Showjumping Peder Fredricson pulled the shoes of his horses and went barefoot, he has had far fewer issues with lameness, far less injuries to the hooves and lower limbs and not a single hoof abscess. And perhaps needless to say, his horses keep bringing home the gold like never before.



But why is that? For decades hoof rehabilitators and horse owners have experienced extraordinary results with taking previously shod horses barefoot, but there has been very little research done to support these results scientifically.



So far, fragments of larger studies and smaller case studies have proved how iron shoes increase concussion when the horse lands, how iron shoes interrupt the blood supply to the hooves and inhibits the hooves’ ability to contract and expand. And the renowned podiatry researcher Dr. Robert Bowker VMD has even described how shoeing can be the direct cause of caudal heel pain, also referred to as navicular disease.



However, with next to no specific research comparing the performance of a barefoot hoof to a shod hoof, the debate between pro-shoe horse people and anti-shoe horse people have relied mostly on belief, tradition and personal experience. Now, a new comprehensive research project by The Swedish Agricultural University (SLU) and Agria Animal Insurance is well on the way to scientifically determine the difference between the barefoot hoof and the shod horse hoof.

Swedish barefoot study 2022SLU Professor Lars Roepstorff and his team conducting research for the new comprehensive barefoot study with Peder Fredricson performing an empirical riding test in the background.



A Shod Hoof can’t Expand or Contract as much as a Barefoot Hoof



The Swedish research project is led by Professor Lars Roepstorff, who has been collecting data from empirical riding tests and in-depth interviews throughout the past year. The preliminary results from the first phase of data analysis confirms what smaller studies previously have found: Traditional horseshoes do affect the function of the horse’s hooves.

“The iron shoe locks the so-called hoof mechanism especially when landing after obstacles. The shod hoof can’t expand or contract as much as the barefoot hoof because the shoe inhibits lateral movement. It could mean that the blood flow in the shod hooves is inhibited, and this blood flow is important for the hooves to be healthy,” Roepstorff explained to Agria Djurförsäkring.

In this first stage of the study, the researchers have been focussing on measuring the internal movements of the hoof with and without horseshoes. Professor Lars Roepstorff found it particularly interesting to be able to describe the difference in how much the hoof was allowed to contract during the rollover phase:

“When the mechanism of the hoof is described, it’s often said that the hoof expands when it lands on the ground, which is correct. But we also see that the hoof contracts during the rollover phase and that movement is inhibited by horseshoes. That has not been described very well in literature before now,” Lars Roepstorff said.

Further analysis is to be made to draw conclusions on the actual consequences of the hooves moving less with shoes, like how this affects blood circulation, load and shock absorption.

Horseshoe nailsThe new Swedish research has shown that it’s not only the rigid iron shoe itself that inhibits normal, healthy hoof function, but also the way it is fixed to the hoof with nails.



Barefoot Horses are more Cautious where they put their Feet than Shod Horses



One of the advantages that Peder Fredricson has discovered since going barefoot with his top-level showjumping horses, is that the horses now can feel the ground much better and are far more careful with how and where they put their feet. He links this improved ground sensitivity, also known as proprioception, to the less injuries and lameness issues he has had in his horses since he took their shoes off.



“I think that adaptation to the ground conditions is part of keeping the horse’s hooves healthy and strong. Horses don’t see where they put their hooves, they only sense the ground conditions when they have put their hooves in the ground. With shoes, we remove the feeling from the hoof, so they can move unhindered regardless of the ground. Even in those situations where they really should have been a little cautious,” Peder said according to Agria Djurförsäkring.



Moreover, it is Peder’s experience that metal horseshoes can disguise an incipient injury, which makes it difficult to discover a problem before it turns into actual lameness. Differently, a barefoot horse will instantly display any discomfort:



“You can compare it to when we humans walk barefoot across a gravel field. It may look painful before the feet have hardened and adjusted, but when we get to the grass we can walk normally again. You need to learn and understand the difference between what temporary sensitivity is and what is an injury. Horses with shoes can go for a long time with an injury before it is noticed that it is lame,” Peder said.

08/30/2022

Is it too unprofessional to say “well duh” 😂🤣

The barefoot movement is growing amongst top professional riders worldwide, and finally a comprehensive Swedish research project is to determine exactly why there are so many benefits from ditching your horse’s iron shoes and going barefoot instead. By Helle Maigaard Erhardsen Since the Olympic Go...

08/25/2022

Read the inside story of Swedish showjumper Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward's rise to the top to be crowned the new world champions

05/25/2022

Nor should their heel bulbs look like cleavage in a push up bra. Coincidentally one of the causes of such deep central sulcus infections.
I’ve had several clients over the years be told by vets, farriers, trainers, etc that the horse needs shoes and is lame without them and it’s just “how they are” before coming to me. When all it was was a central sulcus infection left untreated.

03/12/2022

Limited sensation in shoes due to decreased blood flow can cause injury and strain. Horses need to feel what they’re walking on. Watch a shod horse clomp over ground and compare it to a barefoot horse who can FEEL it. It’s a world of difference!!
Boots protect while also maintaining the ability for the horse to feel the ground beneath it and choose the best path.

01/28/2022

Endocrinopathic Laminitis (which accounts for 80-90% of laminitis cases) is not inflammatory, which is why long-term use of NSAIDs (like bute) is not the best course of treatment. To learn how to best treat the most common type of laminitis, read the proceedings from Dr. Kellon's presentation ACUTE CARE FOR ENDOCRINOPATHIC LAMINITIS from the 2017 NO Laminitis! Conference. Downloads are free: https://bit.ly/2TOKozU

01/06/2022

10/29/2021

This is why Joe blow who has one file and yanks a horses tongue about out of their mouthes has no business doing teeth. They lack an immense amount of knowledge. Which is critical to proper tooth care of the equine. No, molars should not be smooth, no such thing as a 5 or 7 yr hook being normal (this one bugs me to my core, no horses aren’t supposed to grow “long in the tooth” as they age. That’s all from improper or lack of dental care. Period. Educate urself and then find a knowledgeable dentist.

08/07/2021

Awesome!!

Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward were the only combination to maintain their faultless record across every round of the Olympic showjumping

07/27/2021

Now that I’ve stopped, my body is really showing me all the abuse I subjected it to over my decade of trimming. I still think about horses I trimmed, wonder how they’re doing and hopefully progressing, if their owners are still sticking to it and so forth. I still have a collection of hoof pictures on my phone. Can’t bring myself to delete them. It wasn’t just a profession for me, it was my passion.

Farriers are a special breed. A rare breed.
We sign up for a trade that will beat us down, cripple us, push us to our limits, make us suffer through extreme cold and heat, put up with rank horses because we know deep down it's not actually their fault, continually fix the same problem day after day, trim after trim, because no one else takes responsibility...
We forsake our own physical limitations and keep pushing. Our drive is what saves us, sets us apart and also sometimes what breaks us.
I've never met a tougher group of people with deeper hearts for the work they do. We continually learn, adapt and change to be the best and yet we don't ask for much. We just do our job. Sometimes it's thankless. Sometimes it's not worth the money. Sometimes we may want to quit. But we get up the next day and keep going.
I know old cowboys that take bute for their aches and pains, have been kicked, stomped, sent flying, sustained serious injuries and so much more. I myself have sustained injuries and repetitive motion injuries to my elbows and joints in my hands, but I keep going.
Some days are really good, and some days your heart breaks for the horse being put down that we tried so hard to fix.
It's an emotional, extremely physical artform that no one would understand until you put your heart and sole into some nippers, a knife and a rasp.

07/10/2021

05/02/2021

Incredibly, once the wells dried up some became nurseries for the germination and establishment of wetland trees.

04/16/2021

Pay attention to the “professionals” you hear around the barn. If someone needs to bad mouth others to make themselves look good, they’re probably not very good to begin with LOL
This goes for all things I suppose. But I’ve heard and seen far too many farriers, trimmers, trainers, etc. talking trash about others to make them seem better than they really are to draw business. If you’re really that good, your work will speak for you. Not your mouth. One thing I always strived to do, my proof in my ability was in my work and my longevity of clients sticking with me. As it should be. And after 10yrs, 85+% of my clients were still with me. I like those odds 😊

02/09/2021

Worth sharing again. At least I think I shared it before LOL
Heel pain/navicular doesn’t mean you need pads and “corrective” or “therapeutic” shoes. It means your horse is desperately trying to tell you that you’re doing it wrong!! Realigning the hoof capsule and joints through proper trims is essential for correcting this issue. Not more gimmicks!!!

01/05/2021

I have so many of these wonderful before/after pics from clients!!

Let’s get naked! 😍

1000 year-old experiments...
**click www.insighttoequus.com for more naked truth**

12/27/2020

Hope everyone had a safe and merry Christmas 🎄. Here’s to a great New Years. I miss all my clients I had to leave behind up north and so sorry for what I left most of you with. Had I known, I would’ve been more selective!! But we all get fooled sometimes don’t we?
At any rate, I’m not trimming down here professionally and am looking at just making it a full retirement at this point. I will continue to post on this page and share insight and new sciences and tips but you will no longer see new cases. Thank you to all my clients for being so awesome over the last 10yrs, 90% of which stuck with me the entire decade. I must’ve been doing something right LOL
And I’m still always here for any advice or questions, after all I’ve got 10yrs experience in the field and a degree (a definite must if u actually want to help horses long term, no, riding around with someone for a few months does not a professional make!) rolling around in my noggin 🤪 so feel free to reach out anytime. Love you all!! And happy barefoot trails!

10/26/2020

For more information about cold-induced hoof pain, go here http://bit.ly/2NtxR3h then scroll down to Dr. Kellon's proceedings from the lecture WINTER LAMINITIS at the 2015 NO Laminitis! Conference. Proceedings are free.

10/07/2020

Read on to find out how shoes can help decrease your horse's proprioception when walking on steep or rocky terrain...

10/02/2020

This year is flying by! Happy October everyone. Enjoy the cooler weather but watch out for those temp spikes and acorn overload that can cause laminitis and other health/hoof issues!! Stay vigilant 😊

09/07/2020

Learn more about the importance of balancing minerals to hay here: https://bit.ly/2HV5Gqs

07/25/2020

Say it louder for those in the back!!!

If your barefoot horse is sound one day and foot sore the next, something has changed. You need to identify what that is. While nailing a shoe on may make it look like your horse is comfortable, that wasn’t the reason he went sore in the first place.

This means you haven’t fixed the cause of the problem, you’ve simply covered up the symptom. Covering up symptoms makes it much more difficult to identify the cause of the problem, and easy to ignore the issue all together.

Find out what went wrong first!

06/28/2020

I would literally cringe when I hear that awful phrase lol this is so on point and well said. 100% agree!!!

You know you've heard it before. The trim appointment rolls around, and an owner looks at the horse's feet and says "they don't LOOK long." Sometimes they suggest extending the cycle, or waiting another week or two. The professional is put in the position of explaining our reasoning for why we suggest the cycle length we do.

In my opinion, hooves should never "look long." The feet help support the joints, soft tissue, and movement and comfort above the distal limb. Added length can affect each of these things; for example, additional length at the toe affects breakover, adding tension or strain to the deep digital flexor tendon and surrounding soft tissue.

When I come to a horse, I watch movement and hoof landings, as well as observe the way the horse wears its hoof and consider the horse's environment to make trimming decisions. To avoid setbacks in comfort and movement and to stay ahead of distortion and pathology, I prefer to make minor changes as needed to keep the hoof in balance.

Would you rather your hoofcare provider remove lots of wall length, which can result in soreness and drastic changes to joint balance requiring soft tissue adjustment, or would you prefer a light, considerate trim to balance and keep the horse performing its best?

As a professional, our job is to know what to leave on the foot as much as what to remove. We are paid for the knowledge and education we have received to this point, to know what the horse needs to remain comfortable and sound. That might mean a small tweak, or bigger adjustments.

Please trust us if we suggest a shorter cycle, even if that means you might not think the horse "looks due." It is better to maintain balance and soundness than to chase pathology.

05/23/2020

Reckless was an amazing horse!

MEMORIAL DAY Tribute: We honor, salute and remember U.S. troops who've lost their lives while serving our country,
And in honor of all the people around the world who have lost their lives to Covid,
And in honor of our nation's frontline workers who have sacrificed their own lives to save others,

This is also a tribute to America's unsung heroes,
we wish to also acknowledge and remember 'Staff Sergeant Reckless' who became the first HORSE in the U.S. Marine Corps awarded two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and several other military honors. She risked her own life to save US Troops during the Korean War, carrying supplies and to evacuate wounded. Learning each supply route after only a couple of trips, she often traveled to deliver supplies to the troops on her own, without benefit of a handler. The highlight of her nine-month military career came in late March 1953 during fighting around Vegas Hill when, in a single day, she made 51 solo trips to resupply multiple front line units.[2] She was wounded in combat twice... (full story below)

About Sergeant Reckless: Sergeant Reckless, a horse that held official rank in the United States military,[1] was a mare of Mongolian horse breeding. Out of a race horse dam, she was purchased in October 1952 for $250 from a Korean stable boy at the Seoul racetrack who needed money to buy an artificial leg for his sister. Reckless was bought by members of the United States Marine Corps and trained to be a pack horse for the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.[1] She quickly became a unit mascot and was allowed to roam freely through camp, entering the marines' tents, where she would sleep on cold nights, and was known for her willingness to eat nearly anything, including scrambled eggs, beer, coca-cola and, once, about $30 worth of poker chips.

She served in numerous combat actions during the Korean War, carrying supplies and ammunition, and was also used to evacuate wounded. Learning each supply route after only a couple of trips, she often traveled to deliver supplies to the troops on her own, without benefit of a handler. The highlight of her nine-month military career came in late March 1953 during fighting around Vegas Hill when, in a single day, she made 51 solo trips to resupply multiple front line units.[2] She was wounded in combat twice, given the battlefield rank of corporal in 1953, and then a battlefield promotion to sergeant in 1954, several months after the war ended. She also became the first horse in the Marine Corps known to have participated in an amphibious landing, and following the war was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and several other military honors.

Her wartime service record was featured in The Saturday Evening Post, and LIFE magazine recognized her as one of America's 100 all-time heroes. She was retired and brought to the United States after the war, where she made appearances on television and participated in the United States Marine Corps birthday ball. She was officially promoted to staff sergeant in 1959 by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.[3] She gave birth to four foals in America and died in May 1968. A plaque and photo were dedicated in her honor at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton stables and a statue of her was dedicated on July 26, 2013.(Source: Wikipedia)

05/21/2020

05/14/2020

This!!!!