Footloose Holistic Hoof Care

11/27/2024

As hoofcare providers, we have a tough job. I don't know of many other professions where you can literally die, even if you're as safe as you can possibly be, from one wrong move. Even the kindest, calmest horses can have a moment- a fly lands on their stomach, for example, and suddenly a hoof is all too close to our head.

I am in a lot of farrier Facebook groups, and I don't think a day goes by without a post asking for advice about rehabbing an injury incurred from a horse on the job. It's sobering, to say the least.

I'm sure there isn't one horse owner that would say they don't care about the safety of the equine professionals in their life. That being said, I think many owners aren't sure how to best support their horse and help appointments go smoothly. How can we help horses to feel comfortable and stand well to get their feet done?

When picking out a horse's hoof, you need the foot up for less than 10 seconds. When trimming a foot, you often need the foot up for multiple minutes to do everything you need to do to get the foot balanced and trimmed well. Many horses aren't used to that, and as prey animals can become quite anxious that they don't have the ability to leave whenever they want.

A horse that is having trouble standing for appointments is exhausting for us. They can tweak our muscles and our back and even mentally exhaust us as we try to complete a job that can be difficult even when a horse DOES stand well, imagine how exponentially more difficult it is when they are fighting us the entire time!

With all this in mind, I talked to some hoofcare providers on how to best prepare horses for their appointments- to ensure we are safe, the horse is safe, the owner is safe, and to also make our daily appointment more enjoyable. No one wants to go to a job where they dread they may get hurt!

I spoke with Kristin Thornberry, a hoofcare provider and trainer in Arkansas, on some practical ways to help horses become "farrier friendly."

You can find the interview on your favorite podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or at this link:
https://thehumblehoof.libsyn.com/farrier-friendly-how-to-support-your-horse-to-stand-well-for-the-farrier-with-kristin-thornberry

What are some ways YOU help your horses to stand well for their appointments?

11/22/2024

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!

11/21/2024

Great visual!

11/21/2024

If you are struggling with hind limb dysfunction like hock and stifle issues, if your struggling with controlling what the hind feet are doing, look at the position of the pelvis.

The range of motion that the femur has in the acetabulum will greatly impact the horses ability to flex and extend to adduct and abduct the hind leg.



11/20/2024

11/19/2024

PSA: If an elephant can be trained to stand for this, your horse can be trained to stand for a trim.

11/16/2024

Ground tied and grinding.

11/14/2024

Managing EMS and Cushings can seem daunting, but with the right approach, horses can live comfortably.

This pony has EMS and cushings. Her diet has been tightly controlled and she gets medication to manage her cushings. She is sound again and has almost a completely normal hoof capsule.

Recovery is possible with the right recipe 💜.

11/13/2024

Another reason it is important to start hoof care early. My mare did not have regular care until she became mine at almost 3, and her hooves will always be asymmetric because of it. Addressing the hooves AND body is required to achieve and maintain as much balance as possible. Horses, like people, will tend to be a bit asymmetric, but addressing it so it does not become excessive is our responsibility as equestrians.

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays meme is from a study that the Utrecht research group did where they studied limb preferences in foals when grazing.

In that study ~50% of the studied foals (24) developed a preference to systematically protract the same limb when grazing. This was associated with uneven feet (i.e a flatter foot vs. an upright foot) and uneven loading patterns.

Where this preference originates from remains to be confirmed, although laterality maybe a cause especially in foals with relatively long limbs and small heads.

In either case, the findings and biomechanical adaptions highlights the importance of working with the equine team to evaluate any asymmetries and support the horse.

Important to note, that the presence of uneven feet is not always related to grazing posture and could be influenced by pathology, further reinforcing the need to discuss this asymmetry with the equine team.

🤓

www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

11/13/2024

If you haven’t heard of him or his approach to horsemanship, I encourage you to look in to it.

Warwick Schiller made his name as an expert trainer. An enigmatic little horse completely changed his outlook.

11/12/2024

Being a female farrier is:

Sometimes having to wait for your client to hear from a man exactly what you've been saying for months for them to believe it.

Being told you're not strong enough to muscle the dangerous horse, when sedation and training are what's needed.

Putting up with a million micro aggressions from your peers online and in-person.

Being held to an entirely different standard of skill and knowledge than male farriers.

Working twice as hard to get half as much respect from clients, vets, and other farriers.

Striving for perfection not only because it's good for the horse, but out of fear you will be run out of the industry if you make a single mistake.

Having to be physically and emotionally tough as nails to survive and thrive as a woman in a profession and society that doesn't even think we deserve equal rights.

I am so grateful for my community of fellow women farriers. We are stronger together, and you all keep me going so I can focus on what I set out to do: help horses.

11/10/2024

The sad thing is, this dysfunction is seen as normal in most of the horse world.

What's wrong with nailed on metal shoes?
As soon as applied the hoof is out of balance.
Every day that the shoe stays on, the hoof goes further out of balance and starts the pathway to distortion.
The metal shoe forces the hoof to engage the whole hoof wall and therefore increase direct concussion to the limb, joints, tendons and muscles.
The disconnection of the sole and frog from ground contact creates disfunction and leads to weakening of the tissues.
The nails create an opportunity for pathogens to invade the capsule.
Nails break up and weaken the hoof capsule.
Do you think that blood supply would be compramised?
If you place several nails into a hoof capsule this means that you have added pressure on the soft tissues, which forces the hoof to distort.
The horse has to build muscle to try and compensate for the imbalances and extra concussive effects.
The disfunction of the hoof can cause temperament changes in the horse.
We expect a horse to be athletic and responsive, yet we still use this dysfunctional hoofwear and wonder why there is so much lameness?
Some say that these shoes protect the hoof, how exactly?

11/05/2024

11/05/2024

Occasionally people reach out to us asking for guidance on how to rescue a horse from a kill pen or auction. The problem is that you don't really know what you're getting until you get them home with you. It often takes a while for them to completely settle in before the issues start to surface and to figure out what’s going on with them. We have gotten horses with kissing spines, strangles, pneumonia, cancer, navicular, heaves and the list goes on. If you are not an experienced horse person, we do not recommend pulling a horse from a kill pen or bidding on one at auction unless you have a few extra thousand dollars and a very experienced support person with you every step of the way (from purchasing, rehabilitating and through training). It wouldn’t be fair to the horse unless you are 100% commited to that horse regardless of its health and conditions.

If you want to rescue a horse, you are honestly much better off going through a reputable rescue organization and adopting one. Rescues aren't looking to make a quick buck like the kill pens. They have the horses best interest in mind and will be honest and upfront with you about the horses issues and help you find your best match. A quality rescue organization is made up of an experienced group of horse rescuers and are prepared and ready to handle the health and behavioral issues that they are faced with when committing to a horse.

What would you do if you were looking for two trail horses but ended up getting a couple of horses from an auction or kill pen (that you thought were rideable) that ended up not being rideable because of health issues or behavior issues? Or have high maintenance health issues that need daily meds or care that was expensive and time consuming. Some people decide to send the horse right back to the kill pen or to the auction putting them right back in harms way. This happens all to often and we get calls regularly from people looking to re-home their horse(s) because of all of the above. But unfortunately you can’t rely on rescues to always have space to take all of these horses in. Rescues are often full and have limited space and funds. If you are going to rescue a horse, please do it responsibly and make sure you have the funds and experience necessary to see any issues through that may pop up.

Don’t forget, if you adopt a horse from a rescue, you are opening up a space for them to go and rescue more.

11/04/2024

In the event that your hoofcare provider has taken the time and effort to put glue ons on your horse - please please please, for all hoofcare providers out there, have well fitting bell boots that cover the back of the foot to protect your investment :) I promise, we will ALL be appreciative of them.