Florida Farrier Service, Inc

06/17/2024

🐴 𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖! We all know that phrase but sometimes we feel bad about giving it! When it comes to laminitic equines, we have to be consistent and compliant.

❓ We get asked this question often. “Why is it so important for them to
𝕄𝕦𝕫𝕫𝕝𝕖 𝕌𝕡?” It’s simple, 𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕! Those two phrases are almost synonymous, right?

𝕋𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 & 𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕

⚕️Here’s why muzzles are important for laminitic equines…

🌾 Prevent Overeating: Laminitis is often exacerbated by excessive intake of sugars and carbohydrates found in lush pasture grass. A grazing muzzle restricts the amount of grass a laminitic equine can consume, thereby reducing the risk of triggering or worsening a laminitic episode. Keeping the intake of high-sugar foods in check helps minimize inflammation in the hoof, reducing pain and discomfort associated with laminitis.

🌾 Weight Management: Obesity is a significant risk factor for laminitis. By limiting food intake, muzzles help manage the equine's weight, which is crucial for both preventing and managing laminitis.

🥅 Our goal is always to reduce the risk of laminitic episodes.

❓ Another question we get asked about muzzles is, “Can they still breathe and drink water?” Yes, while muzzles restrict the quantity of food a horse can consume, they are designed to ensure that the horse can still breathe freely and drink water.

06/16/2024

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the men who loved with a father’s heart.

❤️ Dads are just ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers and singers of song!

It doesn’t matter if you are a sports dad, a horse dad, a livestock dad, a band dad, a dance dad, a fishing dad or a video game dad! What matters is that you took one of the hardest jobs you will ever have, with no instruction book and gave your best effort to show love, the best way you knew how. Regardless of the mistakes and challenges along the way, you regrouped and tried and tried again. Kudos to you for never giving up and persevering in hopes to show your children the greatest gift you could ever give them, LOVE.

06/14/2024

🐴📚🄴🅀🅄🄸🄽🄴 🄴🄳🅄🄲🄰🅃🄸🄾🄽
is an integral part of being a horse owner. Being educated in all aspects of horse care gives you valuable knowledge to advocate for your horse and their welfare.

⚕️This model, developed by Dr. Sammy Pittman of Innovative Equine Podiatry and Veterinary Services, PLLC allows us to explain to our clients and horse owners how laminitis leading to lamellar structural failure allows bone displacement. The rubber band attaches at the lamellar bond and the string mimics the deep digital flexor tendon. By pulling the string it demonstrates the biomechanics of equine lamellar failure.

🐎🦶In a horse's hoof, the lamellar bond and the deep digital flexor tendon play crucial roles in maintaining the structure and function of the hoof.

♦️ʟᴀᴍᴇʟʟᴀʀ ʙᴏɴᴅ (also known as the laminae):
This refers to the interlocking structures within the hoof that connect the coffin bone (also called the third phalanx or P3) to the inner wall of the hoof capsule. The laminae are made up of sensitive and insensitive laminae. The sensitive laminae are rich in blood vessels and nerves, providing nourishment to the hoof wall and sensing pressure and other stimuli. The insensitive laminae interlock with corresponding structures on the coffin bone, providing structural support and stability to the hoof. The lamellar bond essentially holds the coffin bone securely within the hoof capsule, enabling weight-bearing and shock absorption.

♦️ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ᴅɪɢɪᴛᴀʟ ꜰʟᴇxᴏʀ ᴛᴇɴᴅᴏɴ:
This is a strong tendon that runs along the back of the horse's leg, down the back of the pastern, and inserts into the underside of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. When the deep digital flexor tendon contracts, it causes the hoof to flex downward, initiating the forward movement of the horse's stride. This tendon also helps to support the coffin bone and maintain the correct angle of the hoof, contributing to the overall balance and function of the hoof.

‼️Both the lamellar bond and the deep digital flexor tendon are essential for the structural integrity and proper function of the horse's hoof, enabling it to bear weight, absorb shock, and facilitate movement effectively. When the lamellar bond in a horse's hoof is weak or compromised, it can lead to a condition known as laminitis, which is a serious and painful condition that affects the sensitive laminae within the hoof. Here's what happens:

♦️ɪɴꜰʟᴀᴍᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:
Laminitis often begins with inflammation of the sensitive laminae, which can be triggered by various factors such as excessive weight-bearing, hormonal imbalances, dietary changes, infections, or excessive concussion on hard surfaces. The inflammation disrupts the normal bond between the sensitive and insensitive laminae, weakening the structural integrity of the hoof.

♦️ꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:
As inflammation progresses, the bond between the sensitive laminae and the inner hoof wall weakens further, leading to separation or detachment of the coffin bone from the hoof wall. This separation compromises the support and stability of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule, causing severe pain and lameness.

♦️ʀᴏᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ or ꜱɪɴᴋɪɴɢ:
In severe cases of laminitis, the coffin bone may rotate or sink within the hoof capsule due to the loss of support from the weakened lamellar bond. This can cause additional damage to the surrounding structures and exacerbate the pain and lameness experienced by the horse.

♦️ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇꜱ:
Chronic laminitis can result in permanent changes to the shape and structure of the hoof, including abnormal growth patterns, distortion of the hoof capsule, and development of hoof deformities. These changes can further impair the horse's mobility and quality of life.

🧲 Overall, a weak lamellar bond predisposes a horse to laminitis, a painful and potentially debilitating condition that requires prompt veterinary intervention and management to alleviate pain, prevent further damage, and support hoof health and healing.

06/13/2024

🧲😱 OH NO! Our Zanelatti shoe racks are pretty empty! Proof that we love their products! Looks like it is time to place an order!

🐴 ⚖️ We have been in partnership with Zanelatti Horseshoes for over a year now and are thrilled with the results we see in our equine clients after application. Not only do they take pride in engineering great aluminum shoes for the farrier industry, they desire to educate themselves on the benefits to the horse. Spending time in our clinic with Rondolfo as Clayton explained the how and why of biomechanics and balance of the horse was awesome to see. They truly want to understand every aspect of the application of their products and value farriers knowledge and feedback.

📢📆 We have some EXCITING NEWS!! Rondolfo will be joining us from Brazil on July 19th & 20th for a Zanelotti Horseshoes Clinic at the FFS Equine Education Facility! Stay tuned for more registration information! You won’t want to miss this! 😊

06/11/2024

Smash Wraps did a great job replacing our damaged wrap. They were kind, professional and even got it done quicker than expected. If you need a wrap done, give Shane a call!

06/08/2024

𝔸𝕣𝕥𝕤 & ℂ𝕣𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕤 on a Saturday morning at the clinic? Just kidding, we did have to get ᑕᖇEᗩTIᐯE though!

EasyCare Inc. Protective Hoofwear

06/06/2024

𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐒…
If only it were 🄱🄻🄰🄲🄺 & ⓌⒽⒾⓉⒺ

SoundHorse
Groom's Hand Animal Health

06/04/2024

Meet 𝔾𝕒𝕓𝕓𝕪 & 𝔻𝕒𝕚𝕤𝕪!
FFS new barn kitties in training. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

06/02/2024

Paint Fence ✅
Another task checked off of the to do list at the clinic! Thank you DT Land Management LLC for a job well done!

05/30/2024

How many Farrier’s does it take to change a tire? So glad we were able to get them back on the road safely! Thanks FFS Team! 💪🛞

05/29/2024

Absolutely love and appreciate when clients send us pictures of their equine athletes and update us on their progress. It makes our day!

“They are doing great, thanks for taking such good care of them.”

05/28/2024

Diagnosing lameness in horses can be difficult due to their complex anatomy, subtle and variable symptoms and compensatory movement changes. Observing and interpreting movements can help with an accurate assessment of lameness.

One of the tools we use when evaluating lameness is The KrosschecK Leverage Testing Device. It offers a way to evaluate the health & soundness of soft tissue & joint surfaces in & around the coffin joint. It is designed to help gather information by challenging the connective tissue and joints of the equine distal limb.

This device allows us to “ASK THE HORSE” what their levels of comfort & discomfort are by using the leverage testing protocol. As we conduct the testing, we use the data collection sheet to document results with a basic grading scale. It is great to have different tools in our toolbox to help us evaluate lameness and provide comfort to your equine family!

05/27/2024

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 𝓜𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓓𝓪𝔂 weekend!

“A 𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 that does not 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓸𝓻 its 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓸𝓮𝓼, will not long endure"
~ Abraham Lincoln

This and every 𝓜𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓵 𝓓𝓪𝔂, we honor all military members who died serving our country! Both human and equines fought for all of us and lost their lives. 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝓨𝓸𝓾 for giving the ultimate sacrifice. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

⬇️🐴 In the comments is a link to an article about America’s War Horse. Nearly 8 million horses, mules and donkeys died in World War I; many of them American mustangs.

05/24/2024

https://equustelevision.com/watch/3335

With Louisa Barton on EQUUS

05/23/2024

😊 ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ʟᴜᴄᴋʏ 😊

05/22/2024

𝔸 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕠𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕔…

05/22/2024

For those of you that have been waiting on medium Horse-Craft Products bell boots, they are back in stock!

⬇️ We have included a link in the comments from a previous post on bell boots and the benefits according to an article by Horse Journal Magazine. We have also included images to help you determine if your bell boots fit properly. ✅

05/21/2024

Enjoying our time chatting with The Horse Talk Show this evening.

05/17/2024

🗣️ Let’s take a minute to talk about the 🄲🄾🅁🄾🄽🄰🅁🅈 🄱🄰🄽🄳…

🐴 This horse was a vet referral for a lameness evaluation and radiographs due to chronic lameness.

📸 Prior to each new appointment, I request pictures of the horses hooves. This helps us determine the condition of the hooves and approximate time we will need for the appointment.

👀 Look at the coronary band in the picture on the left. When I received this before picture, the first thing I noticed was the amount of swelling of the coronary band. That is almost always and indication of imbalance.

⚕️The coronary band, or coronary corium, is a critical structure in a horse's hoof located at the junction where the hairline meets the hoof. It plays several essential roles:

1️⃣ Hoof Growth: The coronary band is responsible for producing the outer hoof wall. It generates the keratinized cells that form the hard, protective layer of the hoof, ensuring continuous growth and replacement of the hoof wall.

2️⃣ Shock Absorption: This structure also contributes to shock absorption. Its resilient, slightly flexible nature helps dissipate the impact forces when the horse's hoof strikes the ground.

3️⃣ Structural Integrity: The coronary band provides structural integrity and stability to the hoof. It acts as an anchor point, holding the hoof wall firmly to the soft tissues of the leg.

4️⃣ Circulation: It has a rich blood supply that nourishes the growing hoof wall, ensuring healthy growth and repair of the hoof.

⚖️ When a horse's hooves are not properly balanced, it can lead to uneven distribution of weight and stress on different parts of the hoof. This imbalance can result in excessive pressure and strain on the coronary band, leading to inflammation and swelling.

🩻 Radiographs are instrumental in diagnosis when dealing with chronic cases. These images are a true picture of what is going on inside the hoof. Since we do not have X-ray vision, they are the best resource we have to determine what we are dealing with.

🧲 Once we evaluated the horse and took radiographs, we were able to come up with a care plan to get this horse on the road to recovery. Notice in the after picture on the right, the coronary band immediately started relaxing after we did a balanced trim and applied this shoeing package. You can literally watch it reducing in size right before your eyes. One day when this happens I will remember to video it in slow motion to share with y’all!

💕 This horse walked out of the clinic sound and when I checked in on her this week, the owner said she was doing amazing! Best she has been in a long time and she was actually able to ride her after being unable to for a few months.

🗝️ Here are a few key components in this situation…
⭐️ When dealing with lameness,
get radiographs ASAP
⭐️ This horse needs to be on a 4
week schedule in order to
maintain and correct the issues.
Going longer than that will keep
you chasing the problem
instead of correcting it
⭐️ Environment is a crucial part of
the success puzzle for 2️⃣
reasons…
~ If your farrier does
not have a flat surface (mats,
concrete or something level) to
work on, they are going into it
with a good chance that
balance will not be obtained.
Trimming/shoeing your horse
in dirt and grass is setting your
farrier up for failure. Provide
them with an area that allows
them to do their best work.
Balance is difficult to obtain if
your horse can’t stand on level
ground.
~ The second reason is,
providing an environment that
keeps your horses hooves
dry and in good condition,
gives your farrier a better
canvas to work on. Make sure
their area is free of roots, rocks
and anything else they can
damage their hooves on.

💥 Remember, being proactive instead of reactive is the way to go. Once your horses hooves have been damaged or they cause an injury, it takes a long time to get them back on track.

05/16/2024

🤔☎️🤣 I know when these guys see my name come across their phone, they take a minute to decide if they are going to answer or not lol. They never know what kind of silly off the wall request or list I will have for them. Last week they made us some tool holders for in between the shoeing bays at the clinic for easy access to the hoof testers. When we are working on lame horses, efficiency is very important. They also made us a container for a small garbage can to be installed between the bays. That way when the guys are working with Equipak, Farrier’s Choice or FormaHoof, the tips don’t get thrown back in the box or on the ground. Jay & James are great at taking my off the wall (actually on the wall, this time) ideas and making them reality!

💥 💪 We have another project they did for us last week that is even more exciting!!! You will have to look at the comments to see what they did! We’ve been planning to have this done for 3️⃣ decades! Thanks guys for always bringing our vision to life! 🐴⬇️

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day! Praying each of you have a wonderful day! Even if you are not a mother, we all have one or have a person in our lives that took on that role. Celebrate life, spread kindness and love and smile! 💕

05/07/2024

Happy Tuesday! Enjoy your day as much as Sutton Blu enjoys his. For those that know him, you know he plays hard and lives life on the edge lol. 💙🐶🐾💦

05/05/2024

HAPPY SUNDAY from Frosty! A sweet little temporary resident of the FFS Bed & Breakfast! He is literally a “walking miracle” as his owner likes to call him. We are thankful to be able to watch him run the pastures and enjoy a normal life of being happy, healthy and sound! 😊💙🐎

04/29/2024

❓❓❓Ok horse owners, equine professionals and farriers! What are some questions that you have always wanted answered but have never had the opportunity to ask? Maybe you’re shy, unsure how to ask it or just afraid of the answer!!!That’s ok, we hope to demystify some of the hoofcare problems for you! Please either comment here with your questions or message us privately. This will help us provide the best content in our workshops/clinics! Thanks in advance for your help! ❗️❗️❗️

04/28/2024

These two hands show a picture of a farrier and vet that have unbelievable passion for the horses they work on. There are so many times we hear of farriers and vets unable to work together and the horse is the one that suffers. When you have a team that works together, the horse gets the best care possible. We are thankful for the opportunity to work with great vets on a daily basis. When we relocated to Ocala, forging new professional relationships with vets was something we were concerned about because we had such great working relationships down south. We had hoped to have the same here and thankfully we do. There is one vet that we met on accident at a barn the has become a valuable part of FFS. Dr. Maler, thank you for going above and beyond for your clients. The early morning, late night, weekend and even your birthday appointments are always for the best interest of the horse. We appreciate your willingness to work together to design a care plan that will give each horse the best opportunity to be happy, healthy and sound. We appreciate you and so do the horses!

04/25/2024

When the 1st client rolls into the clinic at 6:18am and we hit the ground shoein'! Getting these athletes ready to take the trek from tropics to tundra. Preparing them to perform at their peak by providing them with the best foundation!
With hooves in prime shape, their foundation is strong, allowing the rest of their body to function optimally! Make sure your team is collaborating seamlessly for optimal outcomes for your equine athletes!

04/23/2024

WE ARE GETTING EXCITED!!!!

Our friends at EQUI-CARE dropped off some goodies for attendees of our very first 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 at the
𝙁𝙁𝙎 𝙀𝙌𝙐𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝙀𝘿𝙐𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙁𝘼𝘾𝙄𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙔!
𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤!

As passionate educators and advocates for equine well-being, we understand the profound impact that quality hoof care has on our horses overall health and happiness! We know that horse owners want to provide the absolute best care possible but sometimes lack the information necessary to do so. During this workshop we will share knowledge and skills that will equip you with the information needed to understand your horses hoof health and how it relates to the health of the whole horse. We will share tips and tricks that will make it easier for you to care for your horse and empower you to make informed decisions. Our goal is to educate dedicated horse owners and answer some of the questions they have about hoof care, maintenance, identifying problems and so much more! Together, let’s prioritize hoof health and enrich the lives of our beloved horses. This is just the beginning of a revolution towards ensuring your horses thrive and flourish under your attentive care!

‼️If you are interested in attending future workshops please private message us on Facebook or email [email protected] to be added to the list.

04/19/2024

Just another Friday at the clinic doing what we do! Prioritizing the horse's well-being above all else! By making the horse our focus, it sets the stage for peak performance! Caring for the whole horse, beginning with their feet, sets the foundation for their complete well-being! Thank you to each and every one of our clients! We are deeply honored you've entrusted us with your equine partners. Your trust humbles us greatly.

We would also like to thank the ones that literally, always have our back! We’ve been blessed by the people we have met over the years in the farrier industry! When Clayton was out with his back, we never missed a beat. Steve is always there to say, just let me know and I will be there! Shawn drove in from Texas to keep us going after Clayton’s back procedure last month and then Yosmel drove up bright and early this morning from Miami to help out after Clayton had another procedure yesterday. We’ve always tried to help other farriers out when they are down and out and unable to work, but when the tables are turned, it’s a completely different feeling! Kohl, you are doing a great job and working your way to becoming a great farrier.

There’s one more person we can’t forget…Ms. Jeffrie, if it were not for you putting us in touch with an amazing medical staff, Clayton’s outcome would have been much different. Standing in our clinic working on your horse and the topic of surgery came up and you so kindly asked if you could make a suggestion. Going to Tampa to see your medical team was nothing short of a miracle. It was a long time prayer answered! Thank you for spearheading Clayton’s comeback!