Good For The Sole LLC

07/17/2024

Your gentle reminder that our horses need to have their needs met in a species appropriate way 💙

Diagram inspired by Horse Conversations

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11/19/2023

11/08/2023

Too cute!!

A 'teaser' for the film Merrylegs the Movie.
Just getting everything in place, ready to start filming.

07/27/2023

Dr. Trieber's 2006 study was the first to look at laminitis in a pasture setting. The onset of cases in horses at risk (high insulin) coincided with a flush of clover growth. Learn more in Dr. Kellon's proceedings from the 2021 NO Laminitis! Conference. Downloads are free. https://www.e-junkie.com/i/11jjb

07/15/2023

You need to hear about more benefits?

Your horses will suffer less - along with your bank account - due to fewer vet bills when they are 'managed' under the pillars of Natural Horse Care, which includes 'housing them' in a Paddock Paradise track system. You will have more time to enjoy them when you don't have to 'condition them' or 'exercise them' in order for them to be fit or ready to be ridden. They will have their needs met and live a nice life when you are not around which means you will sleep well at night knowing you are doing the best for them.

When managing domestic horses using the healthy, fit and sound horses living in the U.S. Great Basin as the model, the risk of laminitis is virtually eliminated. The same with Navicular Syndrome. The Paddock Paradise track system cannot always reverse every bad thing that has happened to them through the many conventional and unhealthy practices but it is the best chance they will have going forward.

Pic by

07/13/2023

Love these! ✔️

COOL SCIENCE (pun intended)!

An old myth wants us to believe that horses should be walked until they cool completely after exercise, even in the summer. However, a study from 2020 looked at five different ways to cool a horse after exercise: walking, walking with fans, walking with intermittent cold water application, walking with intermittent cold water application and scraping, and stationary with continuous tap water application. As it turns out, the method that resulted in the quickest return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application (2 minutes), while walking alone took the longest time for recovery (25 minutes).

Bottom line: enjoy your rides in the sun this summer but remain vigilant for signs of heat stress in your horse. If they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cool bath, and a break in the shade.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

07/12/2023

The entire premise of Paddock Paradise is the creation of an environment where domestic horses can live in a way that is more similar to their healthy life in the wild.

The benefit to their mental health is through living as a herd (since they are a herd animal) and never being confined (since they are a 'nomadic' species) - moving many miles a day in their home range or territory. No neuroses!

The benefit to their physical health is the lack of a lush pasture with high carb grasses that may or many not be native to the area but not native to the arid, high desert biome such as their natural habitat. Another benefit to their physical health is the movement - propelled by the tracks and by the desire to walk great distances to see sparsely growing plants, leaves or bushes for a nibble, or to seek hay or water or shade or sand or a camping area for rest. And if this movement requires some vigorous activity going up and down hills, they will stay in optimal condition simply through their day to day desire for food, water or comfort. The emotional benefit comes with the needs of the species - encoded deep within the DNA - being met through the system that emulates their life in the wild. And their hooves benefit from the movement, the play, the more natural diet and the terrain.

Prevention (or cure) from laminitis and prevention from Navicular Syndrome are critical since they are practically plagues in the domestic horse world. I could go on....

If any part of this does not make sense to you, please reach out for more information or for a consultation.

Pic of Chance and Tess by Jaime Jackson (author of PP)

07/12/2023

Horses travel every day for a number of reasons—to be bought and sold, for competition, for breeding purposes, etc. Whatever the reason, horse owners should be aware of the complications that may occur due to transportation, including traumatic injuries, diarrhea, muscular problems, respiratory problems, overheating, colic, and even laminitis (in the case of overweight horses).

Following are a few tips to help your equine friend maintain good health and welfare during transport. This list is by no means complete and we encourage you to reach out to your veterinarian for additional advice when it comes to traveling with your horse!

• Be aware that inadequate management of feed and water intake during travel could cause colic, gastric ulceration and heat stress. Food and water should be provided prior to transport, during regular rest breaks and upon arrival at destination.

• Ensure your horse’s immunizations are up to date against respiratory pathogens to protect your animal from these diseases.

• The horse should be rested before the journey, given rest stops during travel, and have time to recover on arrival at the destination.

• The vehicle should be well-ventilated to help prevent respiratory problems or overheating.

• Drive slowly and carefully (NO TEXTING, avoid driving when fatigued or eating while driving, etc.) to provide a comfortable journey for the animal and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Happy trails!

07/11/2023

Hooves are contstantly growing, and they grow in response to the stimulus they receive from the environment (both the internal and external environment).

This means you can see an awful lot about what’s happening, and has happened to the horse, just by looking at the hooves – assuming you know what you’re looking for of course…

If you’d like help knowing what to look for and how to monitor your horse more effectively, The Hoof Geek Health Checks are available in the Hoof Geek Academy FREE resources. Find out more, here https://hoofgeek.com/health-checks/

07/07/2023

Let's talk hooves 🐎

07/07/2023

Such good information!! 💥

We know that laminitis can be one of the most heartbreaking lameness issues to watch - the pain can be so acute and so severe, and it's hard to see a horse in that much pain.

Fortunately, over the last decade we have learned a LOT about laminitis recovery and prevention, and many cases that never would have made it 20 years ago now are going back to full work and productive lives after laminitis and founder.

Daisy Bicking, a hoofcare provider in PA with a special focus on laminitic rehabilitation, talked with me about a case study that just wasn't getting better despite the owner doing "all the right things": a tested and tightly managed diet, a dry lot, and frequent bloodwork monitoring. Daisy talks about what they changed and how they got this horse back to full soundness and ridden work!

You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2023/07/07/laminitis-rehab-a-case-study/

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

Hoof Boots is offering 20% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN

And special shout out to Grid as New, Mud Control Grids - they are a game changer for any mud issues, big or small! - mudcontrolgrids.com

07/06/2023

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If it’s too hot for you, it’s probably too hot for your horse. ✔️

"HOT" TIPS FOR SAFE SUMMER RIDING

As you enjoy some fun in the sun with your favorite equine, make sure you understand how the combination of heat and humidity can take the fun part out the equation — and potentially even turn into a dangerous situation for your horse.

When riding in hot weather, remember to take precautions and use your common sense. Remain vigilant for dehydration and for signs of heat exhaustion, as the situation can quickly escalate into heat stroke. If your horse looks hot and tired, it's time for a drink, a cold bath and a break in the shade.

Consult your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about the signs of heat stroke on our website at https://aaep.org/issue/heat-stroke
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07/05/2023

This 1000 times!!

Credit to https://instagram.com/trailtrotterdesign?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== for the wonderful drawing 👌

07/05/2023

Horses need to be with other horses. As herd animals, they rely on each other for physical, emotional and mental support and likely in other ways that we cannot fully understand. Isolation from other horses is simply inhumane - even if you cannot see the signs of unhappiness. Human companionship (or goats or roosters) will never satisfy their social or safety needs.

If you want to gain a deeper understanding, read this book and others by Jaime Jackson (The Natural Horse as well as The Natural Trim: Principles and Practice). They all have valuable information about the equine species’ natural world that may help you to understand.



Pic by

07/03/2023

I so would do this!! 🏹🐎

07/03/2023

This is what the high desert biome in the U.S. Great Basin looks like - in wild horse country. It is neither a pile of sand nor a carpet of grass.

07/03/2023

Don’t let fear stop you. 🙌🏼

06/29/2023