Art of the Hoof

18/01/2023

I will definitely be checking this out later.

Changes that are viewed as "normal" can compromise your equine's foot. Read more about when "normal" isn't truly normal in Dr. Bowker's proceedings from his lecture UNDERSTANDING LAMINITIS: HOW WE VIEW "NORMAL" FUNCTION from the 2017 NO Laminitis! Conference. Proceedings are free: https://bit.ly/2zP9w1w

10/01/2023

So true!

I am going to do my best not to get on a soapbox here, and please give me grace if I veer that way.

It is incredibly hard to see our horses dealing with lameness. I can guarantee there is not one of us who enjoys when our horse is in pain. Because of that, it is tempting to do something, heck, ANYTHING, to get them more comfortable.

With the horses I come to that are struggling, my goal is also comfort. But that being said, I don't want to just treat the symptom of pain, I want to find the root cause of the pain.. and it is not always what we think.

If I see a horse with navicular bone damage, I don't instantly think "it's degenerative" and needs medication or injections for pain management... Instead I want to watch the horse move and note their biomechanics to see how the horse may be straining surrounding soft tissue leading to repetitive strain type injuries. From there we can formulate a plan to get more correct and comfortable movement to strengthen those tissues. I don't want the pain masked, because if they can't feel the pain and work through it and we ignore the improper biomechanics, the damage doesn't stop.

If I see a horse with laminitis, I want to know that horse's exact diet and have the owner explore bloodwork and a metabolic-friendly approach to management to stop the pain at the source, before I cover it up with hoof protection.. because if I just cover up the pain, the damage doesn't stop.

If I see a horse with thin soles, or shelly walls, or chronic white line disease, I want to know that horse's exact diet to see if it could be playing a role in poor hoof quality and sensitivity before I apply anything to the foot, because I want to stop the cycle of poor quality instead of ignoring it.

These are just a few examples, but there are so many when it comes to hoof-based lameness. Of course we know NSAIDs and injections may take away the pain, and I am not a veterinarian and think owners should discuss their options with their vets to stay informed. But I want owners to know all options - that a few small tweaks in management and hoofcare approach may change the root issue, instead of just masking it or putting a bandaid on.

It's definitely not an easy way out and often takes some troubleshooting, but most often gives you a sounder horse for the long haul.

19/12/2022

So excited to tune in tonight for the second part of this webinar. The first part was very informative on the importance of a short toe and how improper trimming can deteriorate P2 and P3.

Don’t forget 📣 Dr. Robert Bowker on the Equine Hoof
Part 2 – December 19 – Trimming the foot: Are you sure you are helping the horse??
Followed by:
Part 3 – January 9 – Pain localization is NOT the main function of the nerves in the foot!
Part 4 – January 16 – Blood flow according to anatomical gurus: Scant to poor supply of blood vessels.

Each part will run roughly 2.5 to 3 hours with plenty of time for questions. The recordings will be available for 2 weeks following each session.

16/10/2022

Snuck two selfies with one of my clients today. Peep the hay mane accessory.

11/10/2022

Get rid of flat pastures, spread rocks of all shapes and sizes on the ground, provide muddy watering holes, pull off the horseshoes and get your horse's out barefooted on all terrain, stop washing hooves, stop applying lotions and oils. Make our horses tough and allow our horses to use what nature has endowed them with. Allow our domestic horses to use their minds and their bodies to become what they are intended to be!

30/09/2022

09/09/2022

"Wow, you didn't even have to use your nippers! I guess that he didn't really need a trim yet, huh?"

As the summer winds down and we enter fall in this part of the world, we may see a slowdown in hoof growth and these kinds of comments come up every so often. The misconception is that a trim is simply to remove excess growth on the hoof - but that's actually not the case.

Our goal as hoofcare providers is to keep the horse comfortable and sound. We want to work to get the foot to function at its best, so the joints, tendons and ligaments up the limb can stay healthy for years to come. Our trim is about balance, equilibrium, and hoof health, not just removing gross length.

The last thing we want is to wait until the hoof growth is causing detrimental effects to the internal structures to try to remedy it; instead, if we can keep the foot at its optimal balance, then we can get ahead of issues before they start.

That means that often, our trims should even look fairly minimal. Finding a cycle length that allows us to do "less" actually allows for more targeted changes to the hoof capsule. Big changes don't just make for a nice looking before and after photo, they can have knock-on effects every cycle as the horse adjusts to new angles with the adjustments.

I always say one of my favorite things about hoof rehab is "suggesting" to the foot where I want it to be. If every cycle I'm doing two nipper runs to get the foot back to baseline, I'm probably not making much progress over time.

So next time you feel there wasn't much that needed to be done to the foot, consider whether it was truly because the hoof didn't need it, or whether it is actually simply keeping the foot comfortable and in balance with where it will function best. It's not about what we trim, but often about knowing what NOT to trim.

02/08/2022

When your thin-soled horse sheds their frog AND bars.

18/04/2022

Had to clean up this thrushy frog to let it air out. Left the mare with more heel So that the thrush doesn’t cause her more discomfort. She already has high heels though.

10/04/2022

Trim day for my gelding, Ripley! He’s an old man with slight arthritis between P2 and P3. A lack of digital cushion makes it so I can’t bring his heels down too low, thus, causing a skinny little frog. I’ve tried turning him out with boots to encourage better movement but he gets terrible rubs. He does land heel first/flat on good days and most times in boots. Which is why he is sporting his scoots in the last pic :)

29/03/2022

Tiny little quarter horse foot! Lots of retained sole mostly due to environment. Working on keeping this guy sound. Sometimes it’s just about keeping everything status quo.

14/03/2022

This is a casting job I did about three weeks ago. The shavings are because I use them to create concavity in the cast. This horse tends to abscess and comes up lame often. Casting can be a great way to keep a horse comfortable while they heal from injuries, especially if the owner does not have hoof boots. Casting also keeps the hoof compact in order to avoid flare, cracks and chips. I will be seeing this horse again next week and we will decide if he needs to be casted again.

14/03/2022

Long Island-based equine barefoot trimmer available for new clients! If you, or someone you know needs a trimmer, like my page and send me a message!

13/03/2022

13/03/2022