Bare and Balanced Hoofcare

03/25/2025

🌱 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐄 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 🐴

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that works to maintain healthy muscles and nerves. While vitamin E is plentiful in fresh forage, it quickly becomes depleted when forage is cut and preserved as hay. As a result, horses lacking access to at least six hours of quality pasture a day (often due to dry lot confinement or seasonal changes) may become deficient in this critical vitamin.

🔬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬

Previous research has found between 13 and 20% of horses are deficient in vitamin E (Muirhead et al., 2010; Pitel et al., 2020). However, when we tested horses at the local University who received hay and a free choice vitamin and mineral mix, up to 74% of horses were deficient in vitamin E. While grazing in the summer helped increase average plasma vitamin E concentrations, 59% of horses were still deficient after grazing for 3.5 months (hoping to publish this data soon if I can find time to write!). This data emphasizes the importance of evaluating vitamin E in the horse’s diet and verifying the efficacy through blood testing.

🔴 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬

While not all deficient horses demonstrate clinical signs of the deficiency, weight loss, muscle atrophy and weakness, as well as increased lying down, may be observed. More severe cases may result in neurological impairment. Thankfully, we continue to learn more about this deficiency which allows us to prevent and manage it more effectively.

🌱 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

When I balance a ration, I like to ensure horses receive the recommended levels of vitamin E in their feed – I consider any additional vitamin E provided in forage as an added benefit. This is because our management practices, including dry lot confinement and poor pasture management, often necessitate the addition of vitamin E in the diet, at least during part of the year. To do this, you can simply provide a fortified commercial feed based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, if you are feeding less than the recommendations on the feed tag, the horse will be lacking in critical vitamins and minerals, not just vitamin E.

However, it is important to note that horses may still be deficient even if they technically meet requirements according to the feed label. But why?

1️⃣ Well first off, horses can metabolize vitamin E differently. So while a horse may meet their requirements based on the label, they may remain deficient due to individual differences in how they utilize the nutrient.

2️⃣ Vitamin E is not very stable and can be compromised if not stored or handled properly. If this is the case, the horse may not actually receive what is promised on the label. While I am not worried about this when I am handling a product from a reputable company, it highlights the importance of using a tested product from a reputable brand and ensuring you store it according to their directions.

⚖️ 𝐒𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐄?

The most accurate way to determine if your horse is meeting requirements is through a blood test. I prefer to evaluate plasma or serum vitamin E moving into spring, before my horse has had access to fresh grass (you can have your vet pull blood when they are pulling a coggins). I find the spring to be the most beneficial time of year, as this is when horses are most likely to be deficient. Additionally, this timing allows you to determine if your feeding plan over the winter was effective. Once you receive the results, you can tailor your diet accordingly to meet requirements!

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐮𝐩?

If your horse is not deficient on the blood test, keep on doing what you are doing! At this point, more vitamin E has not been proven to be better and it is pretty expensive to feed! If your horse is deficient, you may want to consider switching feeds or adding in a supplement depending on the situation.

This nutrient is always on the forefront of my mind when balancing a diet and I am glad it is receiving the recognition it deserves.

✅ 𝐌𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞:

1️⃣ Make sure you feed a product based on their recommended feeding rate to meet requirements

2️⃣ Blood test to evaluate how your current feed program is working

3️⃣ Don’t just supplement blindly unless you enjoy spending money. Supplementing above requirements is only needed if your horse is deficient.

Cheers!
Dr. DeBoer

Muirhead, TL, Wichtel, JJ, Stryhn, H, McClure, JT. 2010. The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward Island. Can Vet J. 51(9):979-985.

Pitel, MO, EC McKenzie, JL Johns, and RL Stuart. 2020. Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34:2132-2141.

03/24/2025

03/22/2025

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I want to take a moment to share some of the ways we all can work together to make conditions safer for farriers.

All of these tips have been born out of accidents or mishaps throughout my career. The dumbest things happen at the most inopportune times and all we can do is be as prepared and aware as possible.

This list is not exhaustive and there will always be nuances, exceptions, compromises, and what have you. This is meant to help educate and bring awareness to how we can make things safer for farriers.

Here are my suggestions

-Have horses that are well handled and have an education level that is appropriate for hoof care, arrange for training prior to farrier day. A long hoof is the least of the problems if the horse is dangerous to work on.

-Please work with your horse and train it, seek a professional if you are unable.

-Have appropriate fly gear, fans, and/or spray available. Horses kicking at flies on three legs is no joke and can lead to injury in a hurry.

-Have horses settled and mentally prepared to stand, which may mean not feeding or moving horses in and out of turnout or having dogs running around when the farrier is working. A relaxed and focused horse is far more safe to get under.

-If horses are painful, stiff, uncomfortable make sure to provide them with the necessary tools prior to the farrier visit. This can be NSAIDS from your vet, bemer, theraplate, BTMM pillar one and two, a good walking warm up, turnout, etc.

-Have horses in, clean, in a well lit and clean space with good non-slip footing. Wet feet on concrete is asking for a wreck. Muddy tools from muddy feet and legs make handling sharp tools slippery and more prone to slipping.

-Have horses that know how to safely tied or cross tied. Preferably with greased quick release snaps (they need routine care so that when the need arises they actually let go) or some sort of safety quick release. If they don’t know how to tie, they need to be held by a competent handler.

-Have a dedicated space for your horse to come and settle for farrier day. Suddenly changing locations can make for an anxious horse that doesn’t stand well.

-If the farrier says the horse is difficult or unsafe, provided the farrier didn’t contribute to that in some way, believe them and find a way to improve the situation for all parties.

-Be mindful of the time of year and scheduling, snow sliding off roofs, thunderstorms, severe heat or cold all greatly increase our risk of injury. Reschedule and keep everyone safe. I know it is a hassle for all parties, do it anyways.

-Communicate and be honest about your horse’s behavior with the people that are going to work with your horse. If your horse has a history of kicking, I need to know about it before I get under the horse.

-Don’t allow horses to chew, lick, nuzzle the farrier unless you have permission from the farrier to allow this.

-don’t allow them to excessively look around when they are having their feet worked with. All those weight shifts impact us.

-Don’t discipline a horse when the farrier is working on the horse. Have a conversation with the farrier about what is happening and a solution for it so everyone can stay safe.

-If a farrier asks you to make adjustments to handling or training, environment, conditions etc. don’t take it personally, they are trying to set the horse up for success and to stay safe.

-Plan ahead with your veterinarian if further pharmaceutical restraint or pain control is necessary for all parties to be safe for hoof care.

-As a handler, advocate for safety for the farrier and be aware of the environment.

-Do not walk horses past a horse in an aisle that is having farrier work.

If you have more tips to share about how to create a safer space for horses share it here and more importantly, do it for your farrier. And share!

03/20/2025

This past weekend, I declined a request to take a 3yo on my farm to start under saddle this summer.

The owner of the horse was kind, understanding and appreciative of my reasoning why, and I'm grateful for that. It gives me hope that the tides are changing.

But I also recognize that this person isn't the norm. In most cases, the youngster would get started one way or another, by whomever was willing to take it in the timeline the owner wanted.

I have personally owned more than my fair share of broken horses, and with decent regularity I work with horses owned by others that I suspect have some significant physical issue contributing to the reason I was called out in the first place. A focus on the foundational aspects of horsemanship tends to highlight problems a horse has, and my personal ethics dictate that I not move past, gloss over or otherwise ignore something I see as problematic. I used to do this all the time because when you train for the public, the pressure to do so is enormous.

The reality is that we KNOW that horses do not skeletally mature until the age of six, at the earliest. And yet horses "on the payroll" well before that is still common and accepted.

We KNOW study after study is showing that kissing spine, pelvic fractures, boney degeneration and arthritis is occuring earlier and more often in working horses. And yet the industry continues to push the idea that stressing young, growing joints early on is a positive, beneficial thing.

I think a lot of us still struggle with that space between what has been so acceptable for so long, and all the new understanding we have, and the wide availability of this information. I certainly do. I am grateful I don't train full time, because I'd probably be disappointing a lot of people.

But from my standpoint, seeing what I see, most people would benefit from spending more time on the ground with their young horses, getting a lot of things working a lot better, in preparation for when the horse is ready to start being ridden. There are so. many. things that happen in the saddle that can be well-prepared from the ground. There are so. many. accidents that happen while sitting on a horse that could be avoided with better preparation that doesn't require being astride. There are so. many. injuries that occur that could be avoided by taking the time to develop the animal properly before adding weight to their back.

I'm willing to die on this hill. We don't see enough strong, solid, sound twenty-something year old horses, still fit and being ridden and ridden well. It seems that there has never been a point in history for the horse where living has been so easy, and yet it also seems like living does not equal truly thriving.

03/16/2025

Yessss!!! 🙌🏼

Why is your horse’s lameness a mystery?

“To ask the ‘right’ question is already half the solution of a problem.” Carl Jung

We cannot solve most problems because we are asking the wrong question, and thus getting the wrong or not complete answer.

What is the definition of lameness?
- Lameness is characterized by an abnormal gait, with scoring 0-5, AAEP
- Lameness in horses refers to a change or abnormality in a horse's gait or stance, petMD
- Lameness is a symptom that something within the limb or body hurts enough that the horse alters its gait to control the amount of load the affected limb has to, UC Davis
- Lameness is an abnormality in gait or inability to use one or more limbs, Merriam Webster

Stop asking which leg is the horse lame in. Instead, we need to be asking:
- What is dysfunctional in the horse?
- What is the primary, secondary, and tertiary issues?
- Is the painful spot the real problem?
- Which dysfunction is causing a performance concern?
- Which biotensegrity dysfunctions are causing limb pain?
- Is there a systemic condition causing body dysfunction?
- Which dysfunctions are causing issues and which are helping?
- What is this horse’s nutrition, environment, farrier care, stress levels currently?
- What impacts are the owner making on the horse?
- Does the horse have structural defects?

When we start asking better questions, we will be significantly more likely to get better results. Shifting from traditional equine sports medicine to Equine Functional Medicine – has been the paradigm change we needed at Denali Equine to start solving the mysteries.

03/13/2025

AMEN!!!! 🙌🏼💖🙌🏼

Navicular Rehab and Hoof Adaptability

Looking at these photos, which are of the SAME FOOT by the way, you think I’d be ecstatic with the change in the back half of the foot (and corresponding progress to soundness for this horse).

But to be honest, I almost get a little angry.

I get angry that so many navicular cases like this case are given up on or told to be euthanized just because they have such a weak foot, without attempting to strengthen it or take the time to grow in a healthier hoof.

I get angry that the navicular bone damage or DDFT/collateral ligament/other soft tissue damage is blamed for lameness, without the health of the frog or hoof capsule taken into account.

I get angry that people constantly blame genetics or conformation for things like low heels, long toes, thin soles.

I get angry that people say that the digital cushion and back half of the foot “can’t improve” once it has atrophied.

I look at these photos and see this beautiful gelding trotting by soundly, rehabbed back to ridden work last year walk/trot/canter after so many gave up on him, and want to scream it from the rooftops: diet and movement can mean the difference between crummy feet and rockcrunching feet, proper hoof rehab can mean the difference between, quite literally, life and death.

That’s my drama post for the day.

Photos both show the same untrimmed foot mid-cycle (first was after shoe pull, before hoof rehab), which was the previously lame foot on a navicular case with bone damage and corresponding soft tissue damage, as well as other body-wide compensations. Apologies for the dirty mud season foot 🙃

(If you want to learn more about how we rehab navicular cases, I have an entire ebook on it here - print copy is sold out and on backorder currently) - https://thehumblehoof.com/product/navigating-navicular-disease-an-optimistic-guide-for-a-pessimistic-diagnosis-ebook/

03/04/2025

The changing of a horse’s coat in spring (and autumn) can place additional demand on the emunctories, particularly the liver and kidneys. This is because shedding and coat renewal are metabolic processes that involve detoxification, cellular turnover, and increased circulation of waste products.
How Shedding Affects the Emunctories:

1. Liver:
The liver plays a key role in detoxification, breaking down old cells, processing hormones, and filtering out metabolic waste.

Spring coat change is often accompanied by an increase in energy metabolism and sometimes a shift in diet (e.g., from hay to fresh grass), which can further tax the liver.

Some horses may show signs of mild liver overload, such as itchy skin, dull coat, or sluggishness.

2. Kidneys:
The kidneys help remove toxins through urine, and during coat change, there may be an increased need for elimination of metabolic waste.

Ensuring proper hydration is key to supporting kidney function during this period.

3. Skin (as an Emunctory):
The skin itself is a major route of elimination, and as old hair is shed, the body may also release stored toxins.

Horses with a sluggish system might show skin issues like dandruff, itchiness, or even minor breakouts.

🌿How to Support the Horse’s Emunctories in Spring:

🔺Liver Support:
Herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock can help the liver process waste efficiently.
Avoid overloading with rich feeds or unnecessary supplements that could burden liver function.

🔺Kidney Support:
Ensure plenty of clean water and encourage movement to stimulate circulation.
Nettle or cleavers can gently support kidney function.

🔺Skin & Coat Support:
Regular grooming aids circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Essential fatty acids (linseed, h**p) can promote healthy skin renewal.
Avoid excessive rugging, which may interfere with the body’s natural detoxification through sweating.

The liver and kidneys are not only essential for detoxification but also play a significant role in the horse’s overall mobility through viscerosomatic reflexes. When these organs become overburdened, they can create muscular tension, postural imbalances, and even restrictions in movement.

🐎Viscerosomatic Reflex & Its Impact on Mobility

Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when dysfunction in an internal organ (viscera) creates tension or discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. This happens because the autonomic nervous system and spinal cord share pathways between internal organs and certain muscle groups.

➡️Liver Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The liver is innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3-C5) and the vagus nerve, and its viscerosomatic reflex is often associated with right-sided stiffness due to its anatomical position. When the liver is struggling:

Horses may exhibit restricted movement in the right shoulder or difficulty bending to the right.

The thoracic sling muscles (pectorals, serratus ventralis) may tighten, affecting forelimb freedom.

There may be tension in the diaphragm, impacting overall posture and leading to compensatory patterns in the back and hindquarters.

Horses might develop a preference for resting one front leg over the other, indicating discomfort in weight distribution.

➡️Kidney Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The kidneys are located in the lumbar region (T12-L3) and are closely related to the psoas muscles, iliopsoas, and quadratus lumborum. If the kidneys are overloaded:

Horses may experience lower back stiffness or reluctance to engage the hindquarters.

There can be difficulty with collection, transitions, or lateral movements due to a lack of mobility in the lumbar region.

Some horses may develop girthiness or sensitivity around the flanks, as the fascia surrounding the kidneys connects to the diaphragm and thoracolumbar spine.

⚠️Signs Your Horse Might Benefit from Visceral Osteopathy in Spring

🐎Stiffness or discomfort in shoulder mobility (right side for liver, lumbar for kidneys)

🐎Unexplained girthiness or flank sensitivity

🐎Reluctance to engage the hindquarters or bend laterally

🐎Skin issues, itchiness, or a dull coat despite good nutrition

🐎Lethargy or behavioural changes, especially when shedding or transitioning to spring grass

By addressing these organ-related tensions, visceral osteopathy not only helps improve movement and posture but also supports overall health, comfort, and performance.

02/28/2025

A must-listen for all horse owners!

We all know the phrase "No Hoof, No Horse." If a horse has poor quality feet that lead to lameness issues, the results can be career-ending. But is it all up to chance? Do we just hope we bought a horse that has "good genetics" and leave it up to fate? Or are there things we can do as owners to ensure that we are doing all we can to help our horses grow healthy feet?

Dr. Priska Darani, the Director of Research and nutritionist at Mad Barn, and Dr. Fran Rowe, veterinarian and nutritionist at Mad Barn, discuss nutrition and the hoof, dietary help for winter laminitis, and more.

You can hear the entire conversation on your favorite podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2025/02/28/equine-diet-for-healthy-hooves/

For more information, see madbarn.com; use code “thehumblehoof” for 5% off your first order.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors:

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!

02/23/2025

A lot of riding focuses on endless body micromanagement- pick up a shoulder here, hold the haunches there, squeeze this, hold that. It’s almost like herding cats, because as soon as you get something where you wanted it, some other body part is bound to get out of place. When we ride this way, we are always reacting to the symptoms of imbalance, as opposed to guiding the body into balance.

A horse in self carriage knows how to manage his own body. Our job is to teach them to find this, little by little, by showing them how to move in rhythm, how to find their hind legs, and how to move unimpeded as a whole unit- not pieces and parts. Then we can watch him shape up before our eyes, in a way that doesn’t require squeezing and pulling and squishing the body into a shape- the shape he gets into comes from his own balance.

Photo by Jasmine cope

02/20/2025

Hang tight while I tell you this story so I can show you how it relates.

I went to see my Chiropractor today who also is a functional fitness coach. I have been working with him regularly for a little time now and really appreciate his lens and approach to working with me. I have a standing appointment time weekly. In that time, I can either get adjusted or do a workout, sometimes if I am lucky I get both. I love this as I can meet my needs for my body in a way that feels appropriate.

He always starts his session with me wanting to know how I felt after the prior session and then what the rest of the week felt like in my body and how I am feeling today.

Now, in my lifetime I have seen numerous chiropractors with some better than others. My current one is top notch, for me at this moment in time and approaches his assessments for me differently than other chiropractors I have worked with. They have all had their place and I stayed with many of them for years and they were the right fit for me then. They also have their own lens and way of treating. I have always found benefit from these people and also saw trends in the way they adjust. Some of it is technique they learned or personal preference or a combination of both.

Today we were discussing my work, his work, and chiropractic care. I asked him about my neck. C2 on the left is chronically a spot that needs assistance on me. And yet, he less frequently adjusts it. Why? And I especially ask that because that spot has been less irritated for me with his adjustments. I am curious... He described for me about how different techniques work depending on position of the person. That none are wrong, some work better than others in certain circumstances, and mostly, it’s about how the tissue feels in that moment and what it needs to release/realign. He could position me differently and still get a good adjustment but what he feels, despite his preferred technique to use, tells him that I need a different approach. And I can tell you after having been adjusted by him enough times now, his approach has been right for my body, she approves.

I also came in today with no complaints but felt like I needed an adjustment. Due to the time block I have reserved, he takes his time with me. He is the first person to consistently check and adjust my knees and feet. They don’t bother me, by the way. And spots that I am not bothered by are extremely painful to touch. I found that curious too. So here he is making sure I have a good foundation in my feet, supporting them, and finding ways to release my tissue so I can find greater ease.

My chief complaints are not where he is finding that my tissue needs support. I am endlessly fascinated by this but not at all surprised. We know that discomfort or misuse or misalignment can happen well away from the area that is signaling pain/discomfort/tension.

I find connection amongst many things in my life, the exchange this morning is no exception. It really highlighted for me the value of farriers/trimmers that really feel the body as they pick up a leg and how they go about making trim decisions that support the whole body for where it is that day. Knowing that the foundation they provide that horse will have far reaching effects for the rest of the body.

Hooves are dynamic and ever changing. Working to find the most neutral alignment and with respect to where the hooves and body are that day without forcing a technique or method can’t be overstated. Can we help them with a single technique? Sure. But wouldn’t it be better if we really felt the horse, did our assessments on hoof balance, and pulled from a tool box with the most appropriate approach for that day? I would say so.

And we can’t say this is all about the hooves any more than a chiropractor can say it is only about the single joint in our body. They are attached to the horse and beyond our trim, our approach and how we feel and connect with that horse goes a long way to how the body receives the input from our trim changes. It isn’t just what the tissue needs from the trim but also in how we handle the horse and their limbs.

My chiro treats me with the understanding and respect that I know my body better than anyone else and that he is a conduit, with his specific lens, to supporting change and the most integrated, efficient body I can have. He pushes me when I am in a place to be pushed, he softens when I need a quieter approach so that my body can integrate just as well as those days I can push. He works with my whole body, not just single joints.

I feel hoof care can be much the same. There are times we can push a trim or making a shoeing change and really help a horse get over a hurdle in postural development or performance. There are times we needs to hold steady and let that horse process life without major changes to their feet. Sometimes, “ideal” isn’t achievable and we support their hooves in the way that works for them so they can find the most comfort and benefit that day. Again, we work with the whole body and not just the hoof.

Being the best farrier I can be means that I find flexibility in my approach and have a tool box of techniques to pull from at any given moment to help each horse reach their full potential from a solid foundation.

02/20/2025

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

People think this is normal but it sure should not be. If you don't want to have your farrier out more often, then you need to be adding more movement and hoof enrichment to your environment.

Horse owners need to understand

A 6-8 week (or more) trim cycle will very Rarely fix a problem.

If you've got a horse with flares, the cycle needs to be shortened under 6 weeks.

If you've got a horse with under run heels, you need to shorten that trim cycle.

If you've got a horse with folded bars, shorten your cycle.

If your horse is getting toe abscesses, you likely need to shorten your cycle.

If you have a laminitic horse with rotation, the cycle needs shortened. That coffin bone drops because the laminae are stretched and so very often the issue really began because the toes were allowed to get too long, which was the first insult, and then the metabolism changed which compounded things and tipped it over.

If things are not optimum, they cannot be put back into optimum without getting ahead of the issue instead of chasing it.

Shorten your trim cycle and put things back to Best instead of okay.

Optimum hooves make for disappointed dogs.

02/13/2025

If we can’t even emotionally regulate ourselves through stress, frustration, anxiety or uncertainty whilst training horses, how can we expect our horses to regulate properly?

It’s unfair to expect a horse to be more stable, relaxed and balanced than the person who is handling them.

Good training ends where frustration begins.

Use of harsh punishment and brute force begins where skill ends.

Working on our own emotional reactivity and how it may result in us taking our frustrations out on horses needs to be a priority in training.