Kobus Els Remedial Farriery

11/12/2024

🐴 One Way to Treat a Hoof Abscess is with a Poultice – Here’s How to Apply It 🩹
A hoof abscess can be painful for your horse, but treating it with a poultice is an effective way to help it heal. 🌿 Follow these steps to apply a poultice correctly.

🧰 What You’ll Need:
* Dressing: Glycerine Itchthammol
* Cushioning Layer: Softband or orthoband
* Nappy to hold everything together
* Vetwrap to secure the layers
* Duct Tape for waterproofing
* Adhesive Bandage to keep it all in place

📝 How to Apply a Poultice

1️⃣ Clean the Hoof: Wash the hoof thoroughly and dry it well.
2️⃣ Soak the Hoof: If the abscess hasn’t popped yet, soak the hoof in warm water mixed with Epsom salts for at least 15 minutes.
3️⃣ Prepare the Nappy: Apply Glycerine Ichthammol to the nappy, then place it over the hoof. Once the abscess starts draining, switch to a dry dressing.
4️⃣ Apply Cushioning: Wrap the hoof in a figure-8 pattern, ensuring the coronary band and heels are covered.
5️⃣ Secure with Vetwrap: Place the nappy over the cushioning and secure it with Vetwrap.
6️⃣ Duct Tape Layer: Apply a duct tape square to the bottom for waterproofing.
7️⃣ Finish with Adhesive Bandage: Ensure everything stays securely in place.

This is a great way to manage a hoof abscess and help your horse recover faster! 🐎💪

29/11/2024

🐴 Hoof Abscesses in Horses 🦶

Hoof abscesses can cause sudden and severe lameness, but with the right treatment, they’re often resolved quickly! An abscess is a localised accumulation of pus in the hoof, leading to painful pressure.

🚨 Signs to Watch For:
* Sudden refusal to bear weight on a foot
* Mild to severe lameness
* Swelling and heat
* Increased digital pulse

🔍 Common Causes Include:
* Environmental changes (wet and dry conditions)
* Penetrating wounds from sharp objects
* Improper nail placement
* Muddy or rocky terrain
* Thermal injury from hot-fitting shoes
* Poor hoof balance
* Dirty, wet stalls

🩺 Treatment involves draining the abscess, keeping the foot clean, and possibly using anti-inflammatory meds. The prognosis is generally good for superficial infections!

✨ Prevention is key: regular cleaning, proper trimming, and routine farrier visits can help maintain hoof health. Protect your horses’ feet to keep them happy and sound!

14/11/2024

🎄✨ Holiday Closure Notice ✨🎄

Kobus Els Remedial Farriery will be closed from 20 December to 5 January 2025 as we take a break over the festive season. 🐴❤️

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to assisting you in the new year!

01/11/2024

Did you know a horse is said to have ‘five hearts’? ❤️🐴 Four of those hearts are the hooves, each vital for supporting soundness, comfort, and performance. The perfect hoof has three essential qualities: the hoof pastern axis (HPA), hoof balance, and heel conformation. Ideally, the HPA forms a straight line from the fetlock down, reducing strain on tendons. Balanced hooves are even from front to back and side to side, distributing weight naturally. Strong heel conformation helps absorb shock, supporting the horse with each step. While some horses may never achieve the ideal hoof due to conformation or old injuries, striving for these qualities keeps them moving happily and healthily! 🦶💪

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18/10/2024

Hoof Growth 101 🐴🦶

A horse’s hoof wall grows about +/- 1cm per month, regenerating a new hoof in a year. However, growth rates can vary, with some horses growing slower due to age, genetics, and environment.

🌞 Climate: Hoof growth is faster in summer and slower in winter due to temperature changes.

🥕 Nutrition: A balanced diet with proteins, vitamins, and minerals is essential for strong hooves. Biotin can help, but its effectiveness varies.

🔧 Maintenance: Regular trims or shoeing every 5–7 weeks prevent overgrowth and imbalances, avoiding cracks and lameness.

🚶‍♂️ Exercise: Consistent activity promotes blood circulation and health. Active horses generally have better hoof growth.

Monitor each horse's unique needs to ensure optimal hoof health year-round!

04/10/2024

💡 Did you know? Biotin plays a HUGE role in supporting your horse’s hoof growth and health! 🐴💪

Biotin, also known as vitamin H or B7, is essential for: 🔹 Keratin Production – Stronger, healthier hooves 🦶 🔹 Improved Structure – Fewer cracks and splits 🧱 🔹 Faster Growth – Accelerated hoof regeneration 🌿 🔹

Adding biotin to your horse's diet can make a world of difference! 🐎 Consult with us at Kobus Els Remedial Farriery for the best care and advice tailored to your horse’s needs! 🤝

13/09/2024

How Hooves Impact a Horse's Movement 🐎💨

The hoof is key to how a horse moves! 🦶 A healthy hoof means better support, balance, shock absorption, and grip. If hooves are too long, short, or uneven, it can throw off the horse's gait, causing discomfort or injury. Proper farrier care ensures smooth, confident movement, whether it's on soft grass or tough terrain. 🐴✨

💥 Hoof Balance: Prevents strain on joints and muscles.
💥 Shock Absorption: Protects legs from impact injuries.
💥 Traction: Ensures grip on different surfaces.
💥 Flexibility: Enables natural range of motion and smooth strides.

Regular farrier care = a happy, healthy horse! 🐾

01/09/2024

Congrats to all our Adult riders for your amazing performances this weekend! 🏆 The Kobus Els Remedial Farriery Team is super proud of you and your horses! 🐴👏

01/09/2024

The frog is a vital part of your horse's hoof, playing a key role in traction, support, and shock absorption. 🐴 At around 50% moisture content, a healthy frog is rubbery and essential for overall hoof health.

🦶 Functions like traction and cushioning depend on a well-maintained frog, so avoid over-trimming and watch for signs of disease like thrush. A compromised frog can lead to issues that affect your horse's performance.

Keep your horse’s frog healthy for peak performance! 💪

07/08/2024

🐴❤️ The Hoof: The Horse's Second Heart ❤️🐴

Did you know? Blood is pumped from the heart through arteries to the hoof, and a unique "pumping mechanism" in the hoof helps return it to the heart! This mechanism is crucial since there are no muscles in the lower leg or hoof to assist blood return.

Inside the hoof, a network of veins called the venous plexus is compressed by the plantar cushion and coffin bone, acting as a pump to push blood up the leg. One-way valves in the veins prevent blood from flowing back, while compression creates a "hydraulic cushion" that absorbs shock and protects the coffin bone.

This amazing valve action generates fluid pressure that, when the hoof is raised, causes blood to flow up the leg and refill the plexuses. When the hoof bears weight, the veins are compressed; when lifted, the veins open, allowing blood to be pushed in by arterial pulses and gravity. The weight of the horse aids in propelling the blood back up the leg, a process often referred to as the "second heart."

31/07/2024

Dealing with Cracks! 🐴💥

A client's horse had a severe hoof crack. Check out how Kobus expertly handled the issue! 👏🛠️

28/07/2024

🐴✨ Types of Shoes: Egg Bar Shoes with Kobus Els Remedial Farriery! ✨🐴

Egg bar shoes are specialised horseshoes that provide support to the heels of the hoof and provide the reduction of strain on the flexor tendon.

Functionality & Benefits:
🔹 Increased Posterior Support: The rounded bar at the back extends the ground surface area, giving robust support to the heel and reducing strain on the flexor tendon.
🔹 Enhanced Posterior Flotation: Distributes the horse's weight more evenly, reducing pressure on any single part of the hoof, offering extra comfort and stability.

When to Use Egg Bar Shoes:
🩺 Navicular Syndrome:** Provides increased heel support and reduces strain.

03/07/2024

🐴 Case Study: Negative Palmer & Planter Angles 🐴

The owner observed that the horse was not behaving normally, frequently tripping, exhibiting increased stiffness during work, and standing very camped out both during work and in the paddock. Despite these issues, there were no signs of lameness, leading to a veterinary examination. 🩺 During the trot-out, the vet found no signs of lameness, inflammation, or heat in the hooves or joints. Although the hooves appeared healthy externally, X-rays revealed a negative palmer angle of the pedal bone in the front leg and a negative planter angle in the hind leg. 📸

To address these issues, Kobus Els used specialised 3D pads designed to provide targeted support and pressure relief. 🛠️ These pads work by redistributing pressure across the hoof, supporting the back half of the hoof, and relieving pressure from the bony column above. Incorporating 3D pads into the horse's hoof care routine enhances overall hoof health and performance, ensuring the horse is more comfortable and less prone to the previously observed issue. 🌟🐎

22/06/2024

5 Frequently asked questions - Farrier Addition ⭐️

FAQ 1: What is the most common hoof problem in horses? 🐴❓
Answer: The most common hoof problem is thrush, a bacterial infection that affects the frog of the hoof. 🦠🐾

FAQ 2: How do I encourage better hoof growth in my horse? 🐎🌱
Answer: Ensure a balanced diet with adequate biotin, zinc, and methionine, and provide regular and correct farrier care. 🥕🍎👨‍🔧

FAQ 3: How can I prevent thrush in my horse’s hooves? 🚫🦠
Answer: Keep the hooves and stables clean and dry, and pick out debris and manure from the hooves at least once a day. 🧹🏡🧽

FAQ 4: When should I apply Stockholm tar, and when should I use hoof oil? 🕯️🛢️
Answer: Apply Stockholm tar to the frog to prevent infections like thrush, and use hoof oil to moisturise and maintain hoof flexibility only in Winter. ❄️🌿

FAQ 5: Are pads bad for your horse’s feet? 🦶❓
Answer: Pads are not inherently bad and can be vital to provide protection and support, but they must be used appropriately based on the horse’s needs and farrier advice. ✅🛠️

20/06/2024