archive
It’s hard to talk about hooves without mentioning lifestyle. It’s true that in the wild, only the strongest survive. But wild horses have a big advantage over our domestic horses. It’s their lifestyle. Wild horses move anywhere from 20 to 30 miles a day, grazing here and there as they go. What they eat looks [...]
With the arrival of winter, it’s time to think about your horse’s hooves. If your horse is shod, most Farriers will tell you, it’s a good to idea to pull the shoes for the winter and give those hooves a healing period. If you live in a snowy climate and you choose to keep your [...]
With the change of season and the change in weather ahead, I would like to touch on the subject of laminitis. Most people are careful of the new spring grass and the high sugars it can produce, but there is also a situation in the fall that can send a horse into a laminitic attack [...]
Last month I discussed the hoof mechanism and the importance of a heel first landing. This month I would like to talk about the back (or caudal) part of the hoof. The development of the digital cushion and the health of the frog will be key to how comfortable your horse is landing heel first. [...]
Last month I talked about hoof anatomy. This month I would like to describe how the hoof functions. This is known as the hoof mechanism. The hoof is an engineering feat (no pun intended). In the healthy, pain-free hoof, the horse lands heel-first. The collateral grooves (on each side of the frog) act as hinges, [...]
I’d like to share with you my knowledge of the hoof. Like many horse owners, I have spent much of my time raising, training, competing and just messing around with horses. Yet, my understanding of the hoof was very limited. My desire to keep my horses barefoot led me to study natural hoof trimming techniques, [...]