In March of 2010 I attended the American Hoof Association Conference at Auburn University, in Alabama. http://www.americanhoofassociation.org/  A week of great speakers, clinics, and surrounded by some of the most experienced trimmers in the business, I learned a lot. Dr. Debra Taylor, of the Veterinary Collage, shared the research she has been doing with Pete Ramey on rehabilitating foundered horses. She was very generous with her time. She lectured and took us into the field to see some of her cases first hand. We studied radiographs and venograms and spent a day in the Anatomy Lab dissecting.
I was also honored to meet Dr. Kerry Ridgeway, for the first time. As a traditional Vet, also licensed in Chiropractics and Acupuncter, Dr. Ridgeway uses conventional and integrative medicine to get to the root of the problem and treat the whole horse. He demonstrated a technique he has developed for diagnosing ulcers through reactive points, and common muscular and chiropractic patterns. http://www.drkerryridgway.com/index.php

In August 2010 Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners held it’s annual meeting in LA. Brian Hampson of the Australian Brumby Research Unit was our speaker, lecturing for 2 full days on his findings in the outback. http://www.wildhorseresearch.com/

This past March I returned to Auburn University for my second AHA conference. Dr. Taylor was full of information once again and Dr. Robert Bowker, Professor of Anatomy at MSU and owner of Corona Vista Equine Center http://www.coronavistaequinecenter.com/home.html, presented his research. Dr. Ridgeway, was back with a new direction. He has been studying the hi/low hoof syndrome, side dominance in the horse and how it affects the muscular skeletal system. I found this information incredibly relevant to my work and made the decision to learn more.

In June I attended a 2 day “Movement and Biomechanics” clinic with Dr. Kerry Ridgeway and his wife Christine Heraud-Ridgeway, in Northern California. Part lecture, with a lot of hands on, we learned what to look for in movement and how to look for it. There was a lot of discussion on side dominance, how to recognize it and what issues it can cause for the horse. If you ever get the chance to attend one of Dr. Ridgeway’s clinics, I would highly recommend it. For more information check out his web site at the Institute for Equine Therapeutic Options.  http://www.drkerryridgway.com/

Leslie Carrig of High Desert Hoof Care hosted a one day Nutrition Clinic for horse owners and professionals, taught by Sally Hugg of CA Trace.

All who attended learned to take a scientific approach to feeding their horses. Armed with calculators, hay tests, and feed labels, we figured out what was missing in our horses diet and how to balance it. We also discussed some innovative and simple ways of feeding and caring for our horse’s, including slow feeders and a tour of Leslie’s “Paddock Paradise”.

Topics covered:

• Basic equine digestion and how it works
• Slow feeding for a healthy digestive system and a happier horse
• Nutrition 101 for horses: protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins
• Using the NRC “Nutrient Requirements of Horses” guidelines
• Understanding hay and the nutrition it provides – it’s not just roughage
• How to test hay or get information about the hay in your area
• Understanding insulin resistance – is your horse at risk?
• Weights, measures, and math – it’s easy!
• Formulating a ration that’s simple and cost effective
• Feeding for hoof health
• How to decipher a feed tag and supplement label
• Smart shopping – getting the best deals for your money

Time: 9:00 – 4:00
Location: 558 Green Acres Dr. Gardnerville, NV 89460
Cost: $50
Contact: leslie@highdeserthoofcare.com to reserve your spot

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I just had the good fortune of attending a clinic on reading  radiographs. Cynthia Nielson DVM, of Founder Warriors Rehab Center in Reno, was kind enought to host and teach a clinic for members of the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners. We learned to understand what we are looking at in an x-ray. This can be very helpful when looking at films with a Veterinarian. We had a full day of lecture and reading films, then spent the next day (freezing) in barns taking digital radiographs. Dr. Nielson helped us to see how a radiograph could help us with our trimming techniques. We shot films, trimmed, and took some after shots to see what had been accomplished. Very informative!

Dr. Kellon, co-owner and moderator of the Yahoo Equine Cushings & Insulin Resistance List is offering an on-line course. I am taking the course myself and am really enjoying getting my questions answered by one of the most knowledgeable Vets in this field. I would recommend checking out the Yahoo EC list first, if this is something you would like to know more about. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/

In January I will be taking Dr. Kellon’s NRC Plus Course. All the information and misinformation out there on “how to feed your horse” can be mind boggling. Learn how to read lables, balance your hay, and feed your horse what he needs. You can read about Dr. Kellon and her on-line  courses at http://drkellon.com.

“EasyCare would like to spotlight June dealer of the month, High Desert Hoof Care, owned and operated by Leslie Carrig out of Gardnerville, NV. Leslie started her journey about four years ago when she decided to keep one of her horses barefoot. She recalls the horse having pretty good feet and a friend telling her how she rode her horse in boots. She ordered some Old Mac’s and loved riding in them. Her mom then sent her an article by Pete Ramey and she was intrigued and so read Pete’s book and then Jamie Jackson’s. “That was it for me. It all made too much sense,” says Leslie. She knew that her other horse with the not so great feet was really the one needing to be barefoot, so Leslie learned to trim her own horses. But in time eight hooves weren’t enough for her and she had to see and learn more resulting in her becoming a professional trimmer.

Leslie officially has been in business a year and a half, working mostly in the Carson Valley area where she works with about 75 head regularly. She also teaches owners to trim themselves and fits boots for non-clients.

Leslie is a member of the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners which is a group of professional trimmers who want to share information in a supportive setting and continue their education indefinitely. Leslie says the group saw the need for more training programs in the barefoot community and that demand is growing fast. This program is flexible to accommodate the professional trimmer, who would like a support group with continuing education. The organization also offers a comprehensive training program for anyone wanting to trim their own horses or start a new career. They follow Pete Ramey’s style of trimming and look at the whole horse and welcome anyone interested in learning more.

When it comes to boots and pads, Leslie says they are critical to her success as a trimmer. She adds that most of our domestic horses have underdeveloped hooves and must undergo a transition period, at the very least. Many will always be ridden in boots. I encourage all my clients to use hoof boots and pads. She finds that when clients think the horse is OK without boots, but then tries boots, they see how much better they really do move. A correct heel first landing movement that boots and pads allow for, take the hoof to its healthiest form. Leslie looks at riding time as healing time, so the horse needs to be moving optimally to truly utilize it. If the horse is ouchy, the horse will compensate.

As a professional, Leslie knows it is paramount to have what you need when you need it. She has found the Fill Your Truck program perfect for doing just that. Leslie says she spent her first year ordering something every week and worrying about running out. With the Fill Your Truck program, she was able to round out her inventory and keep in stock those Epic #1s and #2s!

Leslie imparts these words of wisdom to other trimmers:

“Be honest and caring. You won’t always have all the answers, but if you are open and honest about it you will learn from every horse and every owner. You both want the same thing, a sound and healthy horse. Having outside support makes your job much easier. Even if it’s just another trimmer you can bounce questions off of. The day you stop questioning, you’ve stopped learning.”

Wild horses move anywhere from 20 to 30 miles a day, grazing here and there as they go. What they eat looks rather spare to us, yet they are generally pretty healthy, with beautiful strong hooves. Maybe we should look to them for answers. The closer we can keep our horses to the natural way, the better overall health they will have. Including their hooves.

Movement is a key ingredient in producing a healthy hoof. This can be challenging for those with small properties, but most situations can be improved upon with a little thought. Give your horses a reason to move. Is the hay next to the water, next to the salt block, next to the gate? Your horse need not go anywhere to fulfill his needs. Horses grouped together will move more than a horse standing alone. Besides, they are very social and must have companionship for their physical and mental health.

Place your hay in small piles spread far apart. The boss horse will suspect the other guys have something better. They will keep pushing the other horses off their pile and you will get more movement between mouthfuls.

Keep your horses outside. Barns and stalls are for people, not horses. They are prey animals and are happier when they can see what is coming. Why limit their movement by locking them up?

Exercise your horse. The healthiest hooves I trim are the ones that work the hardest.

Don’t forget diet. Low carb forage (stick to the grass hay), available most of the time is ideal. Stay away from grain. If you need a handful to feed your supplements in, try LMF’s Low Non-Structural Carbohydrate or well-rinsed beet pulp without molasses added.

If you want to really think outside the box, pick up a copy of Jaime Jackson’s “Paddock Paradise”, available at http://www.star-ridge.com. It will give you some great ideas on how to utilize your space creatively. You can not only increase your horse’s movement and the health of his hooves, but also decrease his boredom, reducing stress and the bad habits that come with it.

Leslie Carrig is a Natural Hoof Trimmer and Boot Fitter, in the Carson Valley. She has training with the AANHCP, Easy Care Hoof Boots, and continues to study Pete Ramey’s techniques. She is a founding member of the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners http://www.pacifichoofcare.org.