Natural Hoof Trimming

When you peruse 'Practical Horseman', 'Equus' or 'Horse Illustrated', you may find a professional saying, "Well barefeet might work for some horses, but never Thoroughbreds. They just don't have good feet." Or, "We've bred the feet off those Thoroughbreds." If your friend described her new horse's hooves as flat soled, long toed, with thin, shelly walls, don't you immediately think, "Thoroughbred!" I know I do.

With the natural trim, EasyCare boots, good turnout, some body work and a saddle that fits, my friend and former client, Lyndsay, an owner-trimmer brought Garwin back from the brink. This handsome and talented thoroughbred was a few strides short of becoming a lawn ornament.

If Garwin can make a come back, I think you will agree, almost any Thoroughbred can!

Various minerals are important for a healthy horse, and healthy hooves. I read a really great article in the Horse's Hoof, Winter 2012-Issue 45, written by Marijke van de Water. Marijke is an Equine Health & Nutrition Specialist, Homeopathic Practitioner and Medical Intuitive. She is also the founder and owner of Riva's Remedies.

Horse hooves are very much a reflection of the whole horse, and the treatment of the hoof should always consider the whole health of the horse. Healthy hoof horn produced by a healthy, well-nourished horse is smooth, strong, and free of horizontal or vertical cracks. Taking care of the whole horse will always benefit the hooves.


You need to take in to consideration the diet, proper horse hoof trimming and regular exercise to insure good, healthy blood circulation. Blood circulation is how the hoof receives oxygen and nutrients to keep them at their best. We all know that old saying "No Hoof, No Horse".

A few of the important minerals talked about in this article, were sulphur, selenium and silica. How they contribute to really healthy hooves. There are organic varieties that are absorbed and utilized much more effectively than the inorganic form. Natural horse products can be easier to assimilate in the body as in nature, horses eat weeds and vegetation out there that is good for them. It just comes natural to them.

Silica promotes bone health, strengthens collagen and hardens the hoof wall, while selenium and sulphur contribute to collagen production and strengthen the cross link bonds in the keratin.


For a good read and more knowledge, check out this article and then check your horse's hooves. What are you seeing?

Pro - cras - ti - na - tion (proh-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn) - the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.  

I'm sure nobody really needs the definition of the word procrastination spelled out, I know I don't - this blog was due two weeks ago! Everyone procrastinates sometimes, over 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. Did you know that procratination and perfectionism go hand in hand? Here are some reasons for procrastination:

• Fear of Failure
• Because we are too busy
• Over-or under-estimating the degree of difficulty the task involves

Does any of this sound familiar on reasons why you have not tried to take your horse barefoot? There is so much information available today regarding natural horse care, using hoof boots and barefoot trimming, it can get overwhelming. EasyCare has a whole section of our website devoted to articles to help educate you and get you on your way.

Ways to overcome procrastition:

• Get a buddy to do the barefoot transition with you.
• Challenge your myths regarding shoeing and do some research.
• Get a new attitude.

So, take a deep breath and dive in. Remember the worst form of procrastition is reading an article about it, feeling the guilt and not doing anything about it. (I will have to remember this when my next blog is due.)

Sliced or squished, how do you like it?

Dull knives are dangerous, no matter how you slice it! Whether cutting vegetables, bread, meat or trimming hooves, you need to use a lot of strength. A dull instrument can bounce and deflect, causing bloody hands for the operator. Sharp knives can be controlled with minimum force: they do their intended job with ease. For natural hoof trimming and barefoot trimming, a sharp hoof knife is a must. Dirt, sand and mud left on the bottom of the hoof will quickly dull any hoof knife.

An often heard question at the different natural hoof care clinics has been "which is the best way to sharpen hoof knives?"

Below a list of some of the most common sharpening devices.

1. Bench Sander
Bench sanders and grinders can be used for many purposes and they work great for sharpening knives. They are more cumbersome to haul around and require electricity.


The blade should always get sharpened from the inside (the rounded side) only.

Advantages: fast results, the spinning wheel does the work.

Disadvantages: difficult to sharpen the curved tip; easy to tilt the knife blade, resulting in an uneven blade. A very skilled and delicate touch is required. Doesn't work for Loop Knives.

2. Diamond Sharpener
Always sharpen from the curved side only. You can pull the sharpener towards you or turn the knife around and push the sharpener away from you, as the two images below show.

Advantages: easy to use, forgiving, curved tip can get sharpened as well.

Disadvantages: requires more strokes to achieve a sharp knife.

3. Chainsaw Sharpener
Normally used to sharpen the links of chain saws; a good tool for hoof knives as well.

Again, you can pull or push the instrument. As you can see, it fits nicely into the curved tip.

Advantages: works fast, you achieve a nice sharp tip.

Disadvantages: It is easy to dent the blade if not careful. The round file, especially when new and sharp, can cause some waves in the blade when not being worked diligently.

4. Swissistor
This tool was specifically developed for sharpening hoof knives.

Advantages: easy and fast results.

Disadvantages: tightly curved tips and loop knives can be difficult to sharpen evenly.

5. Sharpening Stone
The oldest knife sharpening tool. Works best when wetted with water.

Advantages: ease of use, safe.

Disadvantages: often hard to get the tip sharpened.

After sharpening the curved side of the knife, it is necessary to deburr the flat side of the knife. The stone is most suitable for that task.

Best sharpening results are achieved by holding a 30 degree angle between the blade and the instrument. For deburring, a 10 to 20 degree angle works well. You can now move the blade  towards you with a light slicing movement.

When sharpening the knife, it is best to hold the knife still and move the sharpening tool across the blade. When deburring, you hold the stone still and move the knife across the stone.

Here they are all together one more time, for size comparison:

What is my favorite sharpening device? The Swissistor.

A sharp hoof knife makes the job of horse hoof trimming a lot easier.

Your Bootmeister

2011 is a year that I'll remember for acceptance of natural hoof care practices, hoof boots and barefoot trimming. 

Yes, natural hoof care has been around along time and many people feel it's the only way to keep a horse.  There are also many people who believe all horses must wear iron shoes.  I think the thing that I noticed most about 2011 is a broad, mainstream acceptance of barefoot hoof care.  Horse owners that have had every horse shod for years now have one or two going strong barefoot or booted.  I've noticed a change in thinking, it's no longer a debatable topic but a successful tool in the bag of tricks of the equestrian trade. 

Here is my list of why I believe natural hoof care made a big step forward in 2011, why it will continue in 2012 and where EasyCare needs focus in the future.   I'll start with #1 and cut right to the chase.

1.  Pete and Ivy Ramey release a monumental book about natural hoof care called "Care and Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot".  Pete and an incredible group of contributing authors (Robert Bowker, Hilary Clayton, Brian Hampson, Eleanor Kellon, Kerry Ridgway, Debra Taylor and Kathryn Watts) lay out the importance of hoof care theory, nutrition and the hoof, trimming different parts of the hoof, laminitis management and feral horse foot studies.  The book is incredible and a must read for equine professionals, horse owners and anyone who cares for the equine hoof.  If you believe in the phrase "No Hoof, No Horse" this book will bring your knowledge to a whole new level.


2.  Tevis Cup 2011.  The toughest 100 mile horse race in the world tests horses, riders and hoof care management techniques more than any other venue in the world.  Jeremy Reynolds wins both the Tevis Cup and Haggin cup using Easyboots on a barefoot horse.  In addition to Reynolds impressive results, Easyboots were used on the 3rd place horse, 5th place horse and an additional 6 horses in the top twenty.  In total 28 barefoot/Easybooted horses finished the 2011 event.  The Tevis Cup continues to show that barefoot/booted horses care compete and win at the highest levels of equine sport.


3.  Horse Journal names the Easyboot Glove as Horse Journal Editor's Choice and the Easyboot Trail and Horse Journal Best Buy.  Horse Journal is a cool equine magazine that does a great deal of product testing and reviews.  They don't take advertising dollars so their reviews are usually very good and on target. 


4. EasyCare has promoted the $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest since 2005.  Although the Hoof Boot Contest has been very successful and has helped promote hoof boots and barefoot horses in one of the toughest equine sports, 2011 will bring an end to the successful $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest and we will soon launch the inaugural 2012 International Transition Challenge.  The Transition Challenge will showcase horse owner and hoof care professional horse transitions.  The new contest will highlight the importance of routine hoof care maintenance, proper nutrition and exercise.  The change of direction will take our contest focus off long distance racing and put money and energy into a contest where improving the lives of horses will be highlighted and rewarded.  More information will be coming soon.  

5. Advancement, another area of focus for EasyCare in 2012.  It's 2011 and in many areas of the equine industry we are still using products and methods developed hundreds of years ago. Why do other sports like cycling, skiing, climbing, and running continue to advance?  If you look at a bike developed 20 years ago you would think it belonged in a museum.  If you looked at a saddle developed 20 years ago you would think it looks just like the saddles being made today.  One of EasyCare's goals moving forward is to borrow technology from other industries and bring it into the equestrian industry.  Time to look at things differently. 
 

If you've ever met Natalie Herman, you will know her to be dependably positive and honest. Since she started her business in 2005, she believes there has been an explosion of booting options, both in the growth of new boot brands and within EasyCare itself.

Natalie attributes her success to her burning desire to learn. She finds she can learn something from everyone. Even if she does not agree, there is always something that might cause her to approach a problem from a different angle. She credits her reputuation to the power of word of mouth and her conscientious approach to customer service. "I do some marketing, but it is a fairly tight community around here. If you want to be successful, you need to have people talking about you in a good way."

Natalie says Easycare makes working with their dealer networks and boot users a pleasurable process. "They have a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff; they have favorable return policies, and when a product is shown to need improvement, they modify the product instead of sticking with the same old thing."

She uses the same philosophy in her own business: "I am very helpful and giving with my knowledge. If a client has a question, they never hesitate to call or email me with it, and I try and help them. A good trim is just the tip of a large iceberg." She studied horseshoeing first, and credits that time with learning the principles of anatomy and a balanced trim. She feels strongly that evolution is just as important in hoofcare as it is in the boots that protect those hooves.

Natalie is quick to compliment EasyCare: "I love how inovative Easycare is, always trying to come up with new solutions to existing boots, or totally new boots when the need arises. Instead of insisting that the user is at fault, or the trims are incorrect, EasyCare tries to find a solution to boot failures by either modifying the boot design, or coming up with a design that fits the activity of that user. She says she's still waiting to see a sliding plate boot, though. "It just amazes me how fast things are changing in the industry," says Natalie, "and I am loving it."
 
Natalie currently owns three horses: a 13 year-old Morgan/Quarter Horse mare that was her first horse and, she says, her best horse. "I tried about everything with her, and she is currently being leased to a friend's daughter. Together they won the state championship for CSHA Trail Trials in their division this year, bare and sometimes booted with Gloves. She was also her experimental horse for getting into barefooting. She always needed shoes with pads in the front, having long toe/low heel issues, and wore the outside branches of her hind shoes to nothing in six weeks. Natalie was skeptical of taking her barefoot. "Her feet became so much better that I decided to completely convert my farrier business to natural hoofcare." She has never looked back.

She bred the mare to the top AERC mileage and Hall of Fame stallion, DR Thunder Bask, and this year her six year-old daughter completed her first endurance season. She has been bare her entire life, and performed wonderfully in Gloves, Epics, and Glue-ons at rides throughout 2011. "She is also my 'thinking outside the box' booting horse. I have had to modify boots and how to apply them to the hoof with her, as she tends to have a lot of torque on the hind end." Having a challenging horse in booting has helped her help others.

Natalie also has a 13 year-old Kentucky Mountain stallion. "He is my 'soul horse' and I love everything about him."

As a small business owner, Natalie keeps a minimum stock for clients, and appreciates the fact that Easycare does not have a minimum order policy amount. Her best-seller is still the Easyboot Glove and Glove Wides. "Most of my cients love them as they are so simple to use. The next best-selling models are the Epic and Easyboot Trail, as both allow a greater range of fitting for clients unable or unwilling to keep the hooves trimmed as frequently as the Gloves require.

Her most rewarding experience as a trimmer was treating her first founder case. "I knew the theory, and had trimmed a few mildly laminitic horses, but not a really bad case. When I called the vet for a consult and to go in and see the radiographs, the vet had basically written the horse off and told me to expect to see the coffin bone coming through the sole." She never did get sole penetration on that horse, but there were months of abscessing. Today the horse has textbook hooves. "This case got me started on the path to working on laminitic horses and it boosted my confidence in the barefoot method."

Natalie's most memorable hoof boot success story is the 2011 XP 2,000 mile ride. "There were a good number of barefoot and booted riders already, but there were also many shod horses competing." The barefoot horses proved to be most of the highest mileage horses on this ride, with over 1,000 miles each during the two-month span. Riders with shod horses discovered the benefits of barefoot/booted protocols, and many of them solved lameness issues during the race by pulling shoes and applying boots. "So much for an extended transition from shoes," said Natalie ironically.

Natalie's prediction for the future? That a barefoot and booted lifestyle will become the norm instead of a fad. "More and more vets and long-time farriers are becoming interested in it. As boots become easy to use and effective as hoof protection, more people see barefoot and booting as a viable option for their horse's hoofcare.

For more information on Epona's Natural Hoofcare Services, visit Natalie's new Facebook page. For more information on becoming a dealer, visit the Dealer's Corner on the EasyCare website.

Wow, what a year it's been.  I can hardly believe 2011 is gone: I have still been writing 2010 on my checks!! While I can't say it's been the best year of our lives in all areas, I can say that I finally felt that I had my boot situation locked down and didn't have a single loss all year. Of course I can say that knowing things are going to change for 2012, with THREE new horses in the mix, there are bound to be a few problems along the way, but that's what makes life exciting!
 

The #1 lesson that was reiterated for me in 2011 is proper fit = success. Don't try to ride with ill-fitting boots. Just don't. Not only will you end up frustrated and discouraged, it's not necessary. With 1000lbs of torque twisting and turning inside a pair of rubber boots, there are bound to be occasional losses, it's no different than nail on shoes, but don't make it harder on yourself by riding in boots that don't fit! Put in a little effort and utilize Easycare's awesome Fit Kit and, if lucky, a Team Easyboot member to help you out! 


Lesson #2 is proper trim - This ranks right up there with Lesson #1: while I think fit is the most important aspect of boot success, you can't achieve a good fit without a proper trim. Get educated, folks! Even if you can't get down there and trim yourself, there is no excuse for not learning more about it. Learn the anatomy of the hoof and about the internal structures. Learn how they work together and why balance is so important. A properly trimmed and balanced foot will be free of flares and stretched white line, will have naturally low heels and short toes. While there are certainly conformational issues that can be worked with, a proper trim really allows for a good fit and will only increase your success. 


Lesson #3 - Go with the flow! Make do with what you've got and change things as necessary. I tend to be a Type A person who gets rigid and fixated on certain things. More than once this year I had to change boot sizes last minute, abort a gluing session and make due with what was there. Gluing boots with The Pickett Creek Girls prior to Owyhee Canyonlands was a memorable event which reminded me of the importance of having the necessary supplies prior to starting an important project- such as gluing boots on six horses for a five-day ride. Are you reading this Steph?!?! ;-) 


Lesson #4 - Riding 100 miles in a day makes for a long one. If you're me, that is. If your super-speed racer riding a horse like Monk you can finish in the time it takes for most people to ride 50 miles. The Monk-Man wears his Easyboot Glue-On's proudly, and a repeat of Mr. Garrett-Easyboot-Ford's performance last year, the winner of Tevis as well as the Haggin Cup was again outfitted in Easyboot Glue-Ons. There really isn't anything these boots can't do, and I think this was again reiterated be some pretty impressive stats this year.  


Lesson #5 - Listen to your horse. I made the very, very difficult decision to retire my mare after the 2011 season. She retires with 2155 miles, and will make some incredible babies when the time comes. The decision was one with which I wrestled for months. Ultimately we decided she was telling us she was done competing at the level she had been previously, and there is no shame in that. It's hard to put selfishness aside for "just one more completion," or "one more 100," or "one more multiday," but it was so important for me to end her on a high, after an incredible season and, most importantly, while she was still sound and usable. She'll be used for trail riding and I cannot wait to see her babies. Hopefully it will be possible to bring one of them up behind their mother. They have some pretty big boots to fill. 


What have you learned in 2011? What lessons would you rather not be repeated? What are your goals for 2012? 

I hope lots of riding is high up on everyone's list! 

Dresden, a pearl a the river Elbe in Germany, was the first stop of a 4 week Hoof Care Tour last month conducted by me, The Bootmeister from Global Endurance Training Center.

I have been going to Europe now for the last two years, sharing some gained hoof care and hoof protection Knowledge with riders, horse owners and farriers. The demand for more knowledge is high, people are eager to learn about Natural Hoof Care and the newest  Hoof Protection products on the market. EasyCare is the undisputed leader in the world with research and development of hoof boots of all kinds. R&D is of utmost importance to the EasyCare staff. Horse owners worldwide know that. Hence, it is only logical, that EasyCare boots stood in the lime light of my presentations.


After an indoor anatomy session and PowerPoint presentation, the 20 participants had ample opportunity to train their eyes during conformation analysis sessions and study first hand how conformation affects hoof growth. Afterward, the riders who brought their own horses, in total over 10, could practice mapping out the sole and rasping the hooves of their horses. I placed a lot of emphasis on developing the skill of reading the sole. Aspiring hoof trimmers generally fare well when following the principle of trimming a hoof no further than to the live sole. It is a safe approach and everybody can learn it quickly.

The second day was devoted to Hoof boot selection and application. I explained and demonstrated the usage of Easyboot Edge, Trail, Glove and Glue-On and afterwards everybody could practice. It is important to actually do things. We humans all learn most by doing, we easily forget when just watching and listening.





These coaches in downtown Dresden provide visitors a feeling of stepping back in time. After looking at the hoof protection of these carriage horses, we all agreed that they would travel  much more comfortably with Easyboots.

Next stop was Hannover. Well known for the Hanoverian breed, this city has a long horse tradition.

The on-site organizing committee had invited over 45 Hoof Trimmers, farriers and veterinarians. After my initial presentation about the different Natural Hoof Care schools and philosophies in the USA and Europe, we discussed NHC and trimming techniques as well as hoof pathologies and remedies. I presented the thesis and studies of Dr. Brian Hampson of Australia, who did the most thorough studies on the hooves of wild horses so far.

If someone were to conduct a study, for example, on the hooves of one herd of wild horses  in Nevada or Utah, the two driest states within the USA, where horses have to travel many miles over rocks and sand to find water and food and then propose to use that feral hoof as a benchmark model for healthy hooves for all domestic horses in the world, would that be a realistic and fair conclusion?

Hampson studied and examined hooves from various areas in Australia,  wild horses living in arid areas and others in wet areas with lush vegetation. The hooves of the wild horses living in the wetter areas looked a lot like the average domestic hooves. Does that mean the hooves adapt to the environment or are the hooves shaped by the substrate the horse travels over?

An answer to this question might be obtained by looking at the following photos, provided by Brian Hampson.

The left hoof has the appearance of a typical domestic hoof. Recessed frog, under-run heels, flares. Yet, it is a wild horse hoof. After moving several horses with these hooves to a different (drier) area, the hooves were remodeled by the ground the horses traveled over. The hoof on the left is void of any mustang roll. Does it not need it? Within 16 weeks the rocks and dry ground reshaped that very same hoof. The mustang roll is clearly visible now. The question might be asked, how important is the mustang roll then, when we as natural hoof care trimmers applying it to all horses, yet only a small segment of wild horses worldwide even display one in the wild?

The study also showed that only three hooves out of 100 assessed were free of abnormalities. In fact, he found a 67% incidence of chronic laminitis within the horses living in the dry climate and the hard substrate. When the majority of the wild horses display this pathology, is it still a pathology or is it physiologically normal now? Who makes these decisions?

Not everything wild is necessarily good solely because it is wild and natural. The wild horse paradigm model of desert horses' hooves may not be applicable across the board to all horses worldwide.

The discussions were very interesting and we were only scratching the surface of all the ramifications of the Hampson study.


On I went to Kassel, stop for the next seminar. 

Similar to the USA, Germany experiences also a shortage of farriers who are willing to offer services beyond the traditional iron shoes. Many do not know about bare hoof trimming and alternate hoof protection like plastic shoes and hoof boots. Therefore, more and more riders and horse owners want to learn to trim their horses' hooves themselves.

I set up several stations, where people could work on their horses hooves simultaneously. That way, everybody had ample time to practice and learn.

Onwards to Belgium. near Brussels, I conducted the last clinic. My French is very rusty, to say the least, so everything was translated by Leonard Liesens, a famous and successful Belgian endurance rider.
I learned to speak slowly and to include only essential information in my sentences. And I got my message across as well, without lengthy and repetitive wording. An exercise in disciplining speech.


At all the seminars, I also showed slides of the Tevis ride. With all the Europeans now coming to the Tevis next year, we better all put our entries in early to avoid being placed on the waiting list.

The Europeans were all very eager to learn and try new trimming techniques. They are pragmatic and want to use the trimming and hoof protection that works best for their horses. They do not believe that Natural Hoof Care and Bare Hoof Trimming is an ideology or a mantra. For them, it is not an absolute, rather a better and healthier way to take care of their horses' hooves. They do not want to listen to self righteous statements of cult-like organizations. The welfare of their horses is important. That is a reason why Pete Ramey stands in such high esteem in Europe, his open mindedness, his tolerance, his knowledge and non judgmental approach to hoof care puts him in a class of his own and a big step above everybody else.

I did stress the importance of looking at each horse as an individual. The trimming procedure that works for one horse, might not be the best approach for the horse right next to it.

Europe has many more horses than the USA. Per capita, Germany has 70% more horses than the USA. Horse owners and riders want to learn and improve and use modern and better hoof protection methods.
Already now, I have booked several more clinics for next spring, this time in addition to Germany also in France and Switzerland. Natural Hoof Care, Barefoot Trimming and Easyboots are on a roll and gaining ground and popularity throughout the whole equestrian world.

A special Thank You goes out to my liasons and support persons who organized the events on site. Without them, it would have been very difficult to impossible to conduct the seminars:

Dresden:     Veit Koppe

Hannover:   Patricia Nastoll and Kathrin Ewen

Kassel:        Martin Boesel

Brussel:       Leonard Liesens


The Bootmeister, reporting from Europe

What's life without a little variety? I'm talking big movin', big footed, big boned, big headed kinda variety. I recently agreed to take on a project for a good friend. The "project" is actually not much of a project, but seems to be more of reward at this time. 


Meet Breve, also lovingly known as Moose Jaw, a 7-year old Shagya gelding. He's tall, dark and handsome in a rough kinda way, but there is something else there. He seems to be a special guy, and I am excited to get to know him. While we're getting to know him and re-working his feet a bit, we'll call it Project Moose. 


Of course the first thing I look at any more is feet. While in the past I have always been drawn to a pretty face, lots of chrome and the "wow" factor, I have lately begun to realize there is more to it than all that! Through the experiences of several horses with difficult feet, one starts to feel like things could sometimes be easier. This is where a good overall shape to the feet can become an obsession when considering a new prospect. Luckily, this gelding has nice feet that will transform into beautiful, albeit LARGE beautiful feet in no time.


What I see right now are feet that are in need of a little makeover. He appears to be naturally high on the insides of both fronts, and has the typical need of a toe-ectomy that most "pasture trimmed" horses have. These bad boys will be easy to fix.


Because the wind was blowing at approximately 265MPH this afternoon, I very barely skimmed the surface. Took down a little medial wall, dipped the quarters a tad and backed up the toes slightly. Did I mention it was windy? I quickly ditched my trimming efforts to watch the frisky fall ponies romp in the cool afternoon instead. 


This weekend, after buying a new rasp (holy crap I didn't realize how BAD mine is until using someone's new one last week!), I plan to fully trim those big old feet. He measures into a size three - yes, I said that right - THREE (!) Easyboot Glove, which are on the way. However, part of Project Moose is to ride him barefoot as much as possible to develop rock-crunching bare hooves this winter. 

What are your winter projects? 

'Till next time, 
~ Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

Submitted by Kris Goris

Catchy title huh? Let me explain how we are going to make this work: here in the Southwest (New Mexico and Arizona), the average price for a shoeing is around $90, a trim around $50. Let’s say your local Forest Service district has eight animals: horses, mules and in some cases a few donkeys.

These animals are shod on average every eight weeks. Let’s call the first four to six months a wash, since a proper trim needs to be applied every four to six weeks and we have to supply a pair of boots. After the transition period, however, we should be trimming every ten to twelve weeks.

Projecting out, we find that over the next 12 months, the savings amount to about $350 dollars per animal, times eight makes $2,800 per year per district, times 45 (the approximate number of districts in the Southwest region) makes for $126,000 in savings per year.
 
Alright, enough about figures. Bottom line: it’s all about the horses.


By way of introduction: I used to shoe horses in New Mexico up until about seven years ago when I made the switch to natural hoof care. As a horse lover I do what I do for the sake, health and well being of these noblest of creatures. Unfortunately, there are no twelve step programs for people like me: we’re on our own.
 
I tried for a number of years to get a (booted) foot in the door with the local Forest Service districts. Having ridden with them on a few occasions I knew there was work to be done. As some of you know: it's tough enough here in the Southwest to convince a rancher or cowboy to go the barefoot route. A governmental agency is a whole different story altogether.
 
Last winter, I was given the chance with a few of the districts here and so I went to work. The general consensus, of course, was that it couldn’t be done. Be aware that we ride on granite here throughout the Gila Wilderness.

I knew that the initial skepticism would give way to acceptance and recognition, provided I could transition their stock properly. To start, most horses were on stilts, meaning hoof capsules twice as long as what they should be, lots of side bone, deformed capsules, cracks, laminitic grooves, traces of founder and rotation: nothing unusual. The nice thing about these service animals is that they get most of the winter months off, so the initial transition period was to be easy on them and gave them time to heal up some before spring. The second trim was applied four weeks after the first one, then six weeks, then we were able to go a full eight weeks and now we are on a ten to 12 week trim cycle in two districts.

Some of these horses have logged between 200 and 400 miles over the summer months, no boots anymore either during the latter stage. I knew I had believers after the first three or four months since each and every one of those stock managers invited me over to their home to start their personal horses barefoot as well. Then a few of their neighbors started asking questions.
 
Well there you have it: if you want to grow your business and help out a bunch of horses badly in need: go talk to your local Forest Service rangers and stock managers.


Winter is coming real soon. Set up a meeting where you’ll find that three or four people will attend, sometimes even their local farrier. Prepare a solid outline and make sure to have concise written material with pictures to leave them with after your presentation. Don’t forget to take a pair of Boa Boots as well as Trail Boots with you: show and tell has never looked this good.
 
Below are before and after pictures of three of the Black Range district horses.


Hint: equine feet will adapt to the terrain they live/work on and the workload they are subjected to. Nature proves this time and again and shows us great examples to follow. All we really need to do is help out a bit in the beginning and during the transition period. Thanks to EasyCare we have the means to what we do: the Boa Boots and now the new Trail Boots are tools we need.
 
My heartfelt thanks go out to Jaime, Pete, Tom and a few other pioneers in the natural foot care movement who have willingly given us the means to do the necessary research and due diligence, shared their knowledge and expertise, thus enabling us to educate ourselves and hone and perfect our craft.

It is not an exact science after all: it is an art. Horses remain our best teachers since they are all different and require a unique approach; it truly is a spectacular journey!
 
Kris Goris

A few weeks ago, Dawn Willoughby posted an entry called "If I Only Had Four Frogs." I read and enjoyed it without thinking too much about it, until later in the week when the realization that it was AUTUMN hit. Autumn is great, but unfortunately it means winter is just a blink away. I started getting antsy like I always do before winter, trying to get everything done that I needed to and trying to enjoy the last of the beautiful weather. I am still hoping the gorgeous weather holds until, oh, March. 

Because I am obsessive by nature, I tend to obsess, er, focus, on one thing at a time. For most people, I'm sure they just think I'm weird. For those who love me, it's endearing, or so they say. For some reason Dawn's post hit a chord. All of the sudden I was focused on my little herd's frogs. For whatever reason, I never really thought about them before. I always assumed that considering we live in the desert, we really didn't have to worry about such things. Thrush here, at most, consists of a little bit of gunk and a stink. We don't generally get the black goo and mush that other regions might encounter on a regular basis. Of course that does not mean the horses here aren't affected by a more internal form that attacks the frog deep down. Eek! Something must be done!! 

I decided to channel my focused nature toward paying better attention to my horses' foot care. While I am diligent about trimming and feel that things are going pretty well in that department (I chose last year to obsess about achieving a shorter toe, which was the easiest yet most beneficial adjustment I've ever made) I definitely could work a little harder at helping the horses develop a better frog and, in turn, digital cushion. Dawn's solutions seemed simple and I assembled my own little kit consisting of antibacterial dish soap, a long-handled brush-scrubby-thing and a bucket. Because we're not yet dealing with any obvious problems, I chose not to add any tea tree or other disinfectants to my kit at this time. 

So far I am on week two of scrubbing frogs. This is one of those statements I make sure I am not in mixed company when speaking, as I am sure it would cause some pretty funny looks! I figure, realistically, I can scrub feet at least twice a week and after only three scrubbings, I can already see a difference. Is this possible? Is this simple solution truly responsible for the visible change in my horses' feet? I am definitely not sure of that answer, but I also definitely like what I am seeing. 


I have noticed change in Replika's frogs the most. I started the day I pulled her glue-on boots from Owyhee Canyonlands, which I think was a very smart decision. I scrubbed and soaked her feet with the diluted dishwashing soap and by the third scrubbing, I was shocked to see the smoothest and healthiest frog tissue I have ever seen in her feet. The central sulcus, or crack that's responsible for the butt-crack effect, has started to fill in and is now just a divit and not a crack. I am seeing this on all three horses. Could I have been neglecting something so easy to remedy (or at least assist healing) all this time? 


The Top standing patiently while his foot soaks. I have just been soaking for a few minutes, only enough to really saturate the frog and get into the frog area. They don't seem to mind at all!


I have decided to combine the scrub with antibacterial soap into my "regular" foot care routine which consists of very regular trimming, riding with and without boots and lunging in the sand barefoot. Today was groundwork day, which was the first time I incorporated the addition of scrubbing to my regular routine. I estimate the thorough cleaning, scrubbing and few minutes of soaking to add *maybe* ten minutes to my day. I decided to do the cleaning prior to the groundwork, which seemed to work well.

Because I went right from horse to horse in the arena, I soaked and scrubbed Chant's feet quickly after our session. Getting the foot so clean allowed me to see the bar I missed and all the sole that is preparing to exfoliate. This is definitely something I will continue to do. 


I don't think I could ever thank Easycare enough for continuing to educate all of us through the extensive experience offered by the various blogs and articles. Without this, I would have had to focus on something benign like which winter blanket to buy or to braid manes or not to braid manes for the winter. Yes, you have enriched my life. Thank you! 

To everyone else, keep scrubbing. It certainly cannot hurt and most likely will help!

Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

My friends recently enjoyed trail riding at the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. We all practice the barefoot natural trim and used Easyboots on the ride. The boots were a huge success. All our horses performed well through the mud, creeks, and rocky terrain in their boots. Thank you EasyCare for many great products.


Name: Cindy B.
City: Danvers, Illinois, USA
Equine Discipline: Trail
Favorite Boot: Easyboot Glove

"If I only had four frogs." Is this your horse's lament?

Pathological frogs are so common, that they have become the norm! Just as long toes and under run heels are normal for thoroughbreds, sick frogs are nearing normal for most horses. What else do we see in my home state of Delaware where we had an amazing 26" of rain in August, normally one of two driest months!

If you have not been following my posts in Notes From the Field, I hope you will check them out. The importance of the frog for excellent, barefoot movement is discussed in detail. When you know what a healthy frog looks like, how bad ones heal, along with the various soaks, topical treatments, and tips for, in Pete Ramey's words, out running thrush, you will have the tools to maintain frog health.

It can be a job, there's no question about that. Gird your loins and let's get to it!


For starters, my most common errors in earlier days were:
(A) Not cleaning the area before treatment. (Thank you Linda Cowles!)  
(B) Not taking frog health seriously until the horse was ouchy. Then inconsistent treatment.
(C) Stopping treatment too early, only to see the same sick frog in a month.
(D) And ever using Thrush Buster. It contains formaldehyde which kills healthy as well as diseased tissue, according to my chemist friend. Get rid of Thrush Buster!

Just Frogs

1. Healthy, functional frogs
2. Diseased and unhealthy frogs
3. Recovering frogs
4. Pick and **clean**
5. Treatment Recipes (Thank you Laura Florence, barefoot trimmer and body worker)
6. Soaking Recipes (ditto)
7. Thoughts on Out Running Thrush

1. Some Healthy Frogs


2. Unhealthy Frogs
The most common problem I saw during my years as a professional trimmer, was diseased central sulcus of the frog. It may or may not be sensitive. Doesn't matter. Butt Cracks are not healthy and should be treated rigorously. Technically many frogs don't have thrush; but they have something! Whether it's bacterial or fungal: pick/brush, clean and treat, soak, then outrun it.

The worst frog I ever saw was a puddle of black gooey thrush. The horse was stalled in a Philadelphia 'city barn'  22 hours a day and the stall was cleaned once a day. Standing purposely in urine relieved his itchy discomfort.  The poor horse would never recover in my view. I suggested the owner relocate her horse to the country and field board him near her home. I gave her a plan for daily treatment. I did make the mistake of investigating the frog with my knife and it began to bleed immediately.


(Above) The Healing Frog and Contracted Heels: Banjo's photo above gives a nice view of heels that are very close together, contracted. They do this to protect the weak frog and above it, the digital cushion. With treatment and lots of sound, heel-first landings a foot like this recovers, every time. The heels start to decontract when the foot is ready. And internally the digital cushion and lateral cartilages come back to life.

• Hoof pick with brush. Hand towels.
• Scrub brush, bucket and anti bacterial soap like Dawn dish detergent diluted or,
• Fill a spray bottle with same or,
• Fill a wormer tube or syringe with same.
• All antiseptic liquids are diluted: Dawn, Lysol, etc.

I wouldn't treat my own deep cut without washing it first. Well same goes for my horse. Obviously scrubbing four feet (why not do all four since you are down there?) is much easier if you have a wash stall. Since I don't, I first tried filling up wormer tubes or syringes and irrigating the frog crevices with anti-bacterial soap, Dawn of course. But refilling was a hassle. I switched to a spray bottle and a small towel to 'floss' the area clean. I mixed a milk jug of cleaner for quick refills.

If the central sulcus were more like a deep crevice, I would certainly use the thin tipped syringes in addition to irrigate the wound. Q tips are handy too.

• Make your own Pete's Goop: 50% antibiotic cream and 50% anti fungal cream in syringe.
• Purchase cow mastitis treatment like ToDay  (12 syringes in a box), available on-line or at Tractor Supply. Recycle the syringes for Goop above or irrigation tool.
• Tea Tree Oil from the health food store. Mine comes in a handy spray (onto cotton) bottle.
• Mashed Garlic is anti-bacterial and comes in a jar. Check your grocery store.
• Calendula Cream (Thanks again to Laura Florence, barefoot trimmer) from the health store.
• Raw Honey wax free. No Smirks! Honestly! It's used on, among other things, human burn victims.
• Or even better but more expensive (unless you're a kiwi), Manuka Honey from New Zealand. It has many uses, including repairing wrinkles! (I'll get back to you on that).
• Cotton balls from the pharmacy. Q-tips are nice but not essential.

For Pete's goop and the others above, I have found 2 methods of application.
(A) The more time consuming one is to mix the 2 creams well. Then stuff into a fat wormer tube and then inject into an Exel 12 cc curved tip syringe. Perfect for deep crevices. Pull apart one cotton ball so there are no painful lumps and gently pack, using hoof pick, into the central sulcus.
(B) When the crevice isn't that deep, I dip the half cotton ball into the Goop or Honey and stuff it into the frog with a hoof pick. This eliminates the syringe filling step which is harder than you would think.

When I can no longer stuff a cotton ball in the sulcus, I spray Tea Tree Oil until 100% healthy.

• Easy Care Soaking Boots
• White Lightening and White Vinegar. I use 1/8th cup of each.
• If using above, sturdy waste bags and duct tape to fully enclose foot and capture gases.
• Or 50% Apple Cider Vinegar with 50% water
• Or 10% Bleach and 90% water
• Or 1-2 Tablespoons/boot of Lysol with water
• Or some Borax dissolved in water

According to the techs at Grand Circuit Products, makers of White Lightening, you can soak as often as every other day with White Lightening. The dilution is active for 8 hours. If you are short on funds but long on time, you may rotate one boot, 30 minutes a foot, to all feet. The foot must be bagged to capture the gases that provide a deep penetrating soak. I will use it on an abscess, cracks, etc. It's available online or at the farrier supply store. They recommend 1/4 cup but I think that's excessive since it's the gases that do the trick. Gases are released when you combine White Lightening and Vinegar. You can add the same amount of water to increase volume.

The rest of the soaks require soaking boots or buckets if your horse is quiet.

I generally irrigate the frog with the soaking material in a syringe after removing the boot.

Additionally:

• Q tips for cleaning frog crevice.
• Gold Bond Powder for riding boots keep the foot dry in many conditions and again, create an environment hostel to bugs.
• I generally do not recommend the RX boot or Equicast because I don't want to enclose the foot.
• Thrush Buster has formaldehyde. It kills healthy and unhealthy tissue!
• Dr. Bowker once recommended leaving dirt in the collateral grooves on either side of the frog as it may have a role in hoof mechanics. But for my environment, it's just not practical or healthy.
• The Horse's Hoof has an excellent series on hoof treatment. 

Whether in field turnout, in-hand, being ponied or mounted, sound movement heals.

7. Out Running Thrush or Bacterial Infections
The first time I heard the phrase, out running thrush, at a clinic, I hadn't a clue to the meaning. I have learned the hard way that we have to grow healthy tissue faster than the bad bugs inflict damage. Simply treating a stalled horse, for instance, might not be adequate. One of our Barefoot Mantras: Sound Movement Heals.

If your horse is sound in padded boots, ride him, even if it's just at walk. If not, consider 'ponying' him, again in padded boots, off another horse. Turn him out with a busy herd or a nasty pony. No standing around in sheds with manure floors. No shoes. No stalling. If you are boarding in a mud hole, leave.


I have seen some farms where you just can't avoid a rocky path to the pasture. Consider covering it with cut up stall mats for your sore pony. Better yet, dig it up, add some landscaping material and fill with 4" of pea gravel. Add pea gravel to the loafing areas. It's a miracle cure that Dr. Robert Bowker has discussed in a published work. Make a copy for the owner if you board.

As for the trim, leave a little heel so the frog can get just the right stimulation to grow, but adequate protection. Once you've got a nice frog, those heels will come right down, where they want to be.

I'll trim the frog to remove flaps and hide-y-holes for disease. Beyond that, all I can say is think before you cut or snip. Removing diseased frog can be tricky. If you trim a sick frog and it bleeds, your horse is now open to infection. Cutting open the central sulcus to let the air in often lames the horse which in my view is abusive. I move cautiously and respectfully.

As you can see, I have become a passionate student of the frog! Most of the lessons were learned the hard way. I hope this helped you. Feel free to share and post at your barn.

Happy Trails,
Dawn

P.S. Find more good reading and free trimming videos go to my site 4sweetfeet.com
P.P.S. For my next post look for Clicker Training Your Horse During the Inevitable Down Time, December.

I met Phoenix exactly 4 years ago when he was a newly gelded 3-year-old and I was nearly 50.  He was looking for a home at a bargain price.  You see he was a Thoroughbred, bred to race, who as fortune would have it "didn't like to run fast."  I fell in love with him at first sight even though he was underweight and a lot of horse to handle.  I told myself his problems could be solved with some good groceries and kindness and wrote the check with enthusiasm.  So that I wouldn't have to worry about his feet while we were adjusting to each other, I had metal shoes put on immediately.  That was the first and only time.  I began to notice that his natural gait was very low to the ground and that he dragged his back toes with almost every stride leaving him with an unnaturally square toe.  I investigated possible nutritional, behavioral, structural and developmental causes for his gait.  I concluded to the best of my ability that was his way of going and so long as he remained sound I'd do my best to work with it and continue his training.  We immediately began a diet to support good hoof growth and when the shoes came off I didn't replace them.  I wanted to have complete control over his feet so I could keep them balanced and short and started trimming them myself every couple of weeks. 


I realized I would need the help of protective gear for his feet since I planned an athletic future for Phoenix.  I had seen EasyBoots on the market for many years and realized it was time to give them a try.  I loved having various designs to choose from.  We started out with Epics all around.  His front feet were easy to fit snuggly, but not so much in the rear.  He'd wear the buckles off of the epics by dragging his feet, still his precious toes were nicely protected.  Eventually we settled on Bares.  They go on nice and tight and have a 'toe shield' on the front as if they were designed specially for my horse.  Because Phoenix was so tough on his boots I had to learn to make repairs.  Since my local dealer was less than supportive, I went directly to customer service at EasyCare, Inc. with wonderful results.  I learned it wasn't too hard to work on the boots and rather than tossing old boots I cultivated an extensive bone yard for scavanging parts. 


Phoenix continued to get plenty of exercise and good nutrition and the quality of his hooves was better than I expected.  Imagine that, a Thoroughbred with good feet?!  Two years ago we started experimenting with limited distance endurance racing.  He finished the races sound.  I was thrilled.  During one race we rode through a severe thunder and lightening storm with multiple stream crossings and flooded trails.  I lost a boot.  At the vet check the farrier was about to put on a metal shoe so we could finish the race.  He commented that it was a shame to nail a shoe onto such a healthy hoof.  At that moment, as if by magic, the missing boot was found and returned to me by one of the riders.  We were able to reboot and continue the race.
 
Brenda and Phoenix

Do you have an ex-race horse that you are rehabilitating? Are you going barefoot?

Many articles have been written about club 'footed' horses. Actually, horse do not have 'feet', dogs and humans do, but horses have hooves. Therefore the term 'barefoot', as much as it is in common use now, really is a misnomer. When we ride without hoof protection, we ride 'bare hoof'. Ah well, a pet peeve of mine!

Today, I want to give an overview for the reasons club hooves occur and how we can manage and improve on the situation.

Dr. Redden's classification of club hooves:


While Grade 3 and 4 are extreme and the horses are most likely very lame, Grade 2 and 3 are not that uncommon. I will mostly focus on these two grades.

How do these club hooves happen or develop?

First we do have the genetic club hoof, the foal is born with it, where P3 is out of alignment with P2 and P1 and displays a steeper angle. This can only be observed on a radiograph.


Clearly visible on the first image: the dished dorsal hoof wall and  P3 is rotated downward and has a steeper angle compared to P1 and P2. These genetic downward rotation is very hard to overcome and correct.

Other causes for club hooves:

- Excessive pawing and consequently deep flexor tendon shortening

Already in the 1,800s, German farriers observed foals developing "Stelzhuf" during dry years or when kept in stalls and pawing for hours. The unpressured heels grew excessively and the toes developed dishes dorsally. Allowing plenty of pasture and space to roam, will help fixing this unhealthy habit in foals, that sometimes is also observable in adult horses.

-Epiphysitis

Occurring in young foals, when the long bones grow faster than the tendons. The tendons cannot keep up with that growth, thus getting very tight and not allowing to flex when the foal tries to step forward. Less weight over the heels will make the heel grow excessively and the deep digital flexor tendon is pulling the wings of P3 upward, thus rotating the tip of P3 downward. Often caused by too much protein intake. This is a case where your veterinarian can advise you best.

-Suprascapular nerve damage

The muscles that hold the scapula close to the body have a suprascapular nerve. Sometimes, when the horses leg gives out when bearing weight, this nerve can get damaged, thus impeding proper muscle movements. The stride is shortened, thus again, placing more weight over the toe and less pressure over the heel area on the affected side. Club hoof in the development. Veterinarians call this situation often 'Sweeney'.

-Muscle injuries and adhesions

The two muscles holding the scapula in place can get injured through jumping, riding fast or in a trot through dips in the trail, rough play in the pasture or by pinching and poorly fitted saddles. When these muscles are injured, often the horse is unwilling to extend the affected shoulder and leg, again resulting in shortened strides and toe landings with decreased heel pressure, resulting in the excessive heel growth.

-High/Low syndrome

Grazing horses, especially long legged horses with short necks can develop an habitual club hoof. The same hoof will always be forward and the other back. The back hoof will get pressure on the toe, developing a dorsal dish, the heels are mostly unpressured, growing faster than the toe.


This horse is habitually placing the right front back when eating/grazing close to the ground, thus developing a grade one (by Dr. Redden classification) club hoof.

Correctional measurements: feed higher above the ground.

All these conditions can get improved through careful stretching forward of the affected limb and massaging the groove between the body and the scapula. Below some images of massaging this area.


Here I start to gently massage and opening up the muscles around the scapula. Everything is still tight.


Slowly getting deeper into the fissure.


I switch using the side of my hand to open the space.


Further opening the space by applying more pressure with my sliding hand.


By now, more than half my hand disappears beneath the scapula. I keep opening the gap more and more, till the adhesions are loosened and the muscles supple (3 to 5 minutes will often be sufficient).

Be gentle, watch the body language of the horse: if she leans into you, licks the lips, moves the head towards you, it will feel good and you are getting results. Massage oil will help opening the scapula and relax your horse.

Training considerations:

When training a horse with a club hoof, make sure the saddle fits properly without pinching the shoulders. Focus on balanced riding. When posting in a trot, post on the clubbed side most of the time. When cantering, lead with the clubbed side. Work cantering circles with the club hoof on the inside, walk and trot circles with the clubbed hoof on the outside.

Trimming considerations:

Guard against the temptation to just cut the heels down to match the 'normal' side. When over trimming into live sole in the heel area, the hoof will respond quickly by growing even more sole thickness back, and that rather quickly. Furthermore, by thinning the sole, the lateral cartilages sink downward, thus raising the heels from within. By lowering the heels too much, the deep flexor tendon can get stretched and stressed too much, causing injury.

Mapping the sole will tell you how much to trim. Exfoliate the dead sole just to the live sole, but no further. No matter how high the heel is and how clubby the hoof looks. Leave the hoof wall and bars about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch longer than the heel. Keep the sole callous area on the toe, bevel the hoof wall and allow the flare to grow out. Trim a little often,  in a one or two week interval. Just remove the chalky dead sole and shorten the heels to the above mentioned length. With proper management, care, massage, training and feeding regimen and riding bare, the club hoof might just normalize surprisingly fast.

Below an example of a clubby hoof and the change that occurred within 5 months:


Notice the big dish on this habitual club hoof.


5 months later, the dish is greatly diminished, (notice that I did not rasp the dorsal hoof wall at all for this picture),  the hoof expanded and is now almost the same size as the 'normal' left hoof.


These are visible results, that proper trimming and management can succeed.

Protective Horse Boot considerations:

Barefoot Trimming, Natural Hoof Care, Bare hoof riding will all contribute to success. When selecting Easyboot Gloves, it is advisable to use powerstraps, especially if you have any dorsal hoof wall flares present.


This Easyboot Glove with Powerstrap was adjusted to the first image of the flared hoof photographed above. We do see a good and close fit on the hoof wall.

A few layers of athletic tape worked in this case as well.


When trotting horses with one club hoof, inevitably the sound of the hooves hitting the ground will differ from left to right. The clubbed hoofed leg will also not extend as far forward as the normal leg. This causes the trot to be somewhat uneven. Endurance riders know the importance of a sound horse that  leaves no question mark. Even more an incentive to manage and improve the club hooves.

Your Bootmeister

From the Global Endurance Training Center in Moab

Have you ever needed trimming or booting advice? Perhaps you want to document a particular horse's transition or present a case study? If so knowing how to take good hoof photos is essential. The "true picture" is easily skewed if care is not taken. I review quite a few hoof and booted hoof photos throughout my work week and they can be generally summed up as, The good, The bad and The ugly!   

Whether you are a natural hoof care practitioner or a barefoot horse owner or owner/trimmer, a digital camera is an important tool. Hooves are constantly changing and photo documentation can prove to be quite useful. Not only are photos a great tool when seeking advice but they are an excellent way to reflect on your work and progress. They can reveal subtleties that may have been overlooked, serve as a reminder of how far a horse has truly progressed as well as help refocus overall perspective.
 
Hoof form, hoof boot selection and hoof boot fit go hand in hand. If you request booting assistance from EasyCare, an EasyCare associate may ask for photos of your horse's hooves with the boots on and off. The following has been provided by the Pacific Hoof Care practitioners organization and is the perfect way to allow us to best assist you. We may need additional information and not all views shown below, but if you follow these pictorial examples as requested chances are we can access your situation and make accurate recommendations quickly and easily.

Below is an excerpt from the PHCP's training program with details on taking the perfect hoof photos. 

 To get started you will need:

• A digital point and shoot camera with an LCD screen and memory card
  • Best settings will be Auto or Portrait mode
  • No flash – it washes out the subject
  • If you choose to use Macro setting (denoted with a small flower), know that  you will need to be within inches of your subject and there is a very small/shallow depth of field, therefore you may end up with blurry pictures.

• A clean and level surface that is free from clutter (your tools, hoofjack, shavings/straw, etc)
  • Rubber mats
  • Barn aisle
  • Cement/pavement

• Natural Light with no shadows
  • Best in an even shaded area
  • Avoid bright sun, deep shade or partial sun shade (mottled).
  • If you do end up with poor light and have to use a flash, position yourself further away from the hoof and use the zoom lens with flash to minimize flash was.

• A clean hoof
  • Use a stiff brush to clean ALL mud, dirt, debris from the wall, sole, frog, collateral grooves and heels. Once all the prep work is done, it’s time to take the pictures. Stand the horse on the level ground with “a leg at each corner”.  Horse should be loading each hoof equally. Watch out for the stretched out stance and also resting/cocked hind hooves.

Photos provided by the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners. www.pacifichoofcare.org 

We've all heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. What are your hoof photos saying?

Look at the other sporting goods industries and see how fast they are changing. Mountain bikes change every year and we are now seeing carbon frames, carbon wheels and complete bikes that weigh less than 20 lbs.


Look at downhill skiing and the technology in shaped skis, boots and bindings. They get better and better every year. Look at something very gear free like swimming and the advancements in low drag swim suits changes yearly. Look at golf. Golf club technology is new and improved every year. You blink in these industries and you get left behind. Compare these industries to the equine industry and the fact that the majority of our equine partners are still competing in iron shoes and saddles that haven't changed in decades.

The slow rate of change and acceptance in the horse industry has been personally highlighted by a recent entry into the flat track racing industry. I've written about our journey trying to enter the world of flat track racing and it's a perfect example of why the horse industry is slow to change. Take a peek at the story here "The Horse That Wasn't Allowed to Race"


Most other industries are changing at a rapid pace, so why is the equine industry so slow to change? Look at the racing industry as just one example. Life on the race track presents challenges to the equine hoof. Many track horses have challenges with brittle walls, tender feet, lack of support, and contracted heels from continuous shoeing. Track horses that rip off a shoe and lose hoof wall also have a difficult time holding shoes and as a result miss conditioning and races. Track horses are subjected to pounding workouts and as a result are prone to injury. Is the aluminum race plate the end solution? Is an aluminum racing plate the end game? We don't believe it is and for the reasons above EasyCare believes the sport could benefit from a more supportive shoe.

The technology is available to make a lightweight race shoe for the equine track athlete. EasyCare has developed a shoe that offers the following.

1. The Easyboot Race will allow the hoof to expand and contract as nature intended.
2. The Easyboot Race will provide support and comfort for quarter cracks.
3. The Easyboot Race will allow farriers and trainers another tool for problem feet that will not hold nails.
4. The Easyboot Race will allow farriers and trainers an option that flexes and absorbs concussion to extend the horse's health and longevity.
5. The Easyboot Race can be trimmed and modified to suit a specific horse, track or surface.
6. The Easyboot Race will be less likely to hurt horses, jockeys or spectators if they do come off.
7. The Easyboot Race will allow trainers to train the horses harder and on less than perfect surface conditions.
8. The Easyboot Race will bring the track an affordable glue-on solution.

The track seems very hesitant to change. Although we have tried everything to learn the rules and participate at Arapahoe Park with new hoof protection that gives the industry options, we have so far not been able to compete because the stewards and race director have determined the Easyboot Race shoe violates rule 7.608.


"7.608 - Bar plates may be used only with the consent of the Division Veterinarian. The commission may limit the height of toe grabs for any breed at a live race meet. Toe grabs with a height greater than the maximum set by the commission, bends, jar caulks, stickers and any other traction device worn on the front hooves of horses while racing or training on all surfaces, are prohibited. The horse shall be scratched and the trainer may be subject to fine for any violation of this rule."

As I ride my Specialized Carbon Epic down the mountain trails my mind wonders. Why is the equine industry slow to change? Are saddle designs, metal shoes and bits the best we can do? Have we come to a limit in the industry where we can't improve? Why do many of the organizations that govern the equine sports have rules that prevent change?

As we participate in other sports and see the advances in technology the lack of advancement in the equine industry become more and more obvious. Does your sport have a rule that prohibits new saddles, new hoof protection or new helmets? Do you believe the rules prevent you and your horse from competing at your highest ability? Challenge the rules. Ask why! Help the equine sports catch up with the rest of the sporting industries.

If you have been following my previous posts, you know that I like to provide information to folks new to barefoot. I was a trimmer for 6 years and during that time I specialized in teaching owners, mostly women, to trim. From time to time, I shared an educational handout similar to this post.

This month I've combined what I've learned from Dr. Robert Bowker at several of his clinics with Pete Ramey's discussion on equine movement in his DVD set, #4 Development of the Hoof and Navicular, Under the Horse.  Bowker and many other top notch speakers will be attending The Whole Horse Conference in October 15-16, 2011. Not to be missed!

I first met 'Dr. Bob' at the EasyCare sponsored conference in Tucson in 2007 (my notes). His credentials, scientific insight and affection for the horse convinced me that his research was well worth following. Honestly, in the horse world there are so many egos spouting nonsense that it is hard to sift the proverbial wheat from the shaft. Because I was a small time trimmer, I needed experts I could rely on. Dr. Bob has PhD in Anatomy and a DVM from University of Pennsylvania and taught at Michigan State Vet School. He continues his research at his Corona Vista Equine Center.




This month I would like to discuss equine movement of the 'good footed' versus the 'bad footed' horse. These are Dr. Bob's term and I think they work quite well.



As the good footed horse begins to land, heel-first, the back of the foot expands. He may land heel first or flat footed at the walk but at other gaits, he lands heel first. In most cases, a bad footed horse lands toe first to protect his sore back-of-foot. In the traditional world he may have a diagnosis of navicular syndrome, and if there are changes in the bone, navicular disease. Both are misnomers. In fact the bone loss of P3, the coffin bone, is worse than that of the navicular. Fix the back of the foot, and you will rehabilitate 'navicular'.

As the horse loads his foot, the heels expand, the sole draws flat and the hoof dramatically expands. A huge vacuum (negative pressure) is created within the capsule. Mechanical engineers at Michigan State actually had a hard time measuring it!

Blood is literally sucked into the caudal (back) foot by negative pressure. In a good foot, blood is sucked into the entire foot but of particular interest for us is the filling of the mass of specialized blood vessels in the healthy frog, the lateral (side) cartilages, the cartilage floor and the digital cushion. (The cartilage floor, connecting the lateral cartilages, although common in feral horses is rare in domestic.
It is one of the markers of a superior foot. Neither the floor nor the digital cushions were included in the Glass Horse program, above!)

The primary function of the dilated and specialized blood vessels, found only in the foot, is to serve as a cushion for the horse's foot: the back of the foot and the sole. Just like a top athletic shoe with gel pads, the blood-filled vessels or vasculature dissipate or disperse energy.
 
Total energy from impact as well as from vibration pass through the hoof structures (the frog, the digital cushion, the lateral cartilages and the cartilage floor). The better the back-of-foot, the more efficient the energy transfer.


What of relative energy? It depends on a few factors:

(A) How developed is the back-of-foot: Frog, above it the Cartilage Floor, then the Digital Cushion and to either side the Lateral Cartilages.

The good foot lands on a healthy, robust frog as pictured above. Pressure-release of the horse's weight onto the frog develops an increasingly fibrous digital cushion filled with tiny blood vessels as well as proprioceptor nerves which tell the horse where his feet are in space. Hoof movement from side to side on uneven ground develops the lateral cartilages and the floor.

(B) Relative Energy Transfer is effected by hoof structure.

• The energy transfer will be efficient in a well trimmed foot with adequate back of foot structure. 
• A pasture trim has poor mechanics. So does the horse shod with rubber or metal shoes. The foot will be much less efficient. Energy won't disperse correctly but rather will travel through the tendons, ligaments and bones of the foot and leg. In part this explains the epidemic of lame domestic horses.

• Moving on hard surfaces will generate greater vibrational energy. (Worst case scenario: Amish horses on asphalt.)
• On soft surfaces the horse will face less impact force. In padded boots your horse will experience low impact force. The correct balance of exposure and protection, will allow your horse to rehab his feet. 'Toughing it out' usually results in the incorrect toe-first landing.

Dr. Bob shared this analogy, another view on energy transfer.
The Good Footed Horse: correct trim, strong back-of-foot
Imagine the lateral cartilages as large, heated (heat is energy) blocks loaded with tiny tubes (the micro vessels) filled with water. As water passes through the tubes, heat-energy transfers efficiently and correctly from the block to the water in the tubes. The water warms; energy is transferred. All is good.



The Bad Footed Horse: incorrect trim or shod in rubber or metal shoes
The heated blocks (ie the lateral cartilages) are very thin with just a few tubes (blood vessels) to carry water.  Little heat-energy is transferred. In fact the water may not even warm. The heat, or in our horse's case, energy, must go somewhere, right? It travels to the bones of the foot and leg as well as surrounding connective tissue. This is pathology.

As the horse's weight presses down on the entire foot in mid stride, erectile tissues in the sole are stimulated. (This is a new one for me.) They are only stimulated by pressure. No pressure, no function! This is a good reminder to all of us that sound movement, pressure-release, is what develops great feet.



At peak impact the blood is pinched off and the pressure then rises dramatically. At full impact, the pastern descends. In a good footed horse, the pastern is stopped by a strong back-of-foot. In a bad footed horse where the back-of-foot is weak and the tendons and ligaments take the hit.

When the heels lift, and the toe 'breaks over', pressure is released within the foot and the massive force drives blood up the leg. Similar to our legs, as we move, blood travels up the veins through valves. When a valve closes, it prevents the blood from draining down. Horses have an additional mechanism. The veins in the legs pulsate, moving the blood up.

Pete Ramey likens equine hemodynamics to an hydraulic pump which I encourage you to read about in Wikipedia if you don't know how one works. I didn't!

Most of our horses live on uneven ground so they may break over to the right, to the left or at center. Lateral cartilages respond to this movement. The mustang roll enables the horse to move correctly. I routinely rasp a break over on all Easy Care boots from 10:00 to 2:00 by rounding the edge. You could round the entire edge of the boot.

Along with the forward momentum of the horse, the suspensory apparatus of the leg and secondarily the ligaments, spring the pastern back.

The elastic walls of the hoof spring back to the unexpanded position. The bars play a role too. Most of the mechanics of movement discussed above, drive the foot into expansion. At the end of foot fall, there are a few structures that spring the hoof back together. It's critical not to rob the horse of these mechanisms with opening cuts at either side of the frog, digging out bars (they do not impact into the foot) and other misguided attempts to redesign the hoof.

Apply a natural trim, rehab frog, ride in padded boots if you need them and most horses' feet will improve dramatically. Heels will decontract naturally (open up) as the frog and internal structures begin to work properly.

Ideas for rehabilitating the back of foot:

• Clean and carefully inspect the bottom of your horse's feet, daily if possible. Rigorously treat as needed.
• Make it your mission to have 4 healthy frog. In a wet climate, it's a job. I know!
• Find healthy frogs online so you know what they look like.
• If your horse has unhealthy frogs, leave the heels a little higher to give the frog just the right amount of protection and stimulation.
• Allow your horse as much sound and varied (hills) movement as possible. No stalling.
• If lame in pasture, use Rx boots with a half inch pad or Equicastes if you can't remove the boot daily.
• Ride in padded boots. Of particular concern is padding the frog. Stimulation encourages rehabilitation. 1/4 cup of Gold Bond Powder in the boots will help keep the foot dry.
• Add 4" pea gravel to your horse's standing areas. It's a hoof miracle cure.

Since frogs are critical to equine movement, next month I'll post some photos of healthy and sick frogs, soaks and treatments. Until then, check out the Equine Frog series in The Horse's Hoof, by Heiki Bean and Dr. Platz, under Education, Articles.

Bonus Babies:

1. A story from the UK of the comeback of Saucy Night, from death row to a champion barefoot steeplechaser.

2. From Australia:



I look forward to hearing from you below.

Until the next time,
Happy Trails!
Dawn

4SweetFeet.com is my educational site with free trimming videos. Have a visit!

I suppose I should admit something. I'm an English hunter/jumper from way back and, well… my favorite ride in the whole world is the (sound) off-the-track thoroughbred. Their willingness to go at the mere shift of your weight, their enjoyment of the sport, and their overall enthusiasm for life is just so infectious! So many of these horses develop special bonds with their new owners, as if the memories of their racing careers help them to truly appreciate the lifestyle change that generally comes with a new home and a new job.


One common theme with off-the-track thoroughbreds, however, is that they are known for having unhealthy feet.


My horse Marley is an ex-race horse whose feet were mismanaged for about 10 years (of course, this was back before I learned to trim myself). I acquired him when he was 5, and went the way of metal shoes for 5 more agonizing years.  


Finally, after pulling his metal shoes, putting him on a low-starch diet, fitting him with EasyBoot Epics, and making sure that he got lots of exercise and regular trims by a natural hoof care expert (my colleague, Marie Daniels), he finally grew some kind of OK feet. Marley is completely barefoot and sound today, although he does have bone loss at the tip of his coffin bone on his right front. He will never have great feet, and so hoof maintenance is a crucial part of his soundness.


Some clients act surprised when I tell them at my first visit that I keep my horse clients on a strict 5-6 week schedule. I warn people during this initial visit that I will not continue trimming their horses unless they are willing to have their horses trimmed regularly. At first, these individuals have difficulty understanding my reasoning for being so strict. One client, for example, insisted that I trim her horses once every 12 weeks; after all, when she was growing up, her family trimmed their horses only 3 times a year.  Her current animals have very sick feet.


I inadvertently performed a little experiment on poor Marley that illustrates the importance of regular trimming.  Recently, I became very busy and my own horses fell completely off of my trimming calendar.  With the thought in my mind one evening that my horses must be due soon, I was appalled to look down at Marley's overgrown toes and find a nasty crack that ran all the way from hairline to the ground.  How could I allow this to happen to my high-maintenance horse?

I knew exactly how. I took in an off-the-track thoroughbred this past May who was dead lame and needed trims every one to two weeks to keep the separated hoof wall from pulling away at ground level. My days were filled with trimming other people's horses, and my evenings were taken up with my new 4-year old project…and my "sound" horses fell to the wayside.


The moral of my little story is that regular trimming is so important, whether we're talking about a horse who is uncomfortable on his feet and in need of rehabilitation trimming every 2 weeks, or a sound horse who just needs maintenance trims every 6 weeks to keep him balanced and moving well under saddle. Certainly, if Marley had stronger hoof walls and healthier soles, the crack that he developed probably would not have traveled so far up his foot. However, the ugly truth is that the majority of my client horses do not have very healthy feet. Instead, they are recovering from carbohydrate overdoses and improper shoeing and trimming, putting them in need of a very regular schedule to keep the old, weak part of the hoof from invading the healthier hoof that is growing down from the hairline. Marley is no exception. Although he has grown new hooves from hairline to the ground at least twice since starting natural hoof care, it is going to take a lot longer than 2 years to grow truly healthy feet after 10 years of improper hoof management - and when there's permanent damage, such as Marley's missing coffin bone on the right front, that hoof will always need very special attention.


Every horse wears his hooves differently, depending on diet, exercise, and the terrain in which he is most often worked. Your natural hoof care professional will be able to help you find the trimming schedule that is right for your horse, as well as the diet and exercise plan that will best fit his needs.



Marley and Rin are now pasture pleasure riding ponies. The racetrack horses we will be discussing next have many more trimming, booting, and even shoeing considerations.



Stay on track, and don't let your horses fall off of your trimming schedule.