More horse owners seem to be learning about the dangers of sugars with respect to hoof health. Sugar in a horse’s feed, including that found in both cereal grains and pasture plants, can have both direct and indirect negative consequences on hoof health.
The 2011 edition of the International Hoof-Care Summit once again sent attendees home with hundreds of fresh ideas to improve their footcare work and more effectively run their farrier businesses.
Calcium is required in the diets of all horses for optimal health and well-being. Considered a macromineral, it is needed in a relatively large amount, especially when compared to trace minerals.
To understand why keratin is important in hoof health, it is necessary to learn what it is and how it contributes to hoof function. This is described in detail in the accompanying box.
The sole is the guardian that shields the sensitive structures of the hoof from contact with the outside world. Acting as the primary barrier against ground surface trauma, it is designed to handle concussion naturally; however, it seems that this once efficient protector has become one of the most abused structures of a horse’s anatomy.
There are almost as many types of shoes as there are horses to wear them. Available in different weights, sizes and shapes, they're also made from a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, synthetics, titanium and even rawhide.
With shoes or without, stalled or turned out, the horses here get a lot of hoof cracks and then rot in the white line. What can we do to help this or, even better, prevent it?
In this episode, Mark Ellis, a Wisconsin farrier who learned the ropes with Renchin, recalls Red’s relationships with area veterinarians, his legacy and the second career as American Farriers Journal’s technical editor.
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.