We often hear that it’s not what we take, it’s what we leave when trimming the foot that’s important. In many ways, that’s true. However, sometimes if we leave too much, it becomes important for the wrong reasons.
Hoof health affects the overall well-being of a horse, making hoof hydration an important factor to understand and regulate for individual horse's needs.
As summer comes to a close, horse owners are still taking advantage of the weather with weekend trail rides. With horses getting many hours of physical activity on the weekends, the sudden stillness during the week can take a toll on their bodies and result in joint pain.
Like a glove provides extra protection to human hands and fingers, pour-in pads serve as a safeguard for both shod and barefoot horses. Pour-in pads can provide solar support to both prevent and aid common hoof care issues.
The coffin bone, also known as the pedal bone or the distal phalanx, is the bottommost bone within a horse’s leg, similar to the tip of a human finger. Although uncommon, coffin bone injuries are both serious and dangerous as the hoof capsule is shaped around this particular bone. To maintain horse health, it is important to provide proper hoof care and to take action if a horse develops a coffin bone injury.
Horse hooves, similar to human fingernails, need to be trimmed regularly as excessive growth weakens durability and causes them to split, crack, chip or break off. Plus, excessive trimming can be painful and lead to significant complications in everyday activities. To maintain optimal hoof health for barefoot horses, it is important for horse owners to continue regular trimming cycles and to provide proper care for hooves when they’re sore.
The long debate of shod vs. barefoot has yet to rein in for horse owners and hoof care professionals alike. However, proponents of either side can agree that the transition from shod to barefoot requires extra steps and precaution.
Seasonal weather changes have a major effect on a horse’s hoof health. Depending on the time of year, horses’ hooves change and may require extra attention and treatment. Neglecting environmental factors can lead to sole deterioration or other harmful consequences. When it comes to a horse’s environment, there are two main seasonal factors that impact hoof health: temperature and moisture.
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.