Over the weekend, 22 horses competed in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Like all athletes, these elite Thoroughbreds — under the care of their trainers and owners — must walk the line between rigorous training and injury. And one of the most feared conditions in horses is laminitis.
Even those who have never had a CT scan are likely familiar with the process, which often entails a slow journey through a narrow tube. Given that the experience can elicit feelings of claustrophobia in human adults, it’s easy to imagine how complicated it can be to perform the same procedure on a 1,400-pound horse.
After an 8-month struggle to put Barbaro’s fractured leg back together, the Kentucky Derby winner was euthanized on Jan. 29 due to laminitis complications on the opposite rear leg. Yet his long struggle for survival captured the hearts of the American public and dramatically increased their understanding of the problems that farriers have faced for centuries with laminitis.
With 118,420 spectators looking on at Baltimore's Pimlico racetrack, Barbaro broke quickly from the Preakness starting gate in an effort to win the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing.
Greg Martin, CJF, of Boerne, Texas, takes the unique approach of marketing his hoof-care practice with a Christmas parade float in Boerne and Comfort, Texas. The award-winning float boasts a variety of surprising features.
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.