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Forum Name: Conformation
Forum Description: Discuss horse conformation, anatomy, athleticism, size and type
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Topic: Foot Health Shod/BarefootPosted By: Gay3
Subject: Foot Health Shod/Barefoot
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2015 at 12:59pm
Well written post Nic. In the end of the day there is a whole industry
out there that will ignore the welfare and health arguments to protect
itself until it's dying breath and horses will continue to have this
medieval treatment for another generation at least. It's up to owners to
question everything done to their horses and they have to really take
responsibility - in both trimming and shoeing - and not abdicate
critical thinking and accountability to the farrier or trimmer or the
vet for that matter.
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429618761145#c4818745825217350031" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 13:19
Long time silent reader from the USA here. I do endurance over here and
my mare is barefoot with excellent feet and does very well over all
types of terrain. I get a *ton* of sideways glances, downright nasty
comments, and questions over my choice to leave my mare bare. In fact I
had one person accuse me of abuse due to my insistence of leaving her
bare. Sigh. It is so inbred into the industry that horses need metal
shoes. I really hope it changes soon as many ride managers over here are
now mandating hoof protection to enter the ride.
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429622754013#c4523569083856339908" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 14:25
Bruce, I am with you 150% on this - owners are the only people who will make a long term, significant difference.
Sara,
thanks for your comments and so sorry you've had such negative feedback
with your mare. I can only hope that you and other riders can educate
those who run your rides.
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429625443190#c8491520620616646434" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 15:10
Any size horse? Please advise on length of time to be comfortable from
transition of shoes to barefoot... Also...a horse with navicular.... Can
they be better off barefoot... Thanks
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429630236775#c5266801174232939002" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 16:30
Very well summarized and argumented! Here one - until now silent -
reader of yours from Finland which still don't have balls to share it
among ppl here (I guess still more than 90% are shod, it's getting
better but slowly...). Last year, one horse magazine even published an
article where one farrier explained that keeping a working horse
barefoot here (rough rocky roads) is on verge of animal abuse. The
problem here is, except of traditional believes like "a working horse
can't survive without shoes" & "the hooves will wear away", lacking
knowledge how to do it right and pain-free. Me and my first horse were
stumbling, unsure what's wrong, too. I guess now she was sensitive on
rocks/hard ground because she's sugar sensitive and was on fulltime
pasture that summer. But I wish I knew then! I didn't understand how
important diet is. I had previous experience with barefoot horses but
for some reasons they didn't have any of the problems I came across with
my mare. They were without any issues most of the time and no special
attention to their diet so I was so stressed at times not knowing what's
exactly wrong with my mare and what to do about it (there wasn't only
one problem and one source of problems is arthrosis (not inside of
hooves but higher)). Sure, the Internet is neverending source of
information but it's hard to know what to believe etc.
I'd like
to ask - a good book about horse diet? I bought your book but I've found
it too brief in that matter but I don't know any good book - could you
recommend something (English is okay)? Here I borrowed one very popular
and highly appreciated and haven't really read it yet but I couldn't
agree on some things I came across there... F.e. they assume you shoe
your horse - so you don't notice possible grass sensitivity; other thing
- they consider normal to feed grains even to horses in light work
(only not-working horses can manage on hay diet without any other source
of energy) and I got an impression that in their opinion horses needs
tons of sugar. Of course they keep quality hay as a cornerstone of diet
but on a top of that they MUST get something more, and sugary things are
preferred in general (of course they mention there needs to be a
balance between energies and the exception of laminitic horses)... Maybe
I'm wrong and judge the book too harshly but it definitely doesn't suit
my purpose. Well, also my horses do get not only hay but in very
limited quantities and low in sugar (it's beet pulp, to be exact, and
it's a way less than the lowest limit stated per day on the package, and
they still have enough energy, I would say even too much! :D). But
I'd need to know more about diet suitable for barefoot horses which is
low in sugar, more exact info about minerals and vitamins and their role
and sources... Thank you!
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429632901564#c396593902646743908" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 17:15
I hate shoes have 5 horses 4 barefoot and none look totally comfortable:( One
now has shoes so I can ride him I struggled for 2 years I kept his
diet as advised, they had ad lib hay not much grass just older meadows
that wasn't rich, My problem as I have a concrete yard and 24/7
access to stables with open doors, his feet wore down to quick, he wore
boots for riding out in, but he always looked sore, So how can you ride out and keep the sole from touching the floor as feet have worn down too quick. I am so disappointed he has shoes on, but he is sound now and looks comfortable We have Tarmac and horrid gritty forest tracks here, very little grass to ride on.
http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-not-shoe.html?showComment=1429652642878#c8917980670696290639" rel="nofollow -
21 April 2015 at 22:44
Article protected by copyright. Please share the link but do not re-publish without permission.
http://www.mikedekockracing.com/" rel="nofollow - South African trainer Mike de Kock
is known for bringing his colts to the world's top races with an
eclectic plan for optimal condition and speed to peak on the day of the
race.
And his training uses horseshoes differently, as well.
When it uses them at all.
Mubtaahij (pronounced "Moob-tah-HEEJ", which is Arabic for feeling
elated) was foaled in Ireland and raised in France. He's owned by a
sheikh from the United Arab Emirates, his trainer is from South Africa,
his jockey is from Belgium, and his farrier team is based in the USA.
A late foal, the son of Dubawi only turned three this week. He was sold
at the Deauville, France yearling sale and is now owned by Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, a cousin of famed racehorse owner and
endurance competitor (and the current ruler of Dubai) Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In five starts on dirt, Mubtaahij has had four wins and one second, with
earnings of $1,461,332. His greatest victory was an eight-length romp
last month in the UAE Derby for three year olds in the undercard of the
Dubai World Cup. He was unplaced in his early efforts on turf.
Declan Cronin, the
colt's farrier in Dubai, took this photo of Mubtaahij''s left front foot
two weeks after the UAE Derby. The shoes were on the horse for the day
of the race only; you can see the nail holes in the outside wall. The
hooves are trimmed approximately every three weeks but they are scrubbed
clean and disinfected daily. (HoofSolutions photo)
About the hooves:
Note: This information is provided by Texas farrier Pat Burton of
HoofSolutions and has not been verified by Mike de Kock or Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Mubtaahij trains barefoot in Dubai, where his hooves were cared for by Irish farrier Declan Cronin according to the http://wwww.hoofsolutions.com/" rel="nofollow - HoofSolutions
regimen, which calls for regularly scheduled trimming and maintenance,
along with twice-daily picking, brushing, cleaning and disinfection of
hooves with a proprietary anti-microbial Sole Spray.
HoofSolutions’ preventative maintenance program is balanced with the
trainer’s role in stimulating hoof circulation by conducting consistent
workouts on proper footing and providing a clean, dry and well
maintained stable environment. Nutritional monitoring to insure minimal
requirements and the addition of any needed vitamins or minerals fills
out the program.
When Mubtaahij arrived in the United States, he did not ship directly to
Churchill Downs. Instead, he went to Arlington International Racecourse
outside Chicago, where he trained, still without shoes, under
quarantine restrictions. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Arlington has a
Polytrack surface.
On Monday, the colt shipped to Churchill Downs, amidst much fanfare.
Eric Barthelmess, CJF, from Montana and Pat Burton, CJF, from Texas will
be handling the colt’s hoofcare needs this week in Louisville,
according to Burton. Eric has worked in South Africa, Dubai and
Newmarket, England alongside Cronin, who is Burton’s partner in
HoofSolutions.
They are also tending to the needs of de Kock’s Umgiyo, who is entered
in the Woodford Reserve Turf on Derby Day. “Unless plans change, of
course, they are usually shod the morning of the race,” Pat said.
What’s interesting is that, back in Dubai, Declan has been removing
the colt’s shoes right after a race, cleaning them off, putting them in a
box, and tucking them away. He will then nail the same shoes back on
for the next race, assuming they are useable. The lightly-used shoes
traveled to America with the colt.
Wednesday night, Pat Burton shod the colt in front with his race-worn
Thoro’Bred Low Toe (or Wide Web Low Toe) Thoro'Bred plates; he'll be
shod with his Thoro'Bred Blocked Heel hind plates later in the week. According
to Burton, the change in plans was related to the moisture and surface
variances at Arlington and Churchill Downs. Normally shoes would not be
applied until the day of the race. Burton said that he would pull the horse's shoes sometime after the race on Saturday or Sunday.
Jockey
Christophe Soumillon will ride Mubtaahij in the Kentucky Derby. After
winning the UAE Derby, he waved the South African flag in honor of
trainer Mike de Kock.
Science behind the system
The HoofSolutions / de Kock hoofcare program is being studied by Debra
Taylor, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA of Auburn University College of
Veterinary Medicine in Alabama. “(Dr. Taylor) has been over to Dubai
in the last six weeks and to South Africa last year to record data on a
group of horses in training. Mubtaahij was not in the study but his
hoofcare protocol is the same as those horses in the study,” Pat said.
“Evaluation of the effect of a barefoot, high-mileage training regime on
foot morphology, bone density and locomotion in Thoroughbred
racehorses” is the title of Dr. Taylor’s project, which collected MRI,
radiographic, morphological measurements, hoof mold and photographic
data from Thoroughbred racehorses training barefoot on artificial racing
surfaces in Dubai and South Africa.
The Hoof Blog has written extensively about trainers who
experiment with shoeless training or racing on artificial surfaces. De
Kock appears to be going beyond experimenting to develop a targeted
program that uses shoelessness and optimal hoof health in combination
with the kinder surface to prepare horses for racing.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2015 at 8:14am
These pics may give an indication of how little it takes to cause a lot to go wrong considering about 500kgs is supported by 4 of these whilst at rest, race speed massively compounding the load
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Delta Deel
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2015 at 8:47am
Interesting thread Gay, growing up on a 100 000acre cattle station we probably had a plant of 30-40 stock horses as well as 10-20 hacks, ex racehorses, yearlings and a a couple of stallions.
Our country was soft with black soil flood out country, red sand and a small amount of black soil downs and no stone. None of our horses were shod, all us kids were taught to shoe our ponies at the age of about 10 so we knew how but aftet these lessons it was all about keeping hoof as natural as possible, a little longer at the toe than a shod horse and a little wider at the wall to allow load spread but always neat and tidy.
We would trim when we got them in for the season and before we turned them out to spell. Even when breaking in a pre training our gallopers we would gallop them unshod on our natural sand training track.
My old man was considered a bit of an eccentric for it but he was all about keeping the horse as natural as possible, and whilst a hard bushman would take on board new ways. To the point he let me move away from the old bush way of breaking in which was tie them up, bag em down, and get on them rough to the monty roberts inspired joining up process which was the greatest thing I ever found in horsemanship at 15yo.
Posted By: slowdown
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2015 at 8:59am
thanks Gay, my wife has one of our ex racehorses as her project(parelli). our pasture here is around 20% protein and he soon ran into trouble on the good feed. Liz had his feet xrayed as he was having feet trouble. the vet said one of his fronts was a sinker and the other bad. he said the best she could do was put him on bute and look after him to the end. she decided to research and get help from her bare foot trimmer friend. its been a long struggle and the only grass he can get is where he can reach under the hotwire but the end result is he is fine and regularly attends clinic plus work here in the farm. diet and trimming fixed him with some excellent help from advisors on laminitis and how to repair the foot. there are sites with people who will help for the love of the horse. they give their advice and time for nothing . she sent the xrays and they were able to draw up how to trim to repair etc. the end result is she has her horse in good health and hasnt lost her great Mate..
------------- Rebel - racing. Lionel - in work. Glory - spelling. Ray - spelling. A Wee Nip - in work.
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 03 Mar 2016 at 8:17am
Tradition dictates that racehorses should be shod to get good
traction and to protect the hoof, but some trainers believe not all
horses should be shod, especially those racing on synthetic surfaces.
For the past seven years, Wayne Rice has raced all but one of his
30-horse string barefoot, making an estimated 1,200 barefoot starts.
Rice is a trainer and veteran farrier from a family of horsemen that
reaches back into the 1800s. Last year, he was second leading trainer on
the Tapeta Footings surface at Presque Isle Downs near Erie, Penn. with
his barefoot runners.
Rice said maintaining barefoot racehorses actually requires less effort than shoeing, and it's healthier for the foot.
“With shoes on, the hoof flexes less and has less circulation to the
hoof, and they actually grow less foot,” he said. “Every trainer in
America goes through the dance of trying to keep the hoof angles and
hoof length right for distributing the weight and proper balance to keep
the horse sound.”
With shoes, the horse's hoof has to have enough new growth to secure
the nails. But if the hoof hasn't grown adequately, the farrier might
have to wait six to eight weeks to reshoe, Rice said.
“It's hard on the conformation, hard on physical soundness,” he said.
“Whereas barefoot, I can take the rasp and do a very light pedicure
every four weeks religiously or between races. … We never had them
bruise their feet or pound them enough to find any negatives for having
them barefoot. The concussion and the flexion of the foot kept the foot
growing, and growing more, and we were able to manicure these feet to
have perfect angles.”
Bill Casner, whose Well Armed won the 2009 Dubai World Cup by a
historic 14 lengths, keeps all his young horses barefoot until they are
ready to race. He bases this practice on scientific evidence he learned
as chairman of the Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee of the Welfare and
Safety of the Racehorse Summit.
“One of the worst things we can do on those young horses when they
are still developing and still growing is to put shoes on them,” Casner
said. “Their feet really start getting contracted heels, and it has an
effect on the blood flow to the digital cushion and the back third of
the foot. These are all things that science shows us. And we understand
that Mother Nature will provide the necessary strength to deal with the
stresses that are presented it. If you put shoes on a horse, its feet
are not going to be nearly as strong.”
Tradition is not the only reason Rice believes many trainers opt for
training and racing with shoes. He said economics and worry about losing
the client are factors.
“If the horse doesn't win, there's another trainer standing there
telling the owner, ‘If he'd have put shoes on him, you'd have better
traction and the horse would have won.' He'll try to convince the client
to move the horse over to him so he can put shoes on and run him.
“I don't have that problem; I own all my own horses. So I've been able to do a study without having to answer to a client.”
Rice did point out that some dirt surfaces might not be suitable for
barefoot racing. He is a regular at Keeneland Race Course, but since the
track has replaced its synthetic surface with dirt, he shoes his horses
when racing there but pulls the shoes to race over the synthetic
surfaces at Woodbine in Toronto and Presque Isle.
Renowned farrier and lecturer Dr. Ric Reddensaid genetics play a big
role in whether a racehorse's feet have the natural mass, strength, and
durability to go unshod.
“Thoroughbreds, as a rule, are among the breeds that notoriously have
thinner walls and slower growth patterns, which makes it a bit tougher
to condition feet to an acceptable level of self-sustaining durability
while enduring the rigors of training and racing,” he said. “However,
there are those individuals that can respond well to a good barefoot
program that has the farrier, trainer, veterinarian, and caretaker all
on the same page and alert to the daily needs and requirements.”
Redden had this advice for trainers who want to train and race their
horses unshod: “Lack of mass and water-saturated horn tissue are the
recipe for folding heel tubules. Add speed and you have the proverbial
crushed heel and negative palmar angle, one of the greatest perils
facing most racehorses worldwide.
“The traditional mud bucket must go, as it only weakens the
structural stability of horn tissue. Bedding on sawdust or shavings and
using products that increase hardness is quite helpful. Trimming
basically should be performed with a sanding block to maintain mass.”
Tiffany A•
http://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/hoof-care-category/barefootin-healthy-choice-soundness/#comment-2547322748" rel="nofollow - 9 hours ago
I am always shocked when I get horses I bred back from the track and
look at what their feet have become. These are horses that had good
quality hooves and appropriate angles as yearlings. If the horse can go
barefoot and be appropriately managed, all the better. But for those
horses that need shod, I have never seen such horrible farrier work as
some of the horses returning from the track. I know there are some great
track farriers, but they must be a rare commodity. I believe Ric Reddon
once said "that some of the most expensive horses on the planet are
getting shod by some of the worst farriers".
peggy conroy http://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/hoof-care-category/barefootin-healthy-choice-soundness/#comment-2547322748" rel="nofollow - Tiffany A •
http://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/hoof-care-category/barefootin-healthy-choice-soundness/#comment-2547365288" rel="nofollow - 9 hours ago
Ditto....however I tried keeping them barefoot when training on a
dirt track (Bowie, Md) and eventually had to put shoes on when they were
fit enough to begin breezing because the toes were worn down extremely
short. I'm a person who wants them as short as the correct angle allows,
but they do need some toe. Training just on turf, no problem, as long
as feet are rasped a bit regularly to keep them exactly balanced.
Oda Barhuf•
http://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/hoof-care-category/barefootin-healthy-choice-soundness/#comment-2548102950" rel="nofollow - 3 hours ago
Some hooves are genetically more blessed than others , but one
notoriously overlooked factor, by many traditional hoof care providers ,
veterinarians and horse owners alike, is how the DIET affects hoof
health. If you feed the hooves right, chances are high that they will be
much healthier! If you feed hooves like this, you WILL get healthier hooves! http://www.hoofrehab.com/Diet.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.hoofrehab.com/Diet....
90% of all trainers do it the way they saw it done when they first
learned. Original thinking is rare. Formula training (every horse gets
the same treatment) is common. It is rare for a trainer to specifically
"tell" a farrier what is expected (angles, heels).
30 years of experience? Or one year of experience repeated 30 times? It is human nature, and not just in horse training.
I too am a small breeder and run a race horse rest farm for the past
40 years. I'm amazed some horses remain sound enough to run with the
lack of heel and length of toe when we receive them. Just looking at
the angle makes it terribly clear the tendons are going to be
compromised. I never understood the huge "breakover" that obviously is
going cause unsoundness down the line. I pull the shoes on these layups
as soon as they can handle bare feet. We gently rasp when we get some
growth to send them back with a better foot.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2016 at 7:34am
‘I will never shoe another horse’ – Nick Hill
Posted on https://nakedhorse.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/i-will-never-shoe-another-horse-nick-hill/" rel="nofollow -
by Linda Chamberlain
I want you to meet a trained farrier – one that says he will never
shoe again because of the harm it causes. He turned his back on the
trade because separating the horse from the ground was the beginning of a
destructive process. He became a barefoot trimmer because he was
forever fighting against nature, causing the hoof to distort and break
from constant renailing. With all our wisdom and technology, there had
to be a better way…
His name is Nick Hill and he has a list of changes needed for the
domestic horse that is shopping-list long. If anyone can make a few of
these demands happen it is this quietly, committed man who travels the
world educating owners about a new way of caring for the species.
There is more to looking after a horse’s hoof than the style or
frequency of its trim. This animal urgently needs some changes in its
care if it is to lead a healthy life.
Interestingly, he finds the same health issues affecting the horse in
many different parts of the world. Domestication inevitably brings
problems whether that animal is in the rain-soaked UK or sun-filled
Kenya.
I have a picture in my mind of Nick fighting his way through customs
with a hoof rasp and suspicious-looking knives in his bag; in reality he
has met only a few raised eyebrows as he crosses international
borders but I am astonished that he encounters the same equine issues in
a long list of countries – USA, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia,
Estonia, Italy, Portugal, Israel, Spain, France, Denmark, Netherlands,
Bulgaria, Lithuania, Lesotho and the UK where he has held clinics aimed
at improving the horses’ hooves…and lifestyle.
‘If inappropriate management is put in place and undue expectations
are put on a species, then we shouldn’t be surprised when health becomes
compromised. Domestication always throws up challenges, but it’s not a
reason to simply say I can’t…better to ask how we can?’ he explains.
So, what is it we do to the horse around the world that compromises him so much?
Mankind has taken him from a herd-loving, free-roaming creature and
given him a job to do. In exchange we offer a diet rich in cereals
rather than forage and a small house of his very own to live in. To seal
the animal’s fate we nail a shoe to his foot.
So wherever he goes, Nick sees laminitis, navicular and other
man-made diseases of the hoof. He finds digestive upset, compromised
immunity, mental distress from lack of movement as well as breathing
problems thanks to confinement.
No wonder that an animal treated this way might have difficulties walking on his own feet.
And yet Nick warns, ‘Shoeing unbalances the whole horse and over a
period of time will further distort the hoof. An unbalanced body makes
for an unbalanced mind, which in turn affects the immune system. To cut
the contact between the equid and the ground is the start of destroying
of what makes him a horse. Shoes just mask problems, they don’t solve
them.
‘Most farriers that I know would rather not shoe. It’s extremely
hard, skilled work and once heading down that path they are fighting
against nature and trying to stop the capsule from distorting and
breaking up from the constant renailing.
‘Barefoot is the footwear of choice when the horse is born, if
allowed to fully develop in a good environment and access to a more
natural lifestyle and diet, then it’s simple. Barefoot is normal. The
abnormalities come from misuse/abuse of the equine.’
He believes that any horse can go barefoot. Not all will cope being
ridden but most transition without difficulty and recover well from
these human-inflicted conditions. ‘People’s expectations of what horses
can and should do must be looked at. It saddens me that the equine has
fewer legal rights than any other species. It’s hard to understand when
most humans mention how amazing and wonderful the equid is, yet if they
truly understood the needs of the species then there would be a massive
upheaval of the diet, lifestyle and expectations, which would be
legislated for internationally.’
He’s right, you know. No zoo is allowed to treat the zebra the way
most people treat the domestic horse. Legislation ensures the zebra’s
need for herd life is respected. The horse’s need to socialise has not
been squashed by thousands of years of domestication but it is often
denied him thanks to the widespread use of single-stall stabling.
Sometimes around the clock.
I asked Nick about the ideal diet for a barefoot horse.
His advice is to keep it as simple as possible and away from monocultured grass paddocks.
‘I usually say that if a bag of feed is promoted as healthy for
horses then don’t use it. (There are companies out there that are making
better products now). You need to research whatever you feed your
horse. Don’t just believe what’s written on the bag.
‘People have really got to ask themselves why they are feeding what
they are feeding. Horses should be treated as athletes, you wouldn’t
expect an overweight person to be able to perform as an Olympian, so why
expect a horse to move properly with excess weight, let alone carry a
human. An overweight horse is not a healthy horse.’
And lifestyle?
‘Just take a look at groups of feral horses around the world, you
will then see how horses need to live, social interaction, movement (yes
there are some groups of feral horses that just survive and are not in
the best conditions). You will at least see how far removed a lot of
domesticated horses are from what nature intended.
‘If you look at feral horses in ideal environmental conditions you
will see athletes who are sound and strong, healthy, alert and full of
life, living like nature intended, with strong physical and mental
health, sound, with short toes and heels, running over all substrates
without having to worry.
‘Try and emulate the above and you will get a healthier equine. If
your horse can’t move, socialise, eat little and often, then guess what?
You are going to have problems.’
Before
I give you Nick’s shopping-list for change let me tell you a bit about
his background. It includes agricultural college and working in
traditional livery yards as a riding instructor. He trained as a farrier
because his own horses were struggling to stay sound.
‘I was trained by traditional farriers who were using the Cyteck method of shoeing; they seemed to be getting good results.
‘This was in the Highlands of Scotland (before the Farriers’
Registration Council took control of the whole of the UK) and I also
travelled to the USA.
‘I learnt several important lessons, both from the equines and other
professionals. Everything pointed to the same conclusion – there must be
a better way forward, for all involved in the industry.’
I often ask my interviewees about their vision for the horse’s
future. Most give me a line or two. I love that Nick has been suitably
ambitious.
As promised…here is the list…
An end to remedial shoeing to mask lameness in competition horses.
Livery yards/farms paying more attention to the needs of equines rather than the needs of the land, or what looks nice.
Feed companies being regulated against selling bags of rubbish dressed up as healthy feeds.
Horse owners recognising the true needs of the horse and knowing the
difference between good and unhealthy hooves (as they do reflect the
health of the horse).
More open-minded vets.
Shoeing being replaced by barefoot and booting technologies (the
farriers have the necessary skills to make changes but it needs to come
from horse owners and vets as well).
Stud farms and breeders to take better responsibility for the formative years and allowing the horse to develop fully.
The ruling bodies of all equine competitions to state that no horse can compete until fully mature.
Professionals should aim to fix the horse’s diet, environment and
movement and then implement mechanical changes to the hoof. This applies
to some trimming schools of thought as well as traditional farriery and
veterinary work.
Having professionals and horse owners understanding better handling
techniques, recognising that there’s a reason for every reaction.
Patience, understanding and kindness bring greater results in my
experience.
‘The list is probably longer but let’s see,’ he says.
So, dear reader, if you could choose just one thing from Nick’s
demands for the horse, what would it be? Tell us what you think is
important by clicking on ‘comments’ and leaving some feedback. Press the
follow button to keep in touch.
And if you want to get in touch with Nick you can find him on https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1170194998&fref=ts" rel="nofollow - Facebook or you can email him on nickhill984@gmail.com
Photos can be seen in the article at: https://nakedhorse.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/i-will-never-shoe-another-horse-nick-hill/" rel="nofollow - https://nakedhorse.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/i-will-never-shoe-another-horse-nick-hill/
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2016 at 5:40pm
Some great TB feet pre, during & post rehab, refuting the oft heard "shelly walls, thin soled, pencil thin frogs......they need shoes". The pictorial shows some genuinely cr@ppy feet brought back to strong & functional with correct nutrition & hoof care
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/notes-from-the-field/off-the-track-thoroughbreds-all-with-beautiful-rehabilitated-feet" rel="nofollow - Off The Track Thoroughbreds: All with Beautiful Rehabilitated Feet
Monday, March 5, 2012 by http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/notes-from-the-field" rel="nofollow - Dawn Willoughby
Once and for all let's make a concerted effort to debunk a popular myth
that thoroughbreds have shelly walls, thin soles, pencil thin frogs and
for these reasons they need shoes. "The hell!" I say. Even
with wrong hoof care from birth to rescue/career change, the vast
majority of OTTBs can be rehabbed to soundness. And gorgeous feet!
Cayuga
When I met him he was 12 years old, shod most of his life. He trained
on the track but did not race. Cayuga was living at Tory Hill, a
gorgeous farm with a herd of about 10 barefoot geldings, mostly OTTBs,
with full turnout on huge and hilly pastures.
- See more at:
http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/notes-from-the-field/off-the-track-thoroughbreds-all-with-beautiful-rehabilitated-feet#sthash.Kjhq9h5L.dpuf
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2016 at 11:57am
Half of laminitis cases missed by horse owners
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/generic_horseeye1.jpg" rel="nofollow"> Research suggests owners struggle to recognise laminitis
A new study of horse owners has revealed that around 50 per cent were not able to recognise laminitis in their horses.
The research formed part of the CARE study by the Animal Health Trust
and the Royal Veterinary College. CARE is a web-based equine cohort
study that aims to find out how common laminitis is and which lifestyle
factors contribute to it.
In one aspect of the ongoing study, researchers looked at the level
of agreement between vets and owners about whether a horse had
laminitis.
Using a number of clinically diagnosed laminitis cases reported by
veterinary practices, they found that in around half of the cases, horse
owners had not suspected laminitis.
“Equine laminitis is ranked as one of the top health concerns by both
owners and vets,” said PhD student Dee Pollard, who is leading the
study. “Most horse owners will have either had experience of laminitis
themselves or will know of someone who has. However, it is a notoriously
complex disease and diagnosis is not always straightforward.”
There are no clinical signs that are seen in every case and the
condition can often masquerade as another problem, such as colic or
abscess.
“This makes it even more vital to raise awareness about the disease,
to ensure earlier detection, and to support research that helps find out
how we can best prevent it developing in the first place,” Dee added.
The CARE study works by recruiting a large number of members who will
contribute regular information over time. Known as a ‘cohort study’,
this method has been used extensively in human medicine and has led to
important findings that link lifestyle factors to certain diseases.
So far, the project has more than 1,500 members but it needs another
1,000. Dee urged horse owners to get involved, calling for a
collaborative effort from owners, professionals and researchers to raise
awareness and, in time, to allow for easier early recognition of
laminitis.
For more information, visit http://www.careaboutlaminitis.org.uk" rel="nofollow - www.careaboutlaminitis.org.uk
Can foot form really affect a horse’s conformation?
Rest assured it can and does – in fact, it affects much more than that!
The condition, overall shape and functioning of your horse’s feet infl
uence not only his posture, stance, attitude, personality and movement,
but also his bodily functions such as circulation, lymph function,
digestion and muscle development. We will even go so far to say that
foot form and function have a great infl uence on your horse’s
trainability and soundness – physically, emotionally and mentally.
What is good hoof form? A few simple guidelines can be used to assess whether your horse has healthy hoof form.
From the side, your
horse’s hoof should look triangular. With the limb fully weighted, the
hairline (or coronet band) should be straight and resting at a 30°
angle. The front (dorsal) angle should be roughly 45° to 50° in the
forelimbs and 50° to 55° in the hind limbs.
From the front, the coronet band should appear level and straight – any humps or deviations in shape indicate uneven pressure.
From the rear,
your horse’s heel bulbs should be thick, round and low to the ground.
You should be able to fit one or two fi ngers comfortably between the
bulbs. From the bottom, the frogs should be thick, dense, triangular
pads, blending smoothly with the heel bulbs to form a “heart” shape. The
sole should be smooth and convex, forming a bowl. The bearing surface
of the heel should be level with the widest point of the frog, and the
hoof wall should be approximately the same thickness all the way around.
The white line should be a solid elastic “seal”
all the way around. Any black material or gaps in the white line are not
acceptable and your horse could present with lameness until this is
rectify
Common pathologies Contraction refers to an
excessively narrow foot, with heels and bulbs pinched together. This is
one of the most common pathologies affl icting domestic horses today.
Contracted feet can be linked to a host of behavioral problems such as
bucking, rearing, teeth grinding, tripping, headshaking, rushing or
balking. Jumping horses with contracted hooves will be “dirty stoppers” –
refusing to jump fences with the shock-absorbing system in their feet
compromised. These are often horses who will “bronc” or bolt away from
the landing side after jumping.
Thrush
always goes hand in hand with contraction. When the heel bulbs are
pinched together, the frog is also stressed, pinched and crowded. It
will atrophy and shrivel up which makes it susceptible to ever-present
opportunistic bacteria and fungi. Many horse owners do not recognize
thrush because it is so common. We are told to occasionally apply some
caustic goo in blue, purple or green and forget about it. What is not
realized is the impact unhealthy frog pads can have on limb function.
When the frog pad is hurt, the horse will begin to avoid using them and
land “toe first”. This landing limits the horse’s stride range by
several inches, and the compromised use of the limb with each stride
predisposes him to soft tissue injuries such as tendon or suspensory
injuries. Long term, this type of movement leads to navicular or DDFT
lameness. Thrush pain can also cause a horse to stand over at the knee;
commonly considered a conformation fault, this fl aw can often be
“cured” with improved hoof management!
Under-run heels are also known as “under-slung” or “crushed” heels.
This condition is often confused with a horse that “doesn’t grow heel”
or has “no heel”. In fact, these horses generally have excess amounts of
heel, but it is easily overlooked because it grows on a dramatically
forward plane. These horses can be predisposed to bowed tendons and
suspensory injuries.
Flares are one of the most preventable hoof pathologies, and a major
contributor to winging/paddling gaits. Simply provide a balanced trim at
regular intervals, and fl ares will become a non-issue in your horses.
Some horses do need a shorter trimming/shaping schedule of just a few
weeks to gain control and heal the fl are thoroughly. Do not leave your
horse for months between trims.
Cracks
and chipping are also very preventable. Balanced trimming at short
intervals will “cure” chronic cracking problems. If your horse has
quarter cracks, or chips in the quarters, he is receiving a “flat” or
non-functioning trim. He is simply shedding excess material. Trimming to
accommodate the natural plane of the foot will eliminate the problem.
If your horse has a coronary band injury, he will probably grow out a
thin crack like a scar. This should not affect his performance.
Medial/lateral imbalance refers to a horse whose hooves are
imbalanced left to right. Shockingly, many horses are trimmed and/or
shod out of balance for years at a time! These horses often have uneven
arthritic changes in the joints of the lower limb (appearing as hard
“bubbly” material surrounding the joints). This imbalance can be a major
contributor to ringbone and sidebone. Improvements can be made to these
conditions through regular, balanced trimming, resulting in increased
comfort and longevity for your horse.
Five hearts
When a healthy and fully functioning equine foot strikes the ground, it
will expand approximately 3mm to 5mm and fi ll with cushioning blood.
As the foot leaves the ground, it contracts, expelling blood from the
foot. The action of your horse’s feet assists his heart in pumping blood
throughout the limbs and body, as if he has five hearts. Certain
pathologies can disrupt this process, restricting blood fl ow and
limiting the function of his feet. Now think – if four of your horse’s
“hearts” are constricted, how is the fi fth to function at full
capacity? Imagine the potential of your horse if he were able to fully
utilize all his resources.
As you can see, a properly formed and functioning foot affects your
horse’s entire well being. Pay close attention to his hooves, and
address any imbalances and pathologies with your trimmer as they arise,
for optimal health and performance.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 9:54am
Laminitis with rotation is not a death sentence, this is a wonderful story of dedication to save a young life, regardless of athletic outcome
https://www.facebook.com/MichaelHibbsracing/photos/a.136863580020188.1073741830.132823487090864/203839913322554/?type=3&fref=nf" rel="nofollow - Michael Hibbs Racehorse Training
This
past Good Friday, Michael, and I had the pleasure of having lunch with
our friend, and Hoof Naturopath, Carola Adolph (in sunnies). How we met Carola is a
story I would like to share. With the
negativity going around regarding owners and trainers not supporting
their horses who break down, are retired, or too slow, I would like to
bring attention to a group of very special owners, and carers, who stood
by, and supported one very special horse. His name is Red Gold aka
Ernest, a 2010 gelding by Elvstroem x Red Temptation. Ernie, whom was
purchased at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and never had the
opportunity to race, or even trial.
In July 2013, during his first preparation, Ernie had the misfortune of
acquiring a massive hoof abscess in his near hind. Subsequently, , he
foundered, and rotated the pedal bone in his opposite hind, which
unfortunately penetrated the sole one day after his protective boot came
off. At this point, both our vet, and farrier said they could do no
more for him. We were told that we were being "cruel to keep him going",
that we would " not see him sound again", and I know that most people
who saw him didn't believe he would live, never mind go on to be the
horse we had the joy to see again at lunch on Good Friday. For Michael,
and I, who had cared for Ernie his entire short life, we could not look
at his beautiful, trusting face, and say goodbye. while I am all for
ending an animals suffering humanely, Ernie has other plans in life than
to die at age three. He would go on to show us this every day of his 12
month healing process. Boxed 24/7, daily bandage changing, foot
soaking, antibiotic injections, and bute twice daily for the first two
weeks, herbal, and naturopathic remedies ( every four hours around the
clock until he was out of the woods). Not once did we see ears back, or
an attempt to kick, or bite. He knew we were there for him.
Michael was Ernie's trainer, however, he luckily owned by a small group
of wonderful people. Long standing owner Danny Scasni, Charles White,
and Tony Coloquhoun. These three men, never questioned what we chose to
do with Ernie the entire twelve months it took to save him. Even in the
finish, when his final X-rays confirmed he would not be able to race,
they supported him, and us. All they would say is, " as long as he is
happy, keep going".
Today, three years on, Ernie is a big,
beautiful, happy boy, and resides with Carola, and two horse friends (
one also an ex racehorse).
We wish to thank Victoria Ferguson
for help with Ernie's natural diet, Naturopath Lisa Hailes for her never
ending support, and knowledge, getting Ernie through each and every
stage of the healing process. Supporting his mental, as well as physical
health. We would like to thank Carola Adolph. For without her, telling a
very upset me during our first conversation, " No one needs to die
because of a sore fingernail"!!!! Ernie would be a distant memory, and
none of us would have the pleasure of seeing this special horse
relishing life. Carola, the care you gave Ernie ( and me) was endless.
You were here nearly daily for so many months, checking on him,
reassuring me... Your dedication and passion to both your profession,
as well as the beautiful animals we are fortunate enough to share the
world with is awe inspiring. Michael, and I are so thankful we have had
the chance to meet you. Never could Ernie have gone to a better home.
Most of all we would like to thank Danny, Charles, and Tony for
financially supporting their horse, and for trusting our decisions, when
so many owners wouldn't have. We wish success for each of you as you
all deserve it. The racing industry would have a much better reputation
if the majority of owners had the duty of care that you all have. You
are three in a million.
Michael & Michelle
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2016 at 2:13pm
Pasture vs Barefoot Trim
OK Folks … Today we’ll start a new little series on the topic of Pasture trim vs. a natural, barefoot trim for horses’ hooves.
Not to start a war and not to disrespect anyone but to help educate
and teach. Because there ARE differences. We’ll go into the individual
differences in this little series.
Most commonly, a pasture trim is one that shortens the hoof all-round
and does so to a flat plane. Shortens the toes, the heels, the soles …
and let’s define ‘shorten’ vs. ‘bring back’ right at the get-go here.
Hooves grow at the approximate rate of about ¼” a month. If the horse
lives on a soft environment that doesn’t afford ‘self trimming’, then
we have to help out the situation with interventional aid. Naturally,
given a varied, natural environment, the hoof doesn’t just ‘shorten the
toes, the heels, the sole’ … nature sculpts, all around, the perfect
hoof on the horse for that individual horse. The hooves will be worn and
grown at a rate that best suits the individual for a healthy hoof that
is both physiologically correct as well as functionally correct.
In other words, as I said, nature ‘sculpts’ the hooves.
Above is
a photo that I copied, printed, and laminated to take with me to my
jobs for years. For inspiration, and reminder of what a beautiful,
functional, healthy hoof SHOULD look like! This hoof belongs to “Imaj
Zamir” who had just completed a 100 mile endurance race –
BAREFOOT! In fact, he earned the Tom Quilty Endurance Ride buckle! He
exhibited no insults to the hooves or legs! Just amazing! Look at the
“sculpting” of that hoof – I see no perfectly flat planes on that hoof …
That hoof has FEEL to it – curves and strength, rounding and beveling
and wholeness. The toes is ‘back’ yet thick; once can see the thick sole
and strong thick walls and heels … Just amazing.
Ironically, for as many years as I’ve trimmed hooves (sculpted
hooves), I was, and still am, pretty good with it but when I took
sculpting in high school … I was HORRIBLE with it! I couldn’t sculpt a
lump of clay or a piece of wood to save my own live. I was horrible.
The end result was just as unrecognizable as the lump with which I
started!
I guess I didn’t listen to the clay or wood closely enough. I learned to listen to hooves, though!
But I digress here … back to the definition of shorter vs. bringing back the toes, etc.
OK .. so nature "sculpts" while shorteningthe
toe means simply that … shortening the toe and mostly, by most
farriers, this is done UNDERNEATH the hoof with a knife, nippers and
rasp; the rasp being a flat-planed tool. The toes are thinned from doing
this -- thus reducing the protective properties as well as the overall
strength of the hoof.
In the above photo we see that the walls have been rasped down to a
flat plane with no beveling at all. The toe has been rasped down (shortened) and the hoof is almost flat.
In the 2nd photo heels have been lowered (shortened) so much that
they’re pink – that means they are very close to the blood source. One
can also see live sole (the yellowy-waxy appearance of the toe callus
area) and the knife is 'digging' into the sole. There is also evidence
of old bleeding in the white line that tell of separation of the white
line and trauma. This is hoof that has been ‘shortened’. Now compare
that to a naturally trimmed hoof: (yes, this is a rear hoof while the
top one is a front hoof. But just take a look at the differences. What
do you see?)
Using a rasp to BRING BACK the toes is doing just that. With the hoof on a stand,
the toe is brought back to an acceptable place that is just shy of
the white line. See how the rasp is held at a 90* angle to the hoof
wall? The toe is then "brought back' to the point where laminae is
'sticking' to the hoof and the entire wall is done this way from heel to
heel (if needed). That is 'bringing the toes back'.
Compare this naturally trimmed hoof to Zamir's hoof above: (the
identifying markers on this photo is showing the natural sole callus as
well as showing the comparison to what the INSIDE of the hoof might look
like)
(Photo from http://www.barefoottrim.com" rel="nofollow - PENZANCE Natural Hoofcare )
So that is one major difference between the pasture trim and the
natural, barefoot trim – toes that are ‘shortened’ vs. toes that are
‘taken back’. Granted, even on pasture trims toes are ‘taken back’ but
from what I’ve seen, not nearly enough to eliminate a long-toed hoof.
And we’ve read how the pasture trim will trim a hoof flat; vs.
‘sculpting’ the hoof to mimic the wear and growth from a natural
environment.
More differences coming up on Friday -- so stay tuned!
And please remember - if you feel you'd like to arrange a consult
about your horses' hooves, please do not hesitate to contact me. I work
with people all across the globe. I can help you and your team of
healthcare providers get your horse in optimal condition - naturally! mailto:gwen.santagate@gmail.com" rel="nofollow - gwen.santagate@gmail.com
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 11:22am
In
the last three months in SE QLD, there have been 13 flat races for pure
bred Arabians, on a variety of tracks - including track ratings of
'heavy', and 'soft with heavy grass cover', and 'hard and pebbly'.
Nearly 70 % of these races have been won by barefoot horses - with their
best winning % being 80% on the 'hard and pebbly' track. All I can say
is: "Let their hooves do the talking."
https://www.facebook.com/blackorlando?fref=ufi" rel="nofollow - Frances Hughes thanks
for the stats - very interesting. do you know what percentage of the
horses running were barefoot? I'm guessing it's not 70%, so
statistically being barefoot gives you a greater likelihood of a win.
https://www.facebook.com/jill.moss.7?fref=ufi" rel="nofollow - Jill Colwell Actually
only 42 % of the runners have been barefoot, but they have won nearly
70 % of the races. The best Arabian racehorse in Australia, Djehlbi was
beaten when he raced plated (narrowly beaten by my barefoot mare Aloha
Desert Jewel), but Djehlbi has won his subsequent two races barefoot - However, there was a bit more to his improved form than removing his shoes.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 2:41pm
Against the odds
Posted on https://nakedhorse.wordpress.com/2016/10/30/against-the-odds/" rel="nofollow -
by Linda Chamberlain
By the age of 10 most race horses will have retired or met with a sticky end.
And yet Zakatal is at the peak of his form; he’s winning races and he’s looking good.
It’s very rare for race goers to notice there is something different
about him. His jockey is reportedly not bothered and a punter once
shouted out – ‘Does it work?’ while Zak was parading in the paddock
before a race.
You see, this handsome grey is barefoot and according to his co-owner David Furman (below) that gives him a fantastic edge.
‘Sometimes
I think about all the other horses and I say, go on, keep shoeing them;
it gives us an advantage. But from a welfare point of view it doesn’t
sit comfortably with me,’ he said.
‘Zak is 10 now and he’s never been better. Most race horses are
broken down by that age and I think shoes have a massive part to play in
that. Once they are barefoot they track up so much better; they are so
much sounder.’
The grey must have a bit of feline in his equine blood because he’s
probably used up a few lives in his short one. He was bought from a
large racing yard by David and his cousin John Sugarman about five years
ago.
‘He was in a proper state and his feet were unbelievable,’ said David.
Horses have long been a passion for David and his wife, Gill, who
live in East Yorkshire and transitioned a couple of other horses to
barefoot before Zak. They were convinced of the benefits and so were in
no doubt that he would improve without shoes.
Zak’s
body was also in need of some TLC and after about a year’s recovery the
owners thought he could return to flat racing. But his trainer at the
time insisted on shoes. David and John acquiesced and were rewarded when
the horse showed promise by coming second in four races.
The sport has a high injury toll though and Zak was injured training
on the gallops. He came home. He became barefoot again and recovered. He
went to another trainer, remained barefoot but didn’t live up to his
earlier promise. David thought to retire him but John didn’t want to
give up.
So they tried Zak with a newly established trainer, Rebecca Menzies,
and he’s proving better than ever. In 10 races he’s won three times and
been placed five.
He’s going to stay barefoot even though the rules bar him from some
race tracks. As a barefooter he is only allowed on all-weather surfaces.
The restriction doesn’t apply to jump racing.
Officials of the racing authorities fear barefoot horses are more liable to slip and flat racing is high speed.
Perhaps they will reconsider such nonsense when there are more horses
like Zak delighting the crowds and winning at such a ‘ripe old age’.
But
interviewing Zak’s owner made me especially curious about his trainer,
Rebecca Menzies (right), who has had a licence for three years and works
from a yard in Co. Durham.
I wanted to know if she had been skeptical taking on a barefoot horse.
She said: ‘I had very little knowledge about the management
techniques to ensure that it was successful. I was very lucky to be able
to spend the day with Mike De Kock in Newmarket (who trains top class
flat horses barefoot) and he showed me a number of examples of hooves at
different stages of transitioning and I learned the importance of very
regular trimming & management. He had a pea gravel horse walker and
several gravel turnout paddocks, his horses feet were like iron and his
system worked brilliantly. MDK is a very clever guy and a massively
successful trainer, he researches everything meticulously and in his
opinion it is much better for horses to be trained without shoes. He
showed me that with a bit of time to transition and some simple changes
to our routine , it would be possible to train a barefoot horse (even
without a treadmill, rubber walkways and a pea gravel walker!).
‘In terms of racing a barefoot horse, the British Horse Racing
Authority are clamping down on the running of horses without shoes. In
their opinion (and the opinion of the Professional Jockeys’ Association)
horses are more likely to slip when raced without shoes. We now have to
apply for clearance to run on turf without shoes & there must be a
veterinary reason why the horse cannot be conventionally shod – this is
why Zakatal has only been allowed to run on the all weather (sand) this
year. The fact that the horse may be sounder, can cope better with
training barefoot etc. are not deemed valid enough reasons by the BHA to
race un-shod.’
And could more horses race without shoes? I asked.
Rebecca has no doubt…’providing the trainers and carers of the horse
are trained properly in barefoot management. We are lucky that David
keeps on top of his feet & he is seen regularly by his trimmer,
Fiona Varian.
‘Zak has won three races for us without shoes and has stayed very
sound throughout a hard season. He’s obviously a very happy horse and
you couldn’t find a better advert for training / racing a horse
barefoot. I am more than happy to run a horse without shoes on the all
weather, however, I would be nervous about running a barefoot horse on
turf. This is not because I think they are more likely to slip, Zakatal
has amazing grip on all surfaces (you could argue better than a shod
horse) but I would be very worried about the consequences should
anything happen. The BHA have made it quite clear that they don’t want
horses running without shoes and I wouldn’t be in a position to fight my
case should anything happen.’
Zak
is treated like all the other horses at the racing yard. He has plenty
of turnout and lots of hay. There are a few stoney paths which he copes
with well, but he mainly trains on an all weather fibres and surface. He
gets physio treatments and has a trim every week.
Rebecca said: ‘I couldn’t be happier with him now he has returned
from his summer holiday! He’s a very enthusiastic horse and quite
obviously loves what he does, I love watching him run and quite often he
is competing against horses who have a lot less miles on the clock.
‘We have plenty of veteran horses (older than ten) and they prove
that if look after them well , they can continue to enjoy the racing
life for many years (and have a lovely life when they retire too !)’
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: djebel
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 2:46pm
Who wrote that ?
------------- reductio ad absurdum
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2016 at 3:23pm
The top of the article says Linda Chamberlain Also 2 interesting ones on Mike De Kock & his minimal use of shoes:
"Interesting case of pedal osteitis in a Thoroughbred horse demonstrating recovery in a short period of time and resolution to bony changes."
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2020 at 8:05am
WORLD FAMOUS RACE HORSE GODOLPHINS FARRIER TALKS ABOUT WHY BAREFOOT IT BEST .
Over the last few years knowledge and research is finally changing opinions and looking at ways forward for the health of horses hooves.
This is Derek Poupard hes is the famous race horse Godolphins farrier.
Derek has lived and worked all over the world shoeing and trimming the best of the best in racing.
In this video he briefly explains the absolute importance of barefoot for horses and why shoeing degrades the hoof causing blood flow issues , atrophy , and inner bone tissue damage when shoes are constantly worn .
He explains how daily environment and surfaces is so important to the hoof health.
He talks about how a detachable shoe for horses that can be removed after training or riding is an essential step forward in the future of horses hoof health.
And tells us how they are currently working on this for the industry.
The video clip is only a few minutes long
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 12:39pm
So very true in every respect
Horse lameness in the equine world is on the rise - remedial shoeing is NOT working!
Once upon a time...really not that long ago, horses worked hard on the land and were the main form of transport, went into war and fought battles...
...in fact humans heavily relied on them to survive.
Horses went lame of course they did, but these animals were a precious commodity and their owners needed to keep them as sound as possible.
Many couldnt just swap them for another, if the one they had became unable to work through lameness.
Most working horses were shod, farriers were worth their weight in gold.
BUT farriers and owners knew that giving a horse a REST from shoes at some point during their working year would help those horses have a longer working life.
Today most owners dont rely on their horses to work and earn them money.
Today most horses are used for pleasure and their work load is no comparison to those horses years ago...but today horses are getting lamer and sicker...why?
WHY?
Well today horses are kept, managed and fed DIFFERENTLY.
The domestic horse is facing its biggest threat yet...IGNORANCE.
Here are some of the common modern practices today:
- shoeing back to back (more and more on all four), with no rest, for the horses entire life, even into retirement
- remedial shoeing is on a steep rise, in a desperate fruitless attempt to stem the flow of equine lameness...even to the point of it now being used as a preventative
- 100s of 1000s tonnes of equine feed are sold every year globally and feed companies bank accounts are getting fatter and fatter, and so are the horses they purport to healthily feed
- the livery yard or horse barn, is on the rise, profitable businesses for farmers taking the opportunity to diversify into a market they see great opportunity in
- horses are spending longer and longer in stables, isolated in paddocks, away from other members of their species, in many cases not even allowed to go in touching distance of another horse
- owners are learning how to keep their horses from their peers at their facility, theyve stopped reading books, they are swayed by feed companies, and are generally completely lost if anything goes wrong with their horse...
...then their bank balances start to get slimmer and slimmer!
In response to this increase in equine lameness and sickness, the number of equine vets is also rising, its a very profitable business to get into nowadays.
We have no doubt whatsoever that the majority of equine vets really do want to help the horses they are paid to help.
BUT why arent they becoming more PREVENTATIVE rather than REACTIVE?
Never before have we had, or indeed needed, so many equine professionals to help our horses get better or last longer.
But its just NOT working!
Farriers, vets, body workers, see lameness and sickness as part of their everyday job.
LAME and SICK horses are a daily part of their job!
Many of the old timers have gone now, and with them their vital knowledge.
What is left is a DIFFERENT ethic, one geared around money rather than health.
This epidemic of lameness and sickness simply cant go on.
Some owners are WAKING UP, reading books, finding alternative groups to join on social media, following their instincts, not listening to their peers at their traditional facility, moving away from the mainstream and finding a better healthier way of looking after their horses...and it works.
When things get really bad, you can do one of two things...let that bad thing continue, use the same techniques (albeit in different guises)or change it, find a better alternative.
Now more than ever before the equine world is seeing a huge wave of owners voting with their horses bare feet and saying STOP!
Stop lameness.
Stop sickness.
Stop ignorance.
Barefoot is NOT just for some horses, its for every single horse out there...but many of the owners of those horses are not ready to take the time it takes to find out how going barefoot can help their horse, theyre still stuck hard in their traditional ways, being taught and helped by those with a very big vested interest in lameness.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 7:08pm
Wow! Even some big stables are finally getting the message
Despite a busy but stellar three-year-old campaign, which would see
Explosive Jack go to the races nine times in five states for three Derby
wins, Maher has full confidence in the veritable workhorse.
Hes a big four-year-old horse that needs work, Maher said.
He
needed work when he was a three-year-old and thrived, horses like that
the main thing is their feet, being a big horse, so we got the shoes off
him.
He trained basically for two months with no shoes on so
did the Dragon, I was able to give his feet a rest and he seems very
good now.
Hell aim to be hitting his straps into the Caulfield Cup and onto the Melbourne Cup.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Carioca
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 7:46pm
Surely they would spell them shoeless as well ?
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 7:57pm
I don't think Maher/Eustace spell their older ones Carioca.
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Carioca
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 8:37pm
Ok mate, ta.
Posted By: Magnolian Khan
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2021 at 9:17pm
Maher ships them around his various properties, Fingal (beach) Ballarat, Cranbourne, Cavallino (equestrian), they hardly go to the paddock.
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2022 at 12:39pm
https://postimages.org/" rel="nofollow">
https://www.facebook.com/equineosteonz/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZWdzx00KNo-Co5rFDaERFRDGEhXbEzlghIgLPxA6iw7da9JtFehMAymHPeAtk1SdiOcP16hZ7wNs2Arlh9gQH7Mq_35dlc9i4IsfOL5PhFzUgMVG-x6WNH4XYCFbL71kFVLYghiYPPfe0goRs8EGPhkanpged1Ww0bit9FwE9ciN6sIvNQ7ni9FifObBDU6YFCmycbxhtcwHeKjjy9tMUtr&__tn__=-UC%2CP-y-R" rel="nofollow - - Jo Stutton Equine Osteopath
Just a quick post before I launch into my human clinic.... I’ve seen some recent cases of BAD farrier work causing badly contracted heels, navicular issues, tendon damage etc. With all these horses I was called out due to soreness or lameness often in the hind limb and lumbar spine.
If the horse has contracted heels and heel pain it will be altering not only his daily standing posture but also how he is able to move, shock absorb and use himself in work. It’s no wonder there will be tenderness in the back, hamstrings, stifles etc, nor knock on effects in the shoulders, neck and forelimbs as he attempts to redistribute his weight and ease the pain in his poor feet. If allowed to continue for too long Navicular changes, arthritic changes and spinal changes can occur.
Understanding basic foot health- being it shod or barefoot, is part of the basic pre requisite of being a horse owner. Ditto a basic understanding of saddle/gear fit, basic horse first aid, nutrition etc. We don’t all need to be experts in every field but I strongly believe there should be a basic competent level of understanding of what is right and not right. And there is NOTHING wrong with asking for help or second opinions...
I can do all the body work in the world and give all the rehab exercises in the world, but if the horses feet are terrible, their body and symptom picture will never improve. Thankfully there are MANY great farriers in this country who are more than able to remedy the situation and should be able to give you ideas on ongoing hoof care etc. And this is not a barefoot vs shod debate, I’ve seen bad in both areas and great in both!
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Posted By: Gay3
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2022 at 10:08am
I saw a pic of Melody Belle + foal, at Yulong, fronts already splaying dreadfully yet another likely to succumb to the preventable but dreaded laminitis, with all the abounding greenery https://www.facebook.com/davidlandreville.onthevertical?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZW6YnrFsrZaOlJPjsVAZzaFkqhHYmwOjKvGowofTssJJPAvMCZmAD8gKZbD7WAezBtzf7uT3p69jVTQLn9dBc_xhSyZXHu1weJbuq86BDCrH4UiY8-s07i97Vwowhsda6WMifpdD4ObIFovK_Add0aHMzq0PRJZd1Lr4pyCEP1gO1ofauuwyrN7DXvPz8dXtJc&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R" rel="nofollow -
https://www.facebook.com/davidlandreville.onthevertical?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZW6YnrFsrZaOlJPjsVAZzaFkqhHYmwOjKvGowofTssJJPAvMCZmAD8gKZbD7WAezBtzf7uT3p69jVTQLn9dBc_xhSyZXHu1weJbuq86BDCrH4UiY8-s07i97Vwowhsda6WMifpdD4ObIFovK_Add0aHMzq0PRJZd1Lr4pyCEP1gO1ofauuwyrN7DXvPz8dXtJc&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R" rel="nofollow - David Landreville- On the Vertical
11 year old mare. Pulled shoes, set up to go bare. I see this almost every time I pull shoes from a horse that has only been shod on the fronts.
https://postimages.org/" rel="nofollow">
------------- Wisdom has been chasing me but I've always outrun it!
Well written post Nic. In the end of the day there is a whole industry out there that will ignore the welfare and health arguments to protect itself until it's dying breath and horses will continue to have this medieval treatment for another generation at least. It's up to owners to question everything done to their horses and they have to really take responsibility - in both trimming and shoeing - and not abdicate critical thinking and accountability to the farrier or trimmer or the vet for that matter.
Long time silent reader from the USA here. I do endurance over here and my mare is barefoot with excellent feet and does very well over all types of terrain. I get a *ton* of sideways glances, downright nasty comments, and questions over my choice to leave my mare bare. In fact I had one person accuse me of abuse due to my insistence of leaving her bare. Sigh. It is so inbred into the industry that horses need metal shoes. I really hope it changes soon as many ride managers over here are now mandating hoof protection to enter the ride.
Bruce, I am with you 150% on this - owners are the only people who will make a long term, significant difference.
Sara, thanks for your comments and so sorry you've had such negative feedback with your mare. I can only hope that you and other riders can educate those who run your rides.
Any size horse? Please advise on length of time to be comfortable from transition of shoes to barefoot... Also...a horse with navicular.... Can they be better off barefoot... Thanks
Very well summarized and argumented! Here one - until now silent - reader of yours from Finland which still don't have balls to share it among ppl here (I guess still more than 90% are shod, it's getting better but slowly...). Last year, one horse magazine even published an article where one farrier explained that keeping a working horse barefoot here (rough rocky roads) is on verge of animal abuse.
The problem here is, except of traditional believes like "a working horse can't survive without shoes" & "the hooves will wear away", lacking knowledge how to do it right and pain-free. Me and my first horse were stumbling, unsure what's wrong, too. I guess now she was sensitive on rocks/hard ground because she's sugar sensitive and was on fulltime pasture that summer. But I wish I knew then! I didn't understand how important diet is. I had previous experience with barefoot horses but for some reasons they didn't have any of the problems I came across with my mare. They were without any issues most of the time and no special attention to their diet so I was so stressed at times not knowing what's exactly wrong with my mare and what to do about it (there wasn't only one problem and one source of problems is arthrosis (not inside of hooves but higher)). Sure, the Internet is neverending source of information but it's hard to know what to believe etc.
I'd like to ask - a good book about horse diet? I bought your book but I've found it too brief in that matter but I don't know any good book - could you recommend something (English is okay)? Here I borrowed one very popular and highly appreciated and haven't really read it yet but I couldn't agree on some things I came across there... F.e. they assume you shoe your horse - so you don't notice possible grass sensitivity; other thing - they consider normal to feed grains even to horses in light work (only not-working horses can manage on hay diet without any other source of energy) and I got an impression that in their opinion horses needs tons of sugar. Of course they keep quality hay as a cornerstone of diet but on a top of that they MUST get something more, and sugary things are preferred in general (of course they mention there needs to be a balance between energies and the exception of laminitic horses)...
Maybe I'm wrong and judge the book too harshly but it definitely doesn't suit my purpose. Well, also my horses do get not only hay but in very limited quantities and low in sugar (it's beet pulp, to be exact, and it's a way less than the lowest limit stated per day on the package, and they still have enough energy, I would say even too much! :D).
But I'd need to know more about diet suitable for barefoot horses which is low in sugar, more exact info about minerals and vitamins and their role and sources... Thank you!
I hate shoes have 5 horses 4 barefoot and none look totally comfortable:(
One now has shoes so I can ride him I struggled for 2 years I kept his diet as advised, they had ad lib hay not much grass just older meadows that wasn't rich,
My problem as I have a concrete yard and 24/7 access to stables with open doors, his feet wore down to quick, he wore boots for riding out in, but he always looked sore,
So how can you ride out and keep the sole from touching the floor as feet have worn down too quick.
I am so disappointed he has shoes on, but he is sound now and looks comfortable
We have Tarmac and horrid gritty forest tracks here, very little grass to ride on.