Your horse is lame, but with no obvious signs of injury to the leg, so you call your farrier in to look him over. The farrier asks you on the phone when you make the appointment whether the lameness...
It’s mud, mud everywhere this time of year. While horse owners welcome with open arms the warmth of spring after a long winter, the oscillating temperatures and crazy mix of precipitation can make the most stoic of us wish...
If you are considering pulling your horse’s shoes and trying the barefoot approach, it’s important to educate yourself on this method of horse-keeping. Your farrier, and your horse’s daily care and diet, will likely change.The idea of keeping a...
Some horses are blessed with good, strong feet. While their owners can thank their lucky stars, others have horses with less-than-stellar hooves and know the problems that can bring.What steps can you take to get the best hooves...
For horse owners in colder locales, keeping horses safe while snow and ice blanket the ground can be a tricky situation. Whether you ride outside year-round or you just want to make sure your horses can be turned out...
It’s rampant and insidious, and sometimes invisible. It can destroy a hoof from the inside out, causing a horse to become inexplicably lame.This treacherous villain is thrush, a combination of bacteria and fungi that feeds on your horse’s frogs,...
There’s no question—you’ve put a lot of time into your horsey homework. You’ve selected the proper grooming tools, studied appropriate feeding schedules, and spent hours researching vaccinations and deworming programs—all with the purpose of giving your horse a healthy...
How many times has your evening ride been postponed due to a lost shoe? Before you get angry with your farrier, check out these common misconceptions behind the infamous lost shoe.
My farrier didn’t do a good job and...
Q: I have a 22-year-old Quarter Horse that recently experienced his first bout of laminitis. What are some key diet points to consider as he recovers from this episode and prevent relapses?A: First of all, I’m sorry to hear...
Humans have been nailing shoes to the bottom of horses’ hooves for centuries. In Europe, cast bronze shoes were common by about 1000 AD.While barefoot is the most natural condition and is recommended whenever possible, horses often need the...
