A horse that over-reaches grabs the heels of his front feet with the toes of his hind feet. Often, a horse is predisposed to over-reaching due to a compact build and disproportionately long legs. Performance horses are also in...
When a horse won’t tolerate having his foot picked up, it’s not some quirky behavioral issue that you should learn to live with. For the horse’s own safety and his general well being, and the sanity of your farrier,...
Q. If I suspect that my horse has a hoof abscess, what first-aid protocol should I follow while waiting for the veterinarian to arrive?A. Usually, horses with hoof abscesses are severely lame, meaning lame at a walk (grade 4...
If you suspect that laminitis (or founder, as it is known in layman’s terms) is to blame for your horse’s sudden lameness, call your veterinarian immediately. Then, follow this first-aid protocol while waiting for the vet’s arrival. As you...
Before choosing a farrier, make sure he or she has the professional knowledge to do the job. Check references, investigate education/training and ask about professional association membership.In addition to professional knowledge and skill, your relationship with your farrier is...
Riding in the snow can present shoeing challenges. What shoes, if any, you choose for your horse is a decision made with your farrier. But if you’re looking at options, consider these tips from Dallas Morgan, a Certified Journeyman...
When veterinarians evaluate horses for lameness, they usually provide the owners with written descriptions of what they observe. For example, “Lame at trot, left fore, +3 ... ,” is what you might find scrawled in a vet’s notes. While...
According to an IDEXX Laboratories survey of more than 2,000 horse owners and trainers regarding equine lameness, joint pain is plaguing our horses. Here’s what respondents said:• Approximately 50 percent revealed that their horses suffer from some form of lameness.• More...
You’ve decided to let your horse go barefoot but are receiving conflicting advice on how to best manage him. You thought you could just have the shoes pulled and let your horse go, save for the occasional trimming.
But some...
Like a bike with a flat tire or a tennis racket with a broken string, a horse with poor hooves has limited usefulness. But how to keep a horse’s hooves in their best condition is an often discussed and...
