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Latest News/Articles
  • 2012 International Hoof Care Summit Set for Jan. 31-Feb. 3 |  12/31/2011
    The summit will offer 68 hours of hoof care education focused around the theme "Zeroing in on Soundness."...  Read more
  • How to Manage a Quarter Crack in Equine Hooves |  3/17/2011
    Lameness caused by quarter cracks is a nemesis of horses and owners, and treatment is often a complex and time-consuming process. At the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md., Steve O'Grady, BVSc, MRCVS, of Northern Virginia Equine, in Marshall, discussed the importance of these injuries and how, with exception of traumatic injury cases, it's...  Read more
  • Hoof Cracks, Wounds, and More Discussed at Farrier Session (AAEP 2010) |  2/12/2011
    "No foot, no horse" is perhaps the most used and still the most true statement there is in horse care. A horse is generally worthless without functional feet, which is why the American Association of Equine Practitioners devoted a complete day during the 2010 convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) to farriery topics and the working relationship between veterinarians and farriers....  Read more
  • TheHorse.com Presents Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Common Hoof Problems |  8/14/2010
    Thrush, underrun heels, hoof cracks, shelly feet, and laminitis, oh my! Today's horses can face many common hoof problems, whether the animals are pasture pets or high-level competition horses. Join us on Monday, August 16, from 8-9 p.m. Eastern U.S. time for our Ask the Vet Live Q&A chat event on Common Hoof Problems....  Read more
  • Hoof Wall Separations and Quarter Cracks |  5/5/2009
    What causes these structural failures? Old scars at the coronary band, genetically weak feet, too much sole pressure, poor hoof balance, and/or lots of trauma to poor-quality hooves can contribute to abscesses that cause pain and undermine foot integrity....  Read more
  • Quality Road Quarter Crack Patched, Derby Decision Coming  |  4/27/2009
    Quality Road, a contender for the Kentucky Derby, returned from a mile and three-quarter gallop on the Belmont Park training track April 26 with a tinge of blood from a newly-patched quarter crack, but his connections remain optimistic he will make the May 2 "Run for the Roses." A five-furlong breeze Monday morning will be the determining factor on whether the Elusive Quality colt makes...  Read more
  • Quarter Crack Takes Quality Road Out of Derby Contention |  4/27/2009
    Quality Road, who figured to be among the top choices for Saturday's Kentucky Derby will not start in the Run for the Roses, it was confirmed Monday morning by Chris Baker, farm manager of Edward Evans' Spring Hill Farm. "There was some tenderness in the foot this morning and he's not 100%. (Trainer) Jimmy (Jerkens) wasn't comfortable breezing him, and without a work, he can't go," Baker...  Read more
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Featured Articles
  • Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A: Common Hoof Problems Archive Now Available at TheHorse.com |  8/18/2010
    TheHorse.com's free Ask the Vet LIVE Q&A chat on common hoof problems was held on Aug. 16, and the audio recording is now available! Thrush, underrun heels, hoof cracks, shelly feet, and laminitis, oh my! Today's horses can face many common hoof problems, whether the animals are pasture pets or high-level competition horses....  Read more
  • Brushing Up on Thrush in Horses |  8/1/2010
    Autumn is just around the corner and, for many areas of the country, that means the onset of wet weather, a reduction in riding, and more stall time for horses. All of which could mean an uptick in the risk of your horse developing thrush--that gunky, smelly, black discharge oozing from the bottom of his hoof....  Read more
  • Correcting Shelly Feet |  3/1/2007
    Shelly, crumbly feet can be a challenge for horses and their owners. The feet break down too readily if the horse is barefoot, and they are unable to hold nails if he's shod. In this article we'll look at several causes and potential treatments for shelly feet. Mitch Taylor, an American Farrier's Association (AFA) Certified Journeyman Farrier and director of the Kentucky Horseshoeing School...  Read more
  • Hoof Cracks: Causes and Repair |  5/1/2006
    While many hoof cracks are minor, repairing one should be considered when the horse is lame, the crack is infected, or the damage is extensive enough that lameness is likely to result....  Read more
  • Managing Hoof Problems in Horses |  6/1/2004
    Just about every horse out there has what we might call a hoof problem on at least one of his four feet. It might be a simple mismatch that might not really be a problem, or it might be much more serious. In any case, hoof problems, regardless of scope, need to be managed properly to maximize the horse's soundness, comfort, and usefulness to you. The challenge is five-fold, according to...  Read more
  • Managing Thin, Shelly Feet |  3/1/2004
    Poor genetics, environment, nutrition, and foot care are the main causes of thin, shelly feet according to Ken Marcella, DVM, and farrier Jaye Perry. Marcella co-owns Chattahoochee Equine in Canton, Ga., and Perry, a farrier based in Cumming, Ga., has a large clientele of hunter-jumper and endurance horses as well as pleasure horses. Both men have practices all over the United States, with...  Read more
  • Healing Hoof Cracks  |  12/1/2002
    Hoof cracks are a common occurrence in the feet of many domesticated horses, and they can range in severity from a minor blemish to a cause of serious lameness. Causative factors can vary widely, ranging from injury to imbalance of the foot. Generally speaking, minor hoof cracks are of little concern to the owner, farrier, and veterinarian, while serious cracks can compromise the horse's...  Read more
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