Recent News for Hoof Care and Balance
Article
Barefoot vs. Shod
August 01, 2008
This point/counterpoint discusses the controversial issue of whether horses need to wear shoes. Back in 2002, Tufts University hosted a seminar for farriers and veterinarians to review the barefoot hoof care methods devise... Read More
Article
Hoof Care: Addressing the Individual
August 01, 2008
We have greatly altered the lifestyle of our domesticated horses. These changes have had some negative impacts on the horse, one example of which is the health and quality of the hoof capsule. The majority of the equine population is overweight,... Read More
Article
Kentucky Racing Group Approves Toe Grab Horseshoe Ban
July 15, 2008
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission July 14 unanimously approved regulations that would prohibit the use of horseshoes with toe grabs on front feet of horses racing in the state. The regulation, which still must go through a public comment... Read More
Article
Vibram Hoof Pads
July 03, 2008
Vibram Hoof Pads are made using a unique process that bonds two layers of resilient Vibram rubber together. Each layer plays a different role in absorbing and distributing the shock that the hoof experiences on impact.... Read More
Article
Inside the Laminitic Foot
July 01, 2008
Learn how equine podiatrists assess, treat, and monitor laminitis. Laminitis is a terrifying mystery to many horse owners, in part because in the early stages a horse with tremendous damage can look and act much like a mil... Read More
Article
Readers Respond: Tip Toes
June 26, 2008
Almost 1,500 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "What management methods does your hoof care professional use?" <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=210 align=right... Read More
Article
Photo Series Shows Big Brown's Belmont Shoe Trouble
June 24, 2008
Each day brings new entries in the "Brown Shoe Diaries." The latest photos from the Belmont Stakes reveal Big Brown was stepped on by Guadalcanal leaving the gate, and that the shoe did not re-set itself during the race as previously thought; th... Read More
Article
Managing Acute and Chronic Laminitis
June 01, 2008
Belknap (who co-hosted TheHorse.com's Webinar on Understanding Laminitis) said the latest research points to laminitis as an intense inflammatory injury of the foot, and it is no longer believed to be solely a blood flow problem.... Read More
Article
Big Brown's Hoof Shows Improvement
May 27, 2008
Ian McKinlay, the farrier who has been treating Big Brown's quarter crack, said Monday morning the colt's left front foot has shown improvement and he and trainer Rick Dutrow remain confident the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will not be... Read More
Article
Big Brown Returns to Track
May 27, 2008
Big Brown was back on the track a day earlier than expected, and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said he looks as good as ever--maybe even better. The Triple Crown hopeful went out for a 1 1/2-mile jog around Belmont Park on a rainy Tuesday morning... Read More
Article
Big Brown's Feet Not So Bad, Farriers Say
May 16, 2008
(PHOTOS/VIDEO) Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown clearly owns some of the Thoroughbred industry's fastest feet. But many question their soundness, fueled by reports of layoffs, quarter cracks, and special shoes. His current farriers Tom Curl and Ian... Read More
Article
AAEP Including Farrier Session at 2008 Convention
May 01, 2008
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will be offering a day of educational programming on farriery as part of its annual convention, which will take place in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 6-10, 2008. Topics will include an... Read More
Article
Inside the Club Foot
May 01, 2008
A large majority of horses, regardless of breed, have a high-low foot syndrome where one front foot has a higher angle and different shape than the other. A close look at the characteristics of the high foot qualifies it as a club foot.... Read More
Article
Wooden Shoes for Chronic Laminitis
April 23, 2008
The chronically laminitic horse is often a very tough case to manage because displacement of the coffin bone within the foot leads to a lot of pain and damage, in addition to the damage that allowed the displacement in the first place.... Read More
Article
Study: Farrier Selection Impacts More Than Hoof Shape
March 21, 2008
Choice of farrier might have a significant influence not only on the shape of a horse's hoof, but its soundness and athletic ability, according to research carried out by veterinarians in Switzerland. Forty dressage and show jumping horses, divided ... Read More
Article
HSUS Offering Reward for Information on Horse Soring
March 19, 2008
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will offer a reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any violator of Tennessee's horse soring law, which prohibits the deliberate infliction of pain to horses' feet an... Read More
Article
Biotin: Does it Work?
March 01, 2008
Here's what we know about the efficacy of this popular hoof supplement. Conditions such as chronic laminitis, cracked... Read More
Article
Healthy Hooves, Inside and Out
March 01, 2008
Horse hooves aren't created equal, which can make it hard to understand the healthy foot's form and function.... Read More
Article
Thwarting Thrush
February 01, 2008
Thrush is an infection of the horse's frog. Bacteria invade the frog tissue adjacent to the sulci (the grooves on either side of the frog) and produce an offensive odor and a black discharge. If the infection progresses long enough, sensitive tissue ... Read More
Article
Landmarks for Evaluating, Trimming, and Shoeing the Equine Foot
December 19, 2007
From many horse owners' point of view, the farrier's profession throws out a lot of confusing terms and directives when it comes to balancing a foot. Fit the shoe full? Trim to the widest point of the frog? Use a four-point trim? These nebulous... Read More
Article
Simple Steps to Keeping Your Horse's Hooves Healthy
November 15, 2007
Rather than waiting until there's a problem with your horse's feet, take time now to protect and maintain these valuable structures inside and out. Step one is understanding the subject so you can communicate knowledgeably with your... Read More
Article
Shoeless and Satisfied
September 01, 2007
I must take exception to comments by Stephen E. O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, in "Barefoot vs. Shod: An Equine Podiatrist's Perspective" online at www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9796. Nail... Read More
Article
Barefoot versus Shod Discussed
July 25, 2007
If hoof structures are poorly developed, then they will be less capable of going barefoot and, even when shod, not as ready for withstanding continuous training. To avoid sore feet, the quality of the trimming and shoeing and interval between shoeing... Read More
Article
Barefoot vs. Shod: An Equine Podiatrist's Perspective
June 18, 2007
I am often asked about leaving horses barefoot. I must say from the onset that I favor horses being maintained without shoes when possible. Whether or not it is feasible for a horse to go without shoes will depend on the owner's situation and... Read More
Article
Strategies for Improving Vet-Client-Farrier Relations
May 01, 2007
When a horse has a foot problem, effective communication bewteen farrier, vet, and owner is key.... Read More
