TrailBlazer Magazine recently ran an article in it's September 2008 magazine "The Ultimate Guide to Trail Horse Health. 101 One Hundred Plus One Tidbits of Knowledge". This article addressed: Equine Skin Care, Fighting Disease, Vet Exam, Parasite Control, Vital Signs, Equine Eye, Metabolic Problems, Horse Nutrition, Hoof Care and Dental Health. Each of these topics addressed the top ten things in this area of the Horse's Health. This article was written by Wendy Lumbert.
Here at EasyCare Inc, we were of course drawn to the Top Ten Things about Hoof Health, and what Wendy had to say about these ten ways to ensure you get better hoof health.
1st -- Diet. "You are what you eat" goes hand in hand with your horse's overall health and this includes their hoof health.
2nd -- Trimming and Maintenance. A regular trim even in the winter will help keep hooves in shape and come spring, you are back on the trails again without hoof problems.
3rd -- Intelligent Hoof Care. Monitor your horse's hooves to make sure that the trimming is being done correctly. Watch for underrun heels or long toes. These can take months or years to correct. Change farriers if you find that the trims are not being properly done. Use our handy Hoof Care Provider link to find one near you.
4th -- Their Footing (Terrain). Constant wet or soggy ground will 100% guarantee that they will develop hoof problems. Correct their terrain as much as possible. Read this great blog on " How to Keep your Barefoot Horses Sound".
5th -- Grooming. Keep the hooves picked out daily. Not only will this let you know
what kind of shape the hooves are in but also prevent stone bruises and find thrush or white line disease early. Check out our magnetized hoof pick that will make it convenient for you to do this task every day.
6th -- Leave room for expansion. If you use metal shoes, make sure that they are not tight and make sure the ends of the shoes are to the end of the hoof. If the shoes are too far towards the frog, this can lead to contracted heels. Hoof boots allow for expansion and flexibility.
7th -- Use Hoof Pads or hoof protective products. There are boots and pads like our EasyCare Comfort Pads that will ensure pressure on the frogs and keep them healthy.
8th -- Use appropriate Hoof Coverings. A horse with great feet maybe able to go barefoot almost all the time and just use hoof boots for that occasional ride. Do what is appropriate and keeps your horse's feet in good condition. We can always help you determine which boot would be appropriate for you. You can contact us at any time.
9th -- Keep Feet at proper moisture levels. if your horse's hooves are too dry and your farrier has to take out super-sized nippers, try overflowing the water troughs a little or even use an EasySoaker. Soaking the hooves on trimming day will make it easier for the farrier.
10th -- Address any problem quickly. If you are out riding and hear the clink clink of a loose shoe, take care of it as soon as you possibly can. Learn how to pull the shoes yourself and put on the hoof boot. The Easyboot has been called the "Spare Tire" for years.
Of course you need to get the September 2008 issue of TrailBlazer magazine to be able to read this whole article.
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