Integrative Equine

05/15/2024

An interesting read. I have been letting my living forages grow, for a few reasons, but one thing I have come to believe is that the older the grasses, the better for the horses.

10/27/2023

Transitioning to barefoot is hard, but not impossible. Environment and movement are two main factors in successful transitions.

Q: Our horses have been barefoot since last winter. They are still ouchy on rocks! We use hoof boots on rocky ground, but I want to know how long this barefoot transition will take.

A: An important thing to keep in mind is that the hooves adapt to whatever situation they are exposed to most of the day. So when they were shod, they adapted to the shoes. Now they are bare, but what do they live on most of the day? That is what they will adapt to. So if they live on soft grass or soft dirt, then you take then out once a week on rocky terrain, they can't possibly adapt to that.

In general, if you want to ride on rocky terrain, they really have to live on rocky terrain (once the hooves are healthy, of course). Many people will put areas of pea gravel in their horses' pasture, so they can be exposed to some rock. Pea gravel is actually very good for their feet, and very comfortable for them. Serious trail riders will create a natural habitat for their horses consisting of a variety of surfaces to help condition the feet for varied terrain. Riding an hour daily over varied terrain can also help, though it still can't substitute for the other 23 hours a day. But if it is not possible for you to change their living situation, the answer is what you are already doing - boots for rocky ground.

As far as how long it takes a horse to transition from shod to barefoot, it all depends on where you begin. If the hooves are not that badly deformed from wearing the shoes, if they are still naturally shaped, then the transition will be quick. If the hooves have greatly changed into an unnatural shape, the transition will take many years. Some horses will never be able to regain a truly natural shape, because too much damage happened (including permanent coffin bone damage), but they can still be healthier and comfortable, and their hooves will slowly improve over time. You can imagine, if a horse was shod for 10 years, and his hooves slowly changed over that decade - to "undo" the changes might take about the same amount of time.

Join us on Hoof Help Online, where you can find friendly, positive help with your horse's barefoot transition, learn how to trim hooves safely with a detailed barefoot trimming course, study gigantic libraries filled with barefoot horse information, and enjoy the company of like-minded people. Direct link under our page's featured section, or just add the normal dot com to HoofHelpOnline... Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

10/19/2023

10/03/2023

Any of my clients looking to learn a bit more about hoof care, this is a great opportunity!!

Learn all the things! Clinic running at Heroncrest in Smiths falls November 3-5. Sign up here!
https://forms.gle/21LSTRPjeoBevird6

08/17/2023

I have a couple of young horses, and the longer I wait, the happier I am, as I find more and more things supporting the waiting. I’m in no rush.

This is why it is so important not to ride your horse to young. The 'cracks' you see above and below the joints of the bone are bones that have not 'sealed' yet. This sealing starts between 3 to 5 years old....Everyone should be aware of over training /over jumping / over schooling the adolescent horse under 5 years of age - The surface area of a hoof absorbs the equivalent of 1000lb per square inch of concussive pressure every time your horse lands - This combined with over working an unfit unmuscled horse or at a young age leads to the numerous cases of joint degeneration, navicular pedalastitis, fused and kissing spines, hock damage that are so prevalent at the moment - So before you all rush off to JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER on your incredibly young green and unmuscled horse consider this.............If you care as much about or horse as you claim if you truly love your horse and want it to remain fit and healthy and in your care for life then formulate an incremental gadget free training plan work your horse on a good surface feed him well and care for his joints - the competitions can wait another year - abuse your horse too early and he will not see the year out without nerve blocks and infiltrations - Your horse deserves the best care and you deserve the best horse so train him .

08/05/2023

08/03/2023

Always learning

05/17/2023

Anyone interested in learning to trim!!

05/02/2023

For those concerned about the spring grasses and any potential acute laminitis flare ups!

A C T I V A T E D C H A R C O A L

What is activated charcoal and why should every horse owner have some to hand?

Activated charcoal is made from substances containing a large amount of carbon. Wood, peat and coconut shells for example. It is heated under high temperatures and oxidises to create the 'activation'. In simplistic terms, what this does is to create lots of small pores on the surface of the charcoal which makes it very absorptive (it is believed that one teaspoon of activated charcoal has a surface area of over 7000m2!)

How does it work?

Activated charcoal works by absorbing compounds into the small pores on it's surface. Used in the gut (it has not been proven to be beneficial outside of the gut when consumed) it can absorb poisons and toxins. The charcoal then passes through the gut and takes away those compounds with it.

What is it used for?

In horses, veterinarians may use activated charcoal to help with illnesses such as acorn toxicosis and colic.
The main reason I want to address its use though, is for its potential to help stop or lessen a laminitis attack (when used straight away).

In my profession as a barefoot trimmer and also running a track system, I often hear from worried owners who have horses that have escaped onto lush grass. If this escape has been recent, part of the response should be a correct dosage of activated charcoal (see manufacturers instructions for detail as it may vary product to product).

When higher levels of sugars and starches (such as from sugary grasses or cereal) overflow into the hindgut rather than being digested and absorbed by the time they reach the small intestine, this will have a knock-on effect in the caecum and colon. The bacteria in a horse's gut will then produce a higher level of lactic acid than they do when digesting fibre (an issue called hindgut acidosis). This acid starts to kill the gut bacteria which release toxins as they die. Those toxins then pass into the bloodstream and can cause severe, acute laminitis.

It is important to act quickly if your horse has consumed an amount of high sugar or starch feed as activated charcoal needs to be given before any toxin has been absorbed into the bloodstream. This means don't wait to see signs of laminitis because at that point, the toxins have already travelled to the blood and the damage is already being done. It takes around an hour for food to be digested by the small intestine and then a further 10 hours in the caecum so waiting longer than that to administer is not advised.

When shouldn't it be used?

Activated charcoal can absorb certain medications so it is important to check this before administering it as it may stop important medication from working.
Long term use hasn't been fully studied but it is believed that it can cause gastrointestinal upset if used over a long period of time.
It can also bind with beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin C so again, used long term, may deprive your horse of vital nutrients in its diet.

It is important not to use activated charcoal as a 'crutch' to enable grass turnout in a susceptible or compromised horse.

It is also important to ALWAYS consult your vet with serious concerns. They are able to deliver activated charcoal by nasogastric tubes which will help them reach the area they are needed more swiftly if required and should be consulted in general for health concerns.

That being said, it is something I ALWAYS have in my horsey 'cupboard of tricks' just in case. Very useful to have at hand at all times.
Most tack shops carry activated charcoal or it can be ordered easily online, it is readily available.

©️ L. Johnson/Graveney Equine 2023