"Bare Your Sole" Natural Hoof Care

05/24/2022

I've trimmed a handful of laminitic ponies in the last week already!

Hoofcare is a funny job where just when you feel like the feet on your books are doing fantastic, something silly like spring grass can sneak in there and make you question your career 😂

But on a more serious note - this last week the horses that I see on a tight diet and no access to lush pasture have had the same solid feet I know and love. But a lot of the horses I have been coming to that are eating fresh spring grass all day have been popping up with a host of issues - whether it's as "innocent" as some white line separation, crumbling walls or hoof sensitivity on stones all of the sudden, or as serious as abscesses or outright laminitis.

Please keep an eye on your horses right now - especially your "easy keepers"... The sugar in the grass might be affecting them more than you realize, and a lot of us are starting to see the consequences in the hooves...

Consider pulling horses off grass if you are seeing hoof issues start, or only grazing in early morning hours when the sugar is lowest. Make sure that the rest of your diet is tightly balanced, with good levels of copper, zinc, magnesium, and salt, to help with healthy hoof wall and laminae connection. For more information on how to safely graze your horse, check out safergrass.org. If your horse is having laminitic issues, please join the ECIR forum online at ecirhorse.org!

03/28/2022

Once, a client remarked how good their horse was standing for me because she had bit and kicked the last farrier. I was on the third hoof.

Once, a client told me their horse had "gone through a few farriers." Another farrier told me later that horse kicked their tools halfway down the barn aisle.

Once, I finished trimming and the owner said "wow, I didn't want to tell you this until we were done, but he kicks."

Once, I had a horse kick out while I was working on their front feet. Owner was upset I wouldn't trim the hinds. I told them to go pick up a hind and show me how they do it. They got kicked in the process.

Once, or twice, or ten times, I asked a potential client upfront if their horse stood well for the farrier, scheduled a first appointment, and then found out that is a lie.

These are the stories that flash through my head when people complain about farrier prices or difficulty in finding farriers.

Our job entails a lot of work - administrative work, continuing education, hoofcare, communication, our own inner work to remain present and soft in the presence of horses....

I place my safety in the hands of other people to a certain degree every time someone holds a horse for me. The horse(s) and owner are a package deal. If you don't have your farrier's safety and best interest at heart, you should understand what really goes into this career.

It is never, ever worth it to work in conditions that give you a bad feeling. I have made mistakes and nearly gotten seriously injured a few times when I ignored my gut instinct and kept on going.

If your horse is struggling to stand safely for your hoofcare provider, ask them for suggestions. Have the vet out. Hire a trainer. Handle their feet regularly yourself. Offer pain meds or sedation for appts if needed.

Farriers need to work smarter, not harder, for our work to be sustainable and we can only do that if the client is interested in being a part of the team.

~Corrie

03/23/2022

Whenever I see a horse with lingering unresolved hoof issues that is older than 10 years old, I recommend asking the vet about a TRH stim test to check for PPID/Cushing's, even if just to rule it out. Sometimes when I say this, I have owners that seem so scared of this idea - they really don't want to entertain that their horse could have PPID. I wanted to address this, because PPID truly isn't something to be scared of.

First - a few facts.
✳️PPID is an issue with the pituitary gland which causes the body to not properly regulate the hormone ACTH in the body. When this goes unregulated, it can result in bodywide issues - topline loss, difficulty holding weight (especially in the fall), poor hoof quality or hoof sensitivity, excessive drinking or peeing, being slow to heal, eyesight issues, behavioral changes, etc. Sometimes it's just one symptom. Sometimes these symptoms only show up in the fall. A long/"curly" coat is often one of the LAST signs after years of disease.

✳️PPID is a progressive disease, and the earlier it is caught, the easier it is to control and slow the progression. Dr. Andrew Van Eps recommends testing yearly from age 10 with a TRH stim test to ensure it is caught early.

✳️Horses that are properly diagnosed and treated can resolve their symptoms, and with adjustment in their treatment as needed, can live long productive lives. I have seen horses who grow in tight hoof wall, better sole depth, and are no longer footsore once on proper treatment.

When I am struggling with a tough hoof rehab case, I can honestly say I breathe a slight sigh of relief if we discover a PPID diagnosis. Not only because it is great to have an answer, but because PPID is completely treatable/manageable. We have effective treatments now, such as pergolide and cabergoline, and we even know ways to mitigate side effects from these to allow horses to feel better while titrating onto the medication. Treatment can put an end to the nagging problems your horse is dealing with, and well managed horses can live for years (and sometimes even decades) after a positive diagnosis.

Photo of a client horse with PPID that is now successfully comfortable barefoot, has resolved his topline issues and weight issues, and is back in work after getting a proper diagnosis in 2020 and receiving proper treatment ♥️

08/01/2021

THE SEASONAL RISE

In the northern hemisphere, starting in July/August horses experience the seasonal rise of a hormone called ACTH, which signals them to prepare for winter, grow a thicker coat, etc. This is completely normal for them.

Problems can arise, however, when this hormonal rise is exaggerated. Issues with improper ACTH levels can lead to hoof sensitivity, weight loss, topline loss, excessive drinking/peeing, udder swelling in mares and sheath swelling in geldings, changes in behavior, or even laminitis (often seeming to "come out of nowhere"). Horses with exaggerated ACTH levels are considered to have PPID/Cushing's Disease.

Many owners test their horses' ACTH levels in the spring to check for PPID issues. When these levels come back normal, they assume their horse is all set for the rest of the year. There is a problem with this assumption, however. During the spring, ACTH levels are naturally at their lowest, and horses with early PPID can have levels well under control at this time, and then "suddenly" founder in the fall when levels rise.

So what can we do to help prevent possible issues during the seasonal rise?

⭐️If your horse has been diagnosed with PPID in the past, consider checking their baseline ACTH levels in late July/early August to ensure their levels are well under control during the start of the seasonal rise. It is possible your PPID horse might need an adjustment in their medication dose to ensure ACTH levels stay within normal levels during this time, which in turn can lessen the risk of laminitis. PPID horses with "normal" ACTH levels the rest of the year can become laminitic during the seasonal rise if their ACTH isn't kept in check.
⭐️If you have a horse that has NOT been diagnosed with PPID but has had any of the subtle symptoms listed above - especially if you've noticed an increase in hoof sensitivity in the fall - ask your vet about testing their ACTH levels. Liphook in the UK has a handy chart for what the "normal" levels should be, on average, for each week in the seasonal rise. Older schools of thought avoided testing during this time of year as the assumption was that "all horses would have high ACTH in the fall," but now the lab ranges are able to differentiate between what is a normal response to the seasonal rise and what is not. Don't avoid testing for fear of a false positive!
⭐️In the future, consider testing yearly to catch any issues as soon as possible. Dr. Andrew Van Eps at New Bolton, a leading laminitis researcher, suggests testing ACTH levels yearly starting at age 10, with the TRH stim test (a more sensitive test used usually in the spring to catch early cases). The earlier we are able to notice these endocrinopathic issues, the more likely we are to prevent laminitis and permanent hoof damage from catching it too late.

This time of year can be nerve-wracking for owners with PPID horses, but with proper preparation and management, it doesn't have to be! Being aware of the potential issues can help owners to better prepare and keep a watchful eye on their horses.

05/02/2021

Tomorrow is part 1 of this fantastic nutrition webinar with Carol Layton, B.Sc M.Ed!

Parts one and two (covered this Sunday and next, both included in the price of the webinar) will discuss everything from equine digestion, nutrients in feed, and pasture and hay analysis, to feeding the metabolic horse and understanding how nutrition affects the hoof. She will also talks about "fads" and myths we see revolving around nutrition!

I'm signed up for a refresher. Hope to see you there ☺️

(Side note- the yearly membership cost for PHCP would just about make up the difference in cost between a member and non-member for just this one webinar- and there are many webinars and clinics that are discounted throughout the year for members!)

https://progressivehoofcare.org/2021/01/the-smart-way-to-feed-horses-2/

09/03/2020

Before backing your youngster please read -

A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human.

So a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.

A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Still works so far.

A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.

A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.

So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.

A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.

A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 yo horse can start a bit of light work to earn their keep.

A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.

A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work hard.

Pushing your youngster too hard too young will result in failure of many body parts. Joints, tendons, ligaments as well as their brains. Waiting one year at the beginning can give a horse another 10 years of useful working life. Be patient with your pride and joy!

Written by Vikki Fowler

08/09/2020

One of the first signs of PPID (Cushing's) is fall laminitis. Long before you'll notice the curly long hair coat, abnormal sweating, and fat pads.

The classic coat changes associated with PPID are actually an ADVANCED symptom. Besides laminitis in the fall, there are other early signs that are often missed. Learn what to watch out for here: http://bit.ly/2XyUkyJ

07/30/2020

From not fasting before bloodwork to not testing during an acutely laminitic phase, there are many things owners can do to help ensure accurate diagnosis of PPID and/or EMS in their equines. This 12-minute film will guide you through the protocols for getting an accurate diagnosis: https://bit.ly/2AeLeim

06/30/2020

In order to better meet the needs of my current clients and their horses, I am not taking new clients at this time. Thank you!