05/24/2022
I talk about this alot, this post has alot of great information, and points. Spring grass can take a healthy, sound hoof, and wreak havoc. Please be mindful in turning out horses this time of year; I usually say to be vigilant until the end of June.
Also please be mindful of picking your horses hooves out frequently, daily if possible; not only does this help oxygen to get in there to fight against thrush, it helps you see any issues, or changes early, which certainly helps me get them into check & balance before bigger issues arise.
With this drought it is looking like a very hot, and dry summer; please be vigilant in applying hoof conditioner on a regular basis when you notice hooves becoming dry, chipping, cracked, or breaking out.
Lastly, don't hesitate to call, or message if the aforementioned is noticed, I am more than happy to stop in to check, and address any concerns.
I appreciate all my wonderful clients, God keep you in these hard times of drought, economies, and all the uncertainty in the world right now. I am thankful for you, and your horsesðŸ¤
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!