A soft hoof makes it challenging for a horse to hold a shoe. When the hoof becomes too soft, clenched nails holding the shoe will loosen, pull out, or tear away. This can result in chunks of the hoof wall tearing out; especially around the nail holes. The loss of Read more…
Defining “flat footed” – the sole of the hoof is more flat than concave. A flat-footed horse is walking on the sole of his foot as well as on the hoof wall and frog.In MOST cases, flat feet are the result of poor or incorrect farrier care. How do you Read more…
To measure sole depth, simply locate the apex of the coffin bone and draw a vertical line from the solar surface of PIII to the ground surface. Note: If the horse is shod, draw the line from PIII to the top of the shoe. The length of this line in Read more…
What is a retracted sole? It’s a painful malady that occurs when a thin-soled horse stands in wet mud, primarily made up of limestone and clay, that, over time, weakens the sole and pushes it upward into the coffin bone. How do you treat retracted soles in horses? Removing the Read more…
Horses can graze while wearing a bit and bridle. Many riders will stop there horses and let them graze while traveling. Can horses eat grass with a bit? It’s harder for your horse to properly chew with a bit. The bit rests on the tongue and therefore interferes with tongue/chewing Read more…
Ideal sole depth is 15 mm give or take a couple mm. Too little sole depth, the foot is vulnerable to bruising. Too much sole depth and the foot is likely too long causing tripping, lameness and other problems. How much sole should a horse have? approximately 3/4”A horse should Read more…
The successful treatment of most laminitic horses can be accomplished with therapeutic shoeing, which includes carefully assessing the damage as well as reading the particular needs of the horse. Do horse boots help laminitis? If your horse displays the classic symptoms of laminitis, immediately contact your vet and put Soft-Ride Read more…
Actually many times they heal in spite of all the things we put on the wound just because horses are generally healthy animals. There are times when Betadine is a good product to use. I use a weak Betadine solution on skin fungal infections or penetrating hoof injuries. What does Read more…
Causes of Muscle Strain and Soreness in Horses Overuse of muscle or muscle group. Repetitive or strenuous exercise or movement. Ridden exercise. Tack or saddle that does not fit properly. Why is my horse sore all over? Common causes include infections, parasitic diseases, and immune-mediated conditions. Muscle disorders can appear Read more…
Don’t add disinfectants like Savlon, Dettol or Jeyes fluid. These are ok for small, shallow wounds but can be caustic to most open wounds and damage the tissues – especially if used in higher concentrations (most people add more than needed!) What is the best wound ointment for horses? Corona Read more…