Softly tap the buffer with the hammer to straighten out any hooked nail ends. The alternative technique used by professional farrier is to take the farrier forward and position it on a stool and then rasp off the clench hook, leaving only the straight nail. How do you release a Read more…
When a foal is born, the hoof soles are made up of fleshy tentacles called perionychium. The purpose of the perionychium is to protect the mare while the foal is in the womb, and allow smooth entry into the birth canal and out of the mare. Are baby horses born Read more…
“The rate of growth is important when it comes to the horse’s ability to overcome excessive wear and its ability to replace damaged horn,” said Curtis, noting that the foal also needs to shed hoof quickly in order to allow the growing distal phalanx to expand. What does a newborn Read more…
Is your mare due to give birth, and you’re wondering if you need to ‘imprint’ the foal? Imprinting – in this context – is a process of intense and specific handling of a foal immediately after birth. It is believed by proponents to create less reactive horses, who are more Read more…
When I hear horses are flat they may actually have muscle soreness and may not being willing or capable of moving with the vigour or intensity that you desire for them. After a period of rest or an increase in intensity of the work muscles will need to develop or Read more…
A flat-footed horse is walking on the sole of his foot as well as on the hoof wall and frog. Flat-footed horses are often sore-footed or lame, since the sole of the hoof offers little protection against rocks and other rough, potentially painful objects. What causes flat feet in horses? Read more…
Because it’s so large, a horse provides an abundance of collagen, the material used to make animal glues. However, it’s illegal to sell horses to kill them to make glue or for any commercial purpose. If you’ve been around the horse industry, it is likely that you’ve heard talk about Read more…
Microchips are implanted by licensed veterinarians, who sterilise the area of implantation before administering a local anesthetic at the insertion site. A 14-gauge needle is then inserted under the skin and into the ligament to inject the chip, which is assigned a 15-digit number. How do you put a microchip Read more…
Drawing agents such as Epsom Salt and Animalintex can be used to reduce swelling. To treat horizontal stress and pinching the crack is debrided often using a motorized Dremel tool. Necrotic, infected and undermined tissue is removed. The unstable back of the hoof is then attached to the more stable Read more…
Feathering. Feathering or feather is the long hair on the lower legs of some breeds of horse and pony. On some horses, especially draft breeds, the hair can almost cover the hooves. What is the hair on the fetlock called? FeatherThe word fetlock literally means “foot-lock” and refers to the Read more…