According to the American Farriers Association, only 10% of domestic horses are absolutely sound. Natural hoof care pioneers were farriers or veterinarians that noticed this trend and looked for answers in the wild. As an unsound wild horse is condemned, they figured that the ones they would see would provide a model for soundness. Wild/feral horses and domestic horses are genetically and physiologically the same. Even though some equine professionals claim that ‘’we’ve bred

From the barefoot trimmer’s perspective, it is clear that hoof boots are superior to horse shoes in most aspects. They are light, removable and flexible, and they allow proper biomechanics while protecting the bottom of the hoof. However, we need to be objective and recognize some of the boots’ shortcomings. DISADVANTAGES First of all, the fit is a major issue. Boots that don’t fit perfectly will not only be inefficient, but can also pose safety concerns and increase the risk

In Eastern Canada, spring is the dreaded season for thrush. The extremely wet conditions along with rich grass make it very likely to occur. The problems caused by thrush usually interfere with getting the horse back to work before the show season. What is thrush? Thrush is the generic name given to a bacterial and/or fungal infection of the frog. When left untreated, it can work its way to the frog corium (inside the hoof capsule). An affected frog will have a strong and di

Dans l'est du Canada, le printemps rime souvent avec pourriture de la fourchette. Les sols détrempés ainsi que l'herbe riche en favorisent l'apparition. Les problèmes qui en résultent interfèrent avec le retour au travail en vue des compétitions. Qu'est-ce que la pourriture de la fourchette ? Il s'agit d'un terme générique pour toute infection bactérienne ou fongique de la fourchette. Si elle n'est pas traitée, elle peut pénétrer jusqu'à l'intérieur du pied. L'odeur qui émane

I always get excited when I learn new things, especially when I thought I knew a subject. It was the case when I started taking equine nutrition courses. Far be it from me to tell you how to feed your horse, I just wanted to share a few insights on what I discovered. What does ''balanced diet'' actually mean? For a few decades, the National Research Council has been working on determining the nutrient requirements for horses. The document is regularly updated in order to incl

As a horse owner, you regularly hear numerous recommendations regarding what to do for your horse. The overload of information can be overwhelming, especially when many of these opinions contradict one another. You probably heard it all, and are confused on what decision to make regarding your horse's hoof care. Here are a few guidelines to help you make a decision: 1 - Each horse is unique What works with a given horse, in a given situation, might not work for your horse. I.

I have just completed another course on equine biosecurity. As I travel to many different barns in both Ontario and Quebec, I take this subject very seriously. My heart breaks when I hear that a case of Equine Infectious Anemia or other similar disease has been confirmed. Knowing that the horses in the contaminated barn will have to be euthanized, one can't help but wonder if this tragedy could have been avoided. Indirect contamination (manure on our shoe soles, hair or mucus

Je viens de terminer un autre cours en biosécurité équine. Je me déplace dans de nombreuses écuries en Ontario et au Québec, donc je prends ce sujet très au sérieux. J'ai le coeur brisé lorsque j'apprends que des cas d'anémie infectieuse équine ou autres maladies de ce type ont été confirmés près d'ici. Lorsqu'on sait que les chevaux de l'écurie en question devront être euthanasiés, on ne peut s'empêcher de se demander si cette tragédie aurait pu être évitée. La contamination

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