Horse Care

2010-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

New Company Announcement – ihorsebook Media Group, LLC

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The main goal of ihorsebook Media Group, LLC is to connect anyone interested in horses in order to share information, pictures, videos, data and educational tips via the central website www.ihorsebook.com, as well as through applications on the major smart phone platforms, including the Apple iPhone, Android and Nokia.

www.ihorsebook.com is the place where horse people can connect and share their equine experiences, information and personal horse stories, with their fellow horse enthusiasts, in a real-time, high-tech, dynamic environment, at anytime and from anywhere. With the click of the mouse, or a touch on a smart phone, members and visitors can read an article on laminitis, exchange pictures or videos with friends and family, receive advice and assistance, or join a group of horse lovers anywhere on the globe. All this is now available for the first time on www.ihorsebook.com - where membership is free.

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HOOF-it Hoof Care Clinic

2008-08-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

(Minden, NV) On Thursday July 17th HOOF-it Technologies presented a hoof care clinic at the ranch of Certified Farrier Steve Samet. The clinic, which was facilitated by Kristi Jackson, covered basic hoof trimming and basic hoof maintenance to be practiced by the average horse owner with a focus on the importance of proper trimming and proper hoof balance for the overall health of the horse.
One of the unique features of this clinic was the use of “Alfred” the bio-mechanical horse. “Alfred” is a life sized horse mannequin with moveable legs which simulate the legs and hoofs of an actual horse. This mannequin allows students to get hands on training in various hoof care techniques without the need for a live horse. The techniques learned on “Alfred” can later be applied to a live horse.
Mr. Samet gave a lecture on basic hoof ailments such as quarter crack, missing hoof wall, and pulling a loose shoe. In addition Mr. Samet emphasized the importance of communicating with your farrier and veterinarian about potential problems with your horse’s hooves.
Mr. Samet discussed the pros and cons of a horse going barefoot versus shod, steel shoes versus composite shoes, and getting a horse comfortable with a hoof stand. The clinic also demonstrated the use of acrylic compounds to repair cracks in the hoof. The participants were given hands on training in various hoof care techniques throughout the evening. A new product for emergency hoof repair, Bio-Wrap, was unveiled by Mr. Samet. This new product fascinated those attending the clinic and was the main topic for the question and answer period.
The next HOOF-it Hoof Care Clinic will be held in El Dorado Hills, CA, at the Grace Foundation of Northern California. The Grace Foundation is known for their rescue work with horses.
For more information regarding this or future clinics contact HOOF-it Technologies at 1-888-665-9099 or visit hoofcareclinics.com.

Letter from a happy HOOF-it Customer

2008-08-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

"The hoof stand arrived this morning. I couldn't wait to try it, so I brought my old mare out and was instantly amazed at how it makes trimming so much easier on both of us! A great design and a well made product. And a 60 year old, arthritic,old cowgirl body says "Thank You!".
Best wishes,
Jeremie"

HOOF-it Shoes - Letter from happy horse owner

2008-03-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

Dear HOOF-it Technologies

Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how pleased I am with the HOOF-it shoes that we've been using on our draft-cross Premarin rescue horses for the last three years. The sizes have worked well for their larger size hooves. We do alot of trail riding in the Sierras for pleasure and we are also members of the El Dorado County Search and Rescue mounted team, so we cover alot of rocky trails and slippery granite. We love the fact that our horses have traction on granite and pavement while other horses are practically "ice-skating" on slick surfaces wearing metal shoes.

Last year we started taking our Percheron youngster out on the trails, this year at four years of age we had him on the trails preparing him for his search and rescue qualification. Considering that he weighs about 2000 pounds and we'd be on rough terrain, we were curious to see how the Big-Foot shoes would hold up. The shoes are so durable that he actually wore the same pair through two shoeings. I 'd also like to add that his hooves have never been more healthy. Those of us who have adopted Premarin horses, most of them full-draft or draft-cross appreciate that Hoof-It makes the larger size shoes.

Many Thanks and Happy Trails,

Lisa and Brian Warner

HOOF-it® Technologies at World Ag Expo

2008-02-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

HOOF-it® Technologies at World Ag Expo
Tulare, California
February 12 – 14, 2008

HOOF-it® Technologies participated for the first time as an exhibitor with a 20 foot booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. The Equine and Bovine divisions of HOOF-it® were both well represented and well received. The HOOF-it® Technologies booths were visited by both domestic and international companies who expressed an interest in marketing and selling HOOF-it® equine and bovine products. HOOF-it® will soon be announcing a selection of US and international distributors to market and sell HOOF-it® products. At the end of the 2 days, the World Ag Expo reported nearly 100,000 attendees this year, with more than 1,500 international guests from 74 countries.

Below are some pictures of the HOOF-it® booth at the World Ag Expo 2008 – enjoy!

The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race

2007-12-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is an 800 mile endurance ride completed over a 13 day period. It is open to all breeds. The ride started in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 3, 2007 and end in Missouri on September 15, 2007. ~ The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race
Below is a letter we at HOOF-it received from a participant in The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race describing the difference she experienced first hand between traditional metal horseshoes and HOOF-it Composite Horseshoes.
Dear HOOF-it:
I would like to start by thanking you for all of your support in this great endeavor of which we accomplished. The race was AMAZING. It was a great adventure to cross such beautiful country all on horse back and to think that we could not have done it without the help of great supporters like you.
Enclosed you will find four shoes. Two of them are the metal shoes from my horse Oddie which only have 175 miles and as you can see are very will worn. Not only are they worn much more then that of the HOOF-it Shoes but on more then one occasion we had to ride on asphalt and steep, rocky mountains. The horses that were in the metal shoes were sliding and did not have the stability that the horses that were wearing the HOOF-it shoes had. We found that at first the horse moved more gracefully and had a much more efficient trot. I hope you don't mid but we have named these great shoes NIKES for horses. Or at least that is what everyone on the ride called them after they saw how great they performed.
The HOOF-it shoes that I have enclosed are the shoes from my fathers horse that went 355 miles. As you can see they look almost brand new. Not only did these shoes prove to be more sufficient on the trail but helped tremendously on the joints and tendons of the horses. This horse by the name of Jack Ass rode all but three days of the ride. We are extremely impressed with your product and hope to be in more races to help promote the HOOF-it shoes (or as we like NIKES). While we were on the ride my father shoed over 8 horses using the shoes you provided for us. After the competitors saw what a great product these were several just had to try them. We look forward to more correspondence with you. Thanks again for all your help and participation.
May God Bless you.
Beth
Shinning Light Youth Ranch

Hoof Care

2006-10-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hoof care is the most important aspect of horse ownership. The first time horse owner usually does not understand the complexity of the hoof, even most experienced horse owners don’t. The easiest place to start your introduction to hoof care is to ask yourself just exactly what you are going to expect of your horse, and then set out to try and find an animal that will suit your needs. Don’t buy a draft horse to play polo. Don’t purchase an Arabian and try to cut cows with him. No matter what you and your prospective equine partner are going to do, the best thing that you can do is always place conformation over love at first sight; even though this is sometimes hard to do.

Always strive to find a horse with straight legs and good bone structure. Remember, the better you start with the better chance that you will have to enjoy a long relationship with your horse. If possible, check out his sire and dam, or if possible any siblings that might be in the area. Keep this in mind, just because a horse is a pure bred it does not mean that he will be sound. Whether you are looking for a potential futurity winner or a trail buddy, soundness of the feet is the bottom line.

A pre-purchase veterinarian check is a must, whether the horse is going to cost $500 or $500,000. If you can have a friend who is experienced with horses be there to lend a keen eye. Most importantly, to me at least, is to have a farrier present at your vet check. Often, farriers will see things that the vet will not. Farriers look at feet in a different fashion than a vet, based on their work, and experience.

Also, do not fall in love too soon. All horses cannot be great athletes. In spite of what we may think, owning him does not make him a world beater. However, treat him like an athlete. Warm him up properly, feed a high quality ration, and keep him fit, not fat. The better that you treat him the better you will both work together.

If everything is going along fine, but you begin to become suspicious that something may be wrong with his feet, you should look for an on again, off again, lameness in the beginning. Look for a choppy or uneven gait, a shortened stride, and a lessening of his willingness to work. If you notice any of the above traits, check the feet for an obvious trauma, such as a wire cut. You can also check for swelling and inflammation. However, it is always going to be the best practice to call your farrier out to take a look. Usually your farrier can make the proper corrections to get your pony back on the right track. If the problem is severe your farrier will refer you and your horse to your vet for medical attention.

With a little care at the purchase of your horse, and a watchful eye during your partnership, your pony should have a minimum of hoof problems during his life.

2006-09-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

Having used the Hoof-it shoes on my horse for around 12 months including in the Snowy Mountains of Wyoming I decided to try them on the annual “Outlaw Trail Ride” across Wyoming to Thermopolis (www.rideoutlawtrail.com ) . This year I was a group leader on the trail. Hoof-it kindly provided a set of shoes for the ride as a trial. This ride is quite demanding on both horses and riders so it is important for a horse, its equipment and its rider to be fully prepared and fit to avoid problems on the trail. The ride has a total length of 110 miles ridden over 7 days with 1 rest day. As a group leader the actual riding distance is longer as there is always something to be attended to that requires leaving the group temporarily. The country covered is particularly rugged with elevations of over 9000 feet in places. The ground is frequently very rocky putting a lot of reliance on good shoes and a good farrier to fit them. The ride has a supporting farrier, veterinarian, vet-techs and doctors so both riders and horses have help in the event of problems. I had the shoes fitted by my farrier at my home in Cheyenne a few days before leaving for the ride. I had him put a full set of nails in as the only problems I had seen previously was the shoe distorting on the foot when heavily worn. With only 3 nails in each side this seems to be a minor problem which may not arise on normal ground. Riding in rough country can put enormous sideways pressure on both hooves and shoes. The shoes worked well over the ride and I think the hooves benefit from maintaining their flexibility that is lost with steel shoes. Wear was about the same as with steel so I do not anticipate having to replace them earlier than the next scheduled farrier visit. Grip on rock slopes and when crossing rocky stream beds is good. The farrier and the vet pointed out that this is both a good thing and a bad thing. In the event of a horse having weak or sore joints the extra grip may cause aggravation of the condition. However for a fit horse the extra grip I think minimizes risk of injury caused by unsteady footing. I have no hesitation in recommending these shoes for trail or endurance riding on the basis of my experience with them. I think more of the OTR team will fit them next year. One rider did point out as the thunder started that the risk of lightning strike could be reduced – a feature I was not keen to test!

Tevis with HOOF-it Pour-in Pads

2006-08-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

Each year we caravan with friends up to Robie Park on Thursday to prepare for the beginning of Tevis. Our group gathers in the overflow parking lot to allow for plenty of room and less commotion. It also has a gravel base, so we aren't covered in dust before the ride even starts.

This year, after vetting through on Friday, we returned to camp to prepare the horses feet. Which meant pouring hoof-it into the hoofs of five horses. Piper was ridden by Brenda Benkley, Blues was ridden by Karen Bottiani, Smokey was ridden by Jamie Fend, Annie was ridden by Gary Fend, and Don was ridden by Nick Warhol.

This was the first Tevis for Piper, Annie and Don. Smokey and Blues were going for their 5th and 6th completions respectively.

After 5 or 6 years of using Hoof-it for these rocky rides, we have come up with a great system. Gary cleans the hoof thoroughly (especially under the lip of the shoe). Karen rips up duct tape...a piece for a dam wall at the heel of the hoof and 3 pieces fit together to cover the sole. I am in charge of mixing the powder and liquid at just the right ratio and just the right time. As Gary finishes cleaning the hoof, the mixture should be reaching a thickness that allows for easy pouring, yet not too far from setting (so the poor hoof holder doesn't have to stand hunched over forever).

Once the mixture sets to a fairly solid state, I cover it up with the duct tape and we move on to the next hoof. This keeps all the little rocks and/or hay from sticking to the still tacky Hoof-it.

This year, since we had 5 horses to cover, Nick took over the hoof cleaning and holding for half of the hooves.

The Tevis Trail is one of the rockiest and toughest trails I know, so hoof protection is a must. Out of the five horses that we had starting, 4 of them completed The Tevis. And all 4 of them had all of their Hoof-it in their feet at the end of the ride!

Since our horses live in a 100 acre pasture, padding isn't a great option. Plus, they don't usually need pads. Hoof-it is exactly what we need for the occassional really rocky ride. We use it at 3 or 4 rides each year, and have never been disappointed.

The first year we tried it, we discovered (the hard way) that you shouldn't leave the ingredients out in the sun. The mixture turned to a very thick clay as soon as the ingredients were combined. I kind of pushed the clay into the hoof with my fingers. Most of it stayed in for the ride, but it definitely wasn't the right way to do it! We now make sure that it is kept inside the trailer, in the shade.

I couldn't be happier with this product. It gives us such peace of mind when we're asking the horses to trot on down a tough road mile after mile.

Thanks.

Laura

Navicular Treatment - Part Two

2006-05-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Many hoses improve dramatically with good trimmer and / or shoeing. Each horse should be trimmed according to its own particular confirmation to allow the proper hoof angle. Some horses require hyper specific angles in each hoof to prevent long-term mechanical problems. Farriers will often square or roll the toes to ease break-over in stride. Corrective shoeing aligns the hoof-pastern axis to establish sound lateral to medial balance in the leg. Egg bar shoes are typically used to achieve good heel support. Recently, composite shoes have become a popular shoeing alternative for rehab in the Navicular horse. Composite shoes offer excellent overall freedom of movement, which allows the natural mechanics of the foot to work correctly again. Consult with your farrier about these shoeing options. In most scales the above treatments allows the horse with Navicular syndrome to live comfortably and return to a certain level of function. If therapy does not help, a neurectomy can be performed as a last result. Neurectomy is a drastic treatment in which the nerves to the Navicular area are cut to deaden the foot. Owners should know that this treatment is not without short and long term complications. These can be undetected foot abscesses, nail punctures, painful nodules on the cut nerve (neuromas), and even tendon rupture. There is also the tendency of the horse stumbling often because it cannot tell exactly where its feet are. Needless to say, this is not a solution for a performance horse. For further information on Navicular syndrome contact you farrier and equine veterinarian.

Navicular Treatment - Part One

2006-05-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Because there are several causes of Navicular syndrome, and some, which are still unknown, one treatment will not be effective in all cases. IT is critical to speak with you veterinarian and farrier about all the possible options for treatment. Generally, Navicular syndrome cannot be cured or reversed, but it can be successfully managed. Treatment goals are to reduce inflammation, remove pain from the soft tissue, increase pliability, increase blood supply, and align the hoof-pastern axis to improve the gait of the horse. This is accomplished with specific drugs, corrective shoeing, and controlled exercise. Bute is the most commonly used drug for not only Navicular syndrome, but any common symptoms of lameness in the horse. Bute reduces pain and inflammation, and is therefore effective in the short term. However, if a horse with Navicular syndrome is treated with bute only, and no other treatment measures are taken, the horse will be ruined. Injection with corticosteroid is also a common treatment. This is not a cure since steroids only reduce inflammation and pain and do nothing to correct the underlying pathology. As with bute, when used alone, steroids will lead to further harm. Increasing the circulation to the Navicular area is often effective in reducing the symptoms. Isoxsuprine hydrochloride, a drug that dilated the small blood vessels, is the most commonly used. This is a long-term course of the drug therapy, which can get expensive and time consuming. The anticoagulant warfarin is also used to increase local circulation. The horse must be watched carefully for the onset of bleeding problems since the drug reduces clotting in the entire body.

Three-time U. S. National Champion Arabian horse trainer, Cari Thompson, uses HOOF-it products to keep her horses sound and on top of their game.

2006-05-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hello out there,

My name is Cari Thompson of Cari Thompson Training in Gardnerville, Nevada.

I have been using the HOOF-it acrylic product and the HOOF-it composite horseshoes on my Arabian show horses during training for about 5 years now. The composite horseshoes help relieve sore hooves as well as supporting bad hoof walls and contracted heels. They are also great to help support suspensory ligament damage and lay-ups and can even be used with toe weights to achieve better motion.

Because of the HOOF-it products, I have been able to keep my show horses going well when they perform in the show ring. In fact, I am happy to say that I was fortunate enough to take 2 of the Arabian show horses that have been in training in my barn to Championship wins in both the Open Arabian Hunter Pleasure and the Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse classes at the U. S. Arabian National Horse Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in October of 2005. That was quite a thrill!

I want to personally thank HOOF-it Technologies for the wonderful products they provide and for all the help they have given me and my horses. We just couldn't do it without you!

Sincerely,

Cari Thompson

Navicular Syndrome - Part Two

2006-05-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

There are several things to look at when you suspect that your horse has Navicular syndrome. While walking, the horse with Navicular syndrome will place its weight on the toe to avoid putting pressure on the heel area, which contains the inflamed Navicular bone and bursa. You will notice that since the horse does not place weight on the heel it will take it longer to stop its stride. While standing the horse will tend to constantly shift its weight. This relieves the pressure and pain in the heels. You will also notice that since the horse places its weight on its toes during movement his gait will be very rough and give the appearance of lameness in the shoulder. In addition, when you circle horses with Navicular syndrome to the right, they will appear to be lame on the right side. When circled to the left, they will show lameness on the left side. This is due to the fact that Navicular syndrome is typically a bilateral problem in the forefeet. Due to this, veterinarians will often nerve block the most painful leg to eliminate lameness on that side. Without that pain present the horse will then appear lame on the less painful leg, thus giving a complete diagnosis. Finally, you may notice that the horse’s heel may have become contracted. This is due to poor circulation in the foot.

Your veterinarian should be contacted when signs of lameness are observed. Most veterinarians will use a hoof tester as an aid in diagnosing this condition. When pressure is applied with the hoof tester over the central third of the frog the horse will be overly sensitive if Navicular syndrome is present. The horse may even dramatically flinch from the pain in severe cases. The hind feet should be tested to compare the reaction with that of the forefeet. As stated above, a verve block may also be injected in the affected area to relieve pain for a short period. If the horse was lame prior to the injection, and then moves normally after the injection, it may be assumed that the lameness is located in the Navicular region.

Radiographs can also aid in diagnosis. However Navicular syndrome cannot be solely diagnosed from x-rays alone. Radiographic abnormalities specific to Navicular syndrome, when viewed along with the results of other tests, may suggest the presence of the condition.

Nuclear bone scanning is another imaging modality, which may assist in determining a diagnosis. A low dose of a safe radioactive material is injected into the horse to detect areas of bone remodeling called “hot spots”. IF the horse has Navicular syndrome, increased uptake of the radioactive material will indicated activity at the site.

Navicular Syndrome - Part One

2006-05-11T14:01:00.001-07:00

It is not always possible to pinpoint the exact cause of Navicular syndrome, even veterinarians do not agree as to a specific cause. Because there are a variety of causes, no one treatment is always successful. However, one of the more common causes of Navicular syndrome is the degradation of the Navicular bursa. This bursa lies between the deep digital flexor tendon and the Navicular bone and acts as a lubricating cushion. When the bursa becomes inflamed or loses lubricating fluid the flexor tendon is at risk of rupture. This is similar to the condition of “tennis elbow” found in humans.

While the joints surfaces of the phalanges may not be affected the tendon adjacent to the Navicular bursa may be progressively destroyed with eventual rupture. The deep digital flexor tendon is critical because it flexes the joints of the foot, allowing the toe to move up and down. As the coffin joint flexes, the deep digital flexor tendon glides against the Navicular bone. This rubbing action would cause tissue damage and pain if it were not for the bursa, which is located between the tendon and the bone. In its normal state, the Navicular bursa is filled with a lubricated substance which prevents pain and tissue damage. However, when the bursa is damaged, tendon on bone contact sets the foundation for the symptoms of Navicular syndrome.

Barefoot vs. Shoeing Your Horse

2006-04-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

A common debate in the horse world these days is whether or not to shoe your horse. Of course this can only be answered by knowing what you are requiring of your horse and the current condition of its feet. A horse that is retired and spending his days on pasture has different needs than a competition cutting horse. Other than an occasional hoof trim the pasture horse should be fine going barefoot.

The question becomes more complicated when the level of your horse’s activity is raised. One thing that I have noticed is that you rarely see a non-working horse come up lame. I believe that a big part of this is that when we ride we are placing unnatural stresses on the hoof. While it is true that wild horses live out their lives unshod, it is also true that natural selection takes the horses that have weak feet. In addition, the restrictions we place on the horse’s movement in various disciplines are issues which the wild or pasture horse does not have to deal with.

For example, when we ride we control the headset of our horse for appearance more often than for function (i.e. pleasure classes), our horses also constantly have to compensate for the weight of the rider above them, which compromises their balance. We also ask them to move in ways that generally affect their overall carriage and hoof placement.

Finally, working horses are first and foremost athletes, subject to the same types of injuries as their human counterparts. In the wild, a horse moves freely without a lot of repetitive motion. The working horse is asked to repeat gaits over and over again causing the hoof to strike the same way. In humans, runners in particular, this is called Repetitive Motion Injury.

I feel that this sort of disciplined movement is the cause of most hoof problems. I have found that a happy medium between steel shoes and barefoot to be the composite shoe. In a composite shoe or a hybrid composite horseshoe you get the benefits of support and shock absorption, while retaining the flexibility and the circulation of going barefoot.

Horseshoes Past & Present

2006-03-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

Horseshoes Past & Present

Past Present

A horseshoe needs to be kept firmly in place, and the most widely used means of achieving this is to use nails. The Celts, who were skilled ironworkers, discovered that it was possible to secure shoes on a horse's foot by driving nails into the insensitive area of the hoof.

In the Middle East and around the Mediterranean, the hard-hooved Arab horses needed less protection than the average horse in that they were able to withstand being barefoot. The Romans used a form of iron sandal resembling thongs; the Greeks preferred a sandal made from woven grass. Neither of these sandals could have been intended for regular use as it would have been difficult to prevent the foot from slipping or collecting grit between shoe and sole. They were definately a form of remedial shoeing.

In Britain it was the nailed shoe that continued to be generally used throughout the centuries. Usually it was made of plain iron and, later, fullered or grooved steel became the accepted material for shoes. Clips to ensure a more secured fit became a regular part of shoe design about one hundred years ago.

Horseshoes today may vary in design and material in that anything from steel to high- tech composites can aide in reducing strain to ligaments and tendons caused by poor conformation. They can also minimize the effect of an injury and aid to the healing processes by protecting or padding sensitive areas.

Evolution of the Equine Hoof

2006-03-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

Evolution of the Equine Hoof

Today’s horse has existed for roughly one million years. Today’s horse is a one-toed animal; however, this was not always the case. Some fifty million years ago, EOHIPPUS, ran on feet with toes. Its front feet had four hooved toes, its hind feet had three, and its weight was carried on a central pad. Several million years later, its descendant, MESOHIPPUS, had grown twice the size. All four feet had three toes, the central toe being prominent.

Another ten million years passed and the horse became MERYCHIPPUS. The MERYCHIPPUS fed on grass rather than leaves and carried its weight on a single hoof, although two side toes were present.

PLIOHIPPUS, which lived ten million years ago, was the first single-toed horse. It roamed the plains and was able to graze freely and run swiftly from its predators. Traces of the side toes were present on either side of the cannon bone.

EQUUS CABALLIS, today’s horse, is a one-toed animal. The single toe has become a part of the horse’s anatomy.

The hoof wall grows down from the coronary band. It is thick enough to have nails driven into it without splitting, and can be trimmed just like human fingernails.

Farrier Comments on HOOF-it Products

2006-03-13T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am a full-time farrier in Maryland and shoe all types of horses doing anything from dressage to steeple-chasing. I have used the Hippoplast shoes for six months now and am extremely pleased (as are the horses!). They (so far) stay on better (they actually mold to the hoof over time) and longer than any other shoe I have ever used and seem to offer more comfort to most horses than any other shoe. I have the most success when I fill the shoe cavity in with dental impression material and anti-bacterial granules from Eponashoe. With thin-soled horses, the interior of the shoe can "pinch" the sole without the "putty" protecting it. Also, using e-head nails seems to be best. I would love to see a more round (as opposed to oval) design included in your hippoplast standard product line (ie. a front and a hind pattern instead of a compromise). Thank you very much for your time! Jonathan Fell, BWFA Journeyman Farrier

2006-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hoof-it II Pads have worked wonders for United Steele. After an early retirement, he is back in competition. His hooves look great - even with training and 50 mile rides. After the farrier finishes putting on new shoes, we apply Hoof-it II Pads to all four hooves. The pads fill in where quarters are weak and prevent them from breaking out. I fill in the nail holes to keep his hooves moist, and also use the Hoof-it to fill in around the heels on the outside of the hoof to give more support to the heels on the shoes. We fill in all around the inside of the shoe and the sole area. If it's winter and the horse isn’t being used, I can take the pads off myself without worry of thrush due to the wet weather. When I want to ride, I can easily put the Hoof-it on, regardless of my shoeing schedule. My farrier is amazed with how well US’s hooves look now. He is no longer flat soled, his heels grow and are no longer contracted, and his quarters hold up to the workload. US hated his early retirement, and thanks to Hoof-it II Pads, US and I are quite happy and back in competition. -Cyndee Pryor

80% of horses will go lame each year!

2006-03-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

According to the US government servey, 80% of horses will go lame each year. The average “downtime” is 23 days.

Temp-A-Sure is the only Equine lameness indicator on the planet. Don’t worry and wonder, get answers easily and fast.

Old Way: Feel horse’s hooves with your hand to see whether there is any heat present.

NEW Way: Apply temp-a-sure strips and easily read the temp of 4 locations on each hoof. Temp-A-Sure is accurate to within ½ degree.

Why would I want to know the temp of a horses hoof? Horse’s hooves change temp in response to many of the common causes of lameness. Monitoring the temp changes and differences between hooves and even differences in different areas of the horse’s owner located and monitor problems and will help a vet or farrier treat the horse more effectively.

Monitor hoof temperature to monitor equine lameness. Temp-A-Sure is a revolutionary new product that provides a very quick and easy way to continually monitor changes in hoof temperature. Abscesses, stone bruises, founder, laminitis and injury are the most common reason for equine lameness. All of these conditions cause changes in the hoof temperature that can be quickly and accurately monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Temp-A-Sure, accurate to within ½ degree.

Equine Sidebone

2006-02-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

The equine condition of sidebone is most significant as an indicator that your horse’s foot is receiving heavy and/or unbalanced forces. When sidebone is present there are chances that other changes to your horse’s feet, such as navicular disease or ringbone, maybe more likely to develop. Sidebone may be suspected after palpation of the suspected area, but a radiographic examination is essential for conformation of this condition. The good news is that sidebone usually causes little or no lameness. It does however decrease the natural shock absorption capacity of your horse’s hoof. Due to this, it is common to see problems such as navicular disease, narrow heels, and ringbone in horses diagnosed with sidebone. In rare cases sidebone can be caused from a direct trauma. When lameness is present, alternative shoeing to promote expansion of the quarters, circulation, and added shock absorption may be warranted. The root causes for sidebone are hoof concussion, repetitive motion injury, imbalances caused by conformation faults, and improper trimming/shoeing. It is most common in the forefeet of heavy horses working on hard surfaces. It is also frequent in hunters and jumpers, but rare in racing thoroughbreds. Improper shoeing which inhibits normal movement of the quarters is an important predisposing factor in the condition of sidebone. It is critical to note that anytime a horse is trimmed in a way that goes against his natural anatomy, you are making a trade off that will more than likely have a high price tag for both you and your pony. For example, horses that toe out, or toe in, will often naturally paddle their feet. If you ask your farrier to correct this and make your horse travel in a straight line, one side of the hoof wall will have to be lowered. This “correction” may make your horse appear to be moving normally (straight). But all it really does is change your horse’s normal conformation, and alter the movement which is natural for him. In doing so, problems such as sidebone, ringbone, and navicular disease may result.

Driving Horses & Composite Horseshoes

2006-02-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

As a trainer and driver of carriage and draft horses I felt very fortunate to find and use the composite horseshoes put out by HOOF-it Technologies. We train approximately twenty driving horses a year here at Winter Hill Driving Center in the mountains of Florida with the biggest demand being for CDE horses and ponies. As you can imagine there is a great deal of twisting and turning and a lot of road miles (up to 15 miles per day) to get in condition for these events. We have one set (four shoes) which is on it's fourth reset and that's on my Purcheron, Lexie, who trains every horse that comes in. We go eight weeks on reset for her and outside of replacing a nail or two we've never lost a shoe. As a hitch driver from 1971 on, I was probably the most skeptical of these products then anyone until a client's horse, another Pucheron, Ben, came in for training. After that it was love! So if you have any questions feel free to stop by our training center in sunny Florida if you want to see some great driving horses and HOOF-it Composite Horseshoes.

Bob Giles Winter Hill Driving Center, Morriston, Florida http://winterhilldrivingcenter.com/

Winter Hoof Care

2006-02-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

Winter is the time when a lot of horse owners choose to pull their horse’s shoes and let the hoof regenerate. Pulling the shoes and leaving your horse barefoot enhances the overall health of the feet. Hooves tend to grow more slowly in the winter months. However, the unshod feet should be trimmed regularly, 4 to 6 week intervals, with an emphasis on keeping the edge of the hoof sufficiently rounded. The hooves should also be painted twice a week with an appropriate hoof dressing. A little extra care and attention during the winter months when your horse is barefoot will result in a stronger healthier foot the rest of the year. However, there are more than a few of us who ride and compete in the winter months and pulling shoes is just not ever going to be an option. If you are like me and live in a snow filled winter environment you know that training outdoors, and trail riding, can cause problems for your horses feet. The main issue that I have to deal with when I am riding in the snow is “snow-balling”. This is when mixtures of snow, ice, mud, manure, grass, or bedding accumulate in the sole area. It can pack very densely into large rounded ice mounds that are almost impossible to chip out. When a horse is forced to stand or move on snowballs he has decreased stability in his fetlock joint. His weight is liable to roll medially, laterally, forward, or backward. It is extremely fatiguing for his muscles, tendons, and joint ligaments as he constantly tries to make adjustments to maintain balance. It is easy for a snowballed horse to lose his balance and wrench a fetlock. I have found a product that works perfectly for my horse, and is very easy for me to apply by myself. I use the Hoof-it Winter Snow Pad to keep my horse’s hooves clear of debris in the winter. With this pad in place I have full confidence in my horse’s footing while training outdoors in the snow, or trail riding. Let me know if you have tried Hoof-it Snow Pads and how they have worked for you.

Ringbone Lameness

2006-02-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

About 60 to 80 percent of all lameness in horses can be traced back to a foot problem. This should not be surprising when you realize that the entire weight of your horse is concentrated on those four small structures. It is also not surprising that a wide variety of things can, and do, go wrong with the structures inside of the foot. Today we will take a look at one of the more commonly diagnosed disorders, ringbone. Ringbone is new bone growth on the last three bones in a horse’s leg. Unfortunately, ringbone cannot be cured. However, with prompt veterinarian aid, and sound farrier work, its effects can be minimized.

Ringbone refers to a disease which involves either the coffin joint or the pastern joint. High ringbone involves the pastern joint, low ringbone involves the coffin joint. Ringbone is further classified as periarticular, meaning the new bone is around a joint, but does not involve a joint surface; and articular, which is when the new bone involves a joint surface.

Any horse can develop ringbone over the years as a result of the cumulative effects of the trauma of repetitive motion stress, long term concussion, and nutritional imbalances. This condition is expedited by poor confirmation which causes the horse to stress one aspect of a joint more than another. For example, upright pasterns, or weak collateral ligaments of the pastern joints. Ringbone can also be caused by any injury which disturbs the periostium of the bone, especially wire cuts. The initial signs of ringbone are generally not specific and may range from a decrease in the normal performance of your horse to variable progressive lameness.

In early cases of acute periarticular ringbone, cold therapy applied twice daily for 20-30 minutes for several days will help to reduce swelling and pain. Your vet may also prescribe a cycle of anti-inflammatory medication and recommend stall rest for your horse.

In early cases of articular ringbone, where the horse is lame, your vet will most likely treat your horse with a cycle of long acting corticosteroid in the affected joint. Consult your veterinarian for advice in both types of early ringbone; especially if your horse is a valuable performance horse.

All bio-mechanical treatment for ringbone consists of trimming methods and the application of alternative shoeing that lessen the articulation of the affected joint. Trimming, by itself, is not going to be as effective as the application of therapeutic shoes. Proper trimming and the right set of corrective shoes can do wonders in getting your horse back to health.

Ringbone should be taken very seriously; more than one great horse has been shut down by this disease. As with anything equine, early detection is the key. Always pay close attention to your pony’s feet, and keep in good communication with your farrier.

Quick-Pad - Sole / Frog Pad Support

2006-02-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Dear HOOF-it:

The quick pad works great. I used it like the instructions said and it provides a great pad for the frog of my foundered mare. It is helping her become sound again.

This is a much better alternative than expensive tubes some farriers use. These are good for the horse owner who has one horse that needs the pads.

I do have some comments, and that is that one has to use it really fast or it sets up in the tips. I have had to use a few mixing tips per tube before I got the hang of it. I had good luck with the first hoof, but the second seems to set up somewhere at the opening and a bit drips out when I squirt it in.

Pattie

Compsite Horseshoes for Police Horses

2006-02-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

Minneapolis Police Mounted Patrol

August 28, 2000

Thank you for your help in addressing the concerns of the Minneapolis Police Mounted Patrol Unit regarding shoes for our horses.When I first contacted you, we were preparing for protests related to the International Scientists of Animal Genetics conference that was being held in our City. We were looking for a shoe for our horses that would provide proper grip on the wide variety of surfaces our horses encounter, as well as flexibility and durability.We received our order in less than a week and our Farrier had no problem putting the shoes on. We used a combination of the Marathons and Anatomic. The test would be how they held up during the protests.During the protests, we had other Mounted Patrol Units from other agencies providing mutual aid. One of the things we noticed immediately was the fact that our horses had much less slipping than the horses from the other agencies that were using steel shoes, barium shoes, or a combination (steel with barium tips). Our horses definitely had much better footing, which was a great advantage!The shoes have been extremely durable while remaining flexible, which is healthier for the hoof. We are very pleased with the performance of your Anatomic and Marathon shoes and plan to continue to use them in the future.Thanks again Heinz! I look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Officer Angela M. Dodge Minneapolis Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit Coordinator

Hoof Care & Farriers

2006-02-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

The horse’s foot is completely surrounded by a substance similar to your fingernail to protect it against having to sustain the wear and tear of having to carry one quarter of your horse’s weight over the varying terrain you may be riding him over. A horse’s foot consists of an outer layer of horn (hoof), inside which is contained the pedal and navicular bones, and the deep digital flexor tendon which is attached to the pedal bone. The foot also contains the digital pad, lateral cartilages, coronopedal joint, blood vessels, and nerves. The foot as a whole absorbs concussion and by its continuous growth, it is able to replace its striking surface which is lost through everyday wear and tear. As a horse owner, you can help assist your horse in this latter process by choosing the right farrier for your particular horse’s needs.

Farriery is one of the most vital of all the professions connected to the horse. If there were no farriers, the entire horse world would just about come to a stop; except for a few fortunate individuals lucky enough to be able to ride always and exclusively on grass, or in an arena completely void of rocks. Even these folks would find it difficult to keep their mounts sound and true if there were no one to trim, shape, and generally care for their pony’s feet.

The best way that I have found to increase my own knowledge of my horse’s feet is to watch my farrier shoe my horses. It will also be to your advantage to pay attention, and actively participate when your farrier comes out. Here are a few things that I always try to do to help out to make the whole process easier.

I always let my farrier know in advance if I am going to have any special shoeing needs, or if I have a youngster that is going to be shod for the first time. Horses being shod for the first time should be used to having their feet picked out and be familiar with having the wall and sole of their foot tapped.

You should ALWAYS present your horses for shoeing with clean, dry feet and legs. And always provide the farrier with a well lit area, and dry solid footing; undercover if possible.

The first time the farrier shoes your horse, let him know how your horse is going and what discipline you use him for: trail, cutting, endurance etc. Assuming the horse is already shod, he will look at the wear of the shoes and the growth of the hoof to determine wear and growth patterns. With your help, the farrier will then determine whether your horse has any problems such as overreaching, stumbling, dragging its toes etc. If such problems are discovered, your farrier will discuss alternative shoeing solutions with you.

The above ideas will help you and your farrier develop a relationship that will benefit you both, and more importantly, benefit your horse.

Q&A Tendon Ice Boots

2006-02-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

Q: Are your Ice Horse cold therapy tendon boots long enough for a large warmblood's hind legs? Also, am I correct to assume that one would have to store these boots in the freezer prior to use? If yes, how long do the cold packs remain cold when put out at room temperature (say approximately 75 degrees F)?

A: There's nothing available in the traditional horse wrap market that I know of that's long enough to cover the hind leg of a warmblood from the base of the hock to the top of the fetlock. You could get an extra large ice therapy sheet (I found them once at Costco) and apply it with a standing wrap bandage if you need to cover the entire length. I use the ICE HORSE tendon wraps regularly on a warmblood that has some issues right above the suspensory branch on the left hind. They work great for him. I also use the hock ice wrap when I ice his hind legs. Although sometimes I toss the whole wrap in the freezer, I usually keep only the 2 ice inserts in the freezer and pull them out just before putting them into the wrap and applying them to the horse. The ice inserts that come with the wrap are designed not to be stiff when frozen so they mold to the leg without pressure points. (regular ice therapy sheets are stiff when frozen) When I need to use them on a horse that is located away from an available freezer, I keep them in a portable ice chest until I apply them to the horse to get the full benefit. If I need to use them again later, I put them back in the freezer or ice chest to refreeze which takes about an hour.

Laminitis III

2006-01-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Treatment:

Therapy is based on- 1. controlling pain 2. restoring blood circulation 3. stabilizing the coffin bone

Prognosis:

Keep in mind that prevention is always better then the cure. Mild cases will often get better quickly with rapid treatment and the right management. The problem is that many will recur unless very strict preventative maintenance is carried out. More sever cases will respond well to foot trimming and careful shoeing but can take many months to fully recover. The very worst cases are unlikely to be able to return to regular work.

For more valuable information on laminitis take a look at HOOF-it’s NEW educational line of books.

Laminitis II

2006-01-27T09:24:00.000-08:00

What can cause laminitis?

Overfeeding of any sort, especially grain
Over-weight animals
Illness - particularly digestive disorders, possibly after sever colic and other conditions such as liver disease.
Mares that have recently foaled and retain their placenta. They will develop infection and consequently laminitis.
Sever lameness in one leg from other causes resulting in excessive weight bearing in the remaining limbs and possibly, subsequent laminitis.
Irregular or incorrect trimming of the feet and bad shoeing. Feet which are untrimmed are more prone to laminitis.
Trauma to the feet due to excessive concussion from too much work on the hard ground causing laminar tearing.
Drug Treatment side affects can result in laminitis.
Hormonal problems, in particular those associated with an overactive pituitary gland in old ponies can result in laminitis.
Stress of any sort.

Laminitis I

2006-01-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

What is laminitis? The word laminitis means inflammation of the laminae. Laminitis is a common disease which affects a horses whole body and show up as a painful feet.

Types of laminitis:

Subacute laminitis is the mildest form where some signs are present, but they are not as severe as the acute case. Cases will most likely clear up without permanent damage to the feet.

Acute laminitis is the early stage of laminitis when the horse is uncomfortable and showing lameness, but major changes have not yet happened. It is an emergency and proper treatment needs to be started at once to prevent damage.

Chronic laminitis occurs when the coffin bone has rotated or sunk or if the condition has been going on for more the 48 hrs.

Founder is an American term used to describe a more severe case of laminitis where the laminae is tearing and the coffin bone is unstable and dropping.

Sinkers are the most severe laminitis cases where the laminar bond has been destroyed right around the foot, so that the whole pedal bone is loose within the foot. The pedal bone will drop and it can literally sink through the sole of the foot.

Equine Hoof Care

2006-01-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

2006-01-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

About one and a half years ago I was showing in northern California when I realized my yearling mare was off on her front left foot. When I brought her home I called my Vet. He took x-rays and when the results came back, he told me she had foundered and had ten degrees of rotation in both front feet. I was extremely upset, because I was so careful with her feeding and training program. I called my horseshoer and told him what had happened and he came over right away. He immediately put on these plastic shoes with a liquid substance poured onto the sole of the feet called Hoof-It to create a pad. As soon has he finished she was walking a better. After a three month period I called my Vet to have another x-ray taken. He called me and told me that her foot was getting better. He also said to keep using the Hoof-It product because it was healing the foot better and faster than he had ever seen. Well it has been over a year now and she is walking and running normally during her turn out time. I asked my shoer if and when I could start working with her and if he thought I might be able to show her again. He gave me the go ahead about 3 weeks ago. I started working with her slowly. To make a long story short, I went to the 60th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show last week and I ended up Circuit Champion and Reserve Champion In my Division. This truly is a dream come true as I did not know if I was ever going to be able to show my mare again. I know for a fact that it was the Hoof-It Product that enabled my mares hoof to heal and grow so she could walk normal again. Thank You HOOF-it your products saved my Mares Life!!!!!!!! Peggy Sibley, Campo, California

BWFA Journeyman Farrier Tips

2006-01-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

I am a full-time farrier in Maryland and shoe all types of horses doing anything from dressage to steeple-chasing.

I have used the Hippoplast shoes for six months now and am extremely pleased (as are the horses!).

They (so far) stay on better (they actually mold to the hoof over time) and longer than any other shoe I have ever used and seem to offer more comfort to most horses than any other shoe.

I have the most success when I fill the shoe cavity in with dental impression material and anti-bacterial granules from Eponashoe. With thin-soled horses, the interior of the shoe can "pinch" the sole without the "putty" protecting it.

Also, using e-head nails seems to be best.

I would love to see a more round (as opposed to oval) design included in your hippoplast standard product line (ie. a front and a hind pattern instead of a compromise).

Thank you very much for your time!

Jonathan Fell, BWFA Journeyman Farrier

Winter Snow Pads

2006-01-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Shoeing the Performance Horse

2006-01-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

No matter what kind of performance horse you might happen to have, cutting, reining, roping, or pleasure, one thing is a constant fact: your horse must be in balance with his body to perform at his optimal level. It is your farrier’s job to trim and shoe your horse to allow for optimal balance.

I have been lucky with my reining cow horse, Smoke ‘em. He has never needed any corrective shoeing. I simply have my farrier trim him flat and level based on the conformation of each of his legs. I have his feet trimmed short to ensure that he moves naturally. Horses with toes that are too long or heels that are too high do not stride naturally and do not look pretty to the judges. Eventually, excessively long feet cause problems that may require correction and even rehabilitation down the road. You can compare this problem to the human athlete. If a runner wore shoes one size too small, or too large, for even one training session he would feel a lot more stress and strain in the legs than with shoes which fit properly. The same is true for your horse.

The most important factor in the shoeing of your performance horse is to have him land level on the ground, You can notice this by observing your horse move at a walk. View him from the front and from the side. Does the inside or the outside of the shoe hit the ground first? Or, does he put the entire hoof down level? If his walk is level, he will most likely lope and trot level also. And, most importantly for cow horses, he will stop level also. If he does not land perfectly level his timing (and yours) will be off. This problem will only get worse as you work him at a quicker pace. Remember, all foot and leg problems intensify as the horse moves faster.

The best way to make decisions about your performance horse's shoeing needs is to watch him move from the ground, and learn to listen to your seat.

If you have any tips on shoeing the performance horse please post them here and share your experience.

Treating Thrush

2006-01-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

This spring as you go about your routine of picking out your horse’s hooves, you may discover an unusual thick black discharge and foul smell around the frog. These are the early signs of the hoof disease thrush. Thrush is an infection of the frog and of the surrounding tissue of the hoof. The bacteria associated with thrush infect the collateral and central sulci (creases) of the frog. The bacteria break down the tissue of the hoof, and this breakdown results in the foul odor and black discharge. If thrush is left untreated it can turn into a very painful problem in the heel area of your horse.

Thrush is likely to infect a horse which is living in unsanitary conditions. A wet environment that is made up of urine and acidity from manure is a breeding ground for the anaerobic bacterium that are attracted to any dead tissue that is on your horse’s frog. Also, people who have horses in a climate similar to the Pacific North West should keep a close lookout for this disease due to the constant dampness. The good news is that thrush is anaerobic, which means that this bacteria cannot live in the presence of air. The best way to avoid it in the first place is to keep your horse’s feet dry and clean so air can reach the tissue of the frog. A daily hoof picking does wonders. If not caught in the early stages the bacteria will form deep seated pockets and literally drill into the frog eating away the remaining healthy tissue.

If you do happen to notice a pungent odor and a black discharge from your horse’s frog, some treatment will be necessary. Mild cases of thrush can be treated by removing dead tissue by trimming, scrapping, and vigorous scrubbing (debriding), of the frog and hoof wall. Moderate cases will need to be scrubbed with an antiseptic and treated daily with a topical spray after trimming and debridement. Severe cases of thrush will need repeated intense debridement followed by sterile bandaging and a quality topical thrush treatment. Your veterinarian may also recommend a tetanus shot.

With a careful eye, good hygine, and quick treatment if needed, you will be able to prevent thrush from delaying you and your equine partner’s long past due spring ride.

If you have had any experience with thrush please post your comments here and share your knowledge with your fellow horse owners.

Snow Pads / Snow Guards

2005-12-30T11:58:00.000-08:00

Hello. I am looking for any type of a snow guard product to help keep snow and mud out of my horse’s hooves during the winter. I have read that there is a product like this in Sweden and it is used instead of having to place a flat pad on the bottom of the hoof to prevent snowballing in the sole of the foot. It is a rubber like product which fits inside of the hoof. I think that they call them “snow guards” there. Currently, my farrier puts pads plus studded shoes on my horse. My feeling is that with the pad I am now using that there is still room for mud and moisture to get in behind it and pack into the sole. I live in Oregon and have to deal with mud and snow all year. Let me know if you have any ideas. Cindy.

Hi Cindy. You are correct, there is such a thing as a “snow guard”. However, as you know, you have to have your farrier pull your horse’s shoes and apply the pads. I have found a product that works really well in the wet seasonal conditions that I deal with in the winter and spring up here at Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada. It is called Hoof-it II. It is a pour able pad which makes an excellent functional snow pad. It is a product that the average horse owner can apply by themselves without needing to pull shoes. In my experience, which is a lot of back country riding in less that ideal conditions; it works better than the traditional snow pad since it solidly fills the sole of the hoof. It simply does not allow water, mud or snow to back fill behind it. And, as I mentioned, you can do it yourself.

Sidebone Introduction

2005-12-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

The equine condition of sidebone is most significant as an indicator that your horse’s foot is receiving heavy and/or unbalanced forces. When sidebone is present there are chances that other changes to your horse’s feet, such as navicular disease or ringbone, maybe more likely to develop. Sidebone may be suspected after palpation of the suspected area, but a radiographic examination is essential for conformation of this condition.

The good news is that sidebone usually causes little or no lameness. It does however decrease the natural shock absorption capacity of your horse’s hoof. Due to this, it is common to see problems such as navicular disease, narrow heels, and ringbone in horses diagnosed with sidebone. In rare cases sidebone can be caused from a direct trauma. When lameness is present, alternative shoeing to promote expansion of the quarters, circulation, and added shock absorption may be warranted.

The root causes for sidebone are hoof concussion, repetitive motion injury, imbalances caused by conformation faults, and improper trimming/shoeing. It is most common in the forefeet of heavy horses working on hard surfaces. It is also frequent in hunters and jumpers, but rare in racing thoroughbreds. Improper shoeing which inhibits normal movement of the quarters is an important predisposing factor in the condition of sidebone.

It is critical to note that anytime a horse is trimmed in a way that goes against his natural anatomy, you are making a trade off that will more than likely have a high price tag for both you and your pony. For example, horses that toe out, or toe in, will often naturally paddle their feet. If you ask your farrier to correct this and make your horse travel in a straight line, one side of the hoof wall will have to be lowered. This “correction” may make your horse appear to be moving normally (straight). But all it really does is change your horse’s normal conformation, and alter the movement which is natural for him. In doing so, problems such as sidebone, ringbone, and navicular disease may result.

Ringbone Introduction

2005-12-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

No Hoof, No Horse

2005-12-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

Introduction to Farriers

2005-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

Winter Grooming

2005-12-21T14:44:00.000-08:00

Almost all adverse winter equine skin conditions result from a dirty coat. A dirty hair coat gives bacteria and fungi a perfect environment to get a foothold during the winter months. When your pony is in his winter coat, problems such as weight loss, skin abrasions, and skin infections are much more difficult to spot than when he is all slicked out in the summer months.

The best way to ensure a healthy coat and skin for your horse during the winter is to make sure that you take the time to give him a vigorous grooming on a daily basis. If you happen to find cuts or scrapes during your grooming session be sure to apply your ointment of choice and keep an eye on the affected area to ensure proper healing is taking place.

In addition, if you have access to a draft free area you should bathe your pony on a weekly basis. Make sure to use warm water, and use a heat lamp to help speed up the drying process if you have one. If not you can keep your horse warm by putting a cooler (preferably wool) on him until he is dry.

Grooming benefits not only your horse’s physical health, but his emotional needs as well. In the winter there are simply going to be times when it will not be possible to saddle up in cold weather regions. During times such as these there is nothing quite like an extended grooming session to bring you and your equine partner closer. I feel that maybe the greatest benefit of grooming is the quality time you get to spend with your horse.

In the winter, regardless of whether or not your horse is blanketed, daily grooming needs to be the rule and not the exception in your barn. Almost all horses enjoy being groomed once they become used to the process. Remember that winter grooming is essential if you are going to eliminate the dirt, shed hair, and dead skin your horse is going to accumulate with his longer, thicker coat.

Check out the value of this grooming kit! If you have any winter grooming tips please answer this post to share your ideas with your fellow horse owners.

Navicular Syndrome

2005-12-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Navicular syndrome is a critical problem with the riding horse. Navicular is usually suspected when your horse is showing pain in the caudal aspect of its hoof. Typically when this problem is diagnosed the horse owner will not only need to revise the horse’s training program, but will also need to look at corrective shoeing. I have found the composite shoe to be a more than competent corrective shoe for navicular problems. Every horse owner or caretaker should fully understand hoof mechanism, proper trimming, and how it affects the horse’s entire body, health and longevity.

Navicular problems are not hereditary. Many horse people may believe that navicular problems are hereditary. Do not mistake this for a hereditary weakness. It is a very common health care problem. Navicular problems are almost always man made through improper trimming, short term or long term shoeing, and/or inadequate natural environment throughout the horse’s life. This type of improper care can cause problems in the navicular area of your horse’s hoof.

The navicular bone is located directly behind the coffin bone, held in between the short pastern and coffin bone by tendons and ligaments. The navicular bone has two main functions: To protect the joint and tendons from pressure and concussion; and to act as a valve for blood flow to the coffin bone and corium in the hoof. An insult to this region causes pain and lameness in the horse.

When your horse is diagnosed with navicular syndrome by your veterinarian a common drug therapy will normally include isoxsuprine hydrochloride, a drug which causes dilation of the small blood vessels. This is a long course of drug therapy which can become quite expensive.

Corrective shoeing is always going to be required in more chronic cases of navicular syndrome. Your horse should be trimmed according to its own conformation and properly fitted with a corrective shoe. The main point is that to be able to continue using your horse, you are going to need to be proactive in making your horse comfortable while he is working. Remember, you are never going to be able to cure navicular problems, you and your farrier can, however, assist in relieving him from pain.

Thrush

2005-12-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

Performance Horse Shoeing Tips

2005-12-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

No matter what kind of performance horse you might happen to have, cutting, reining, roping, or pleasure, one thing is a constant fact: your horse must be in balance with his body to perform at his optimal level. It is your farrier’s job to trim and shoe your horse to allow for optimal balance.

I have been lucky with my reining cow horse, Smoke ‘em. He has never needed any corrective shoeing. I simply have my farrier trim him flat and level based on the conformation of each of his legs. I have his feet trimmed short to ensure that he moves naturally. Horses with toes that are too long or heels that are too high do not stride naturally and do not look pretty to the judges. Eventually, excessively long feet cause problems that may require correction and even rehabilitation down the road. You can compare this problem to the human athlete. If a runner wore shoes one size too small, or too large, for even one training session he would feel a lot more stress and strain in the legs than with shoes which fit properly. The same is true for your horse.

The most important factor in the shoeing of your performance horse is to have him land level on the ground, You can notice this by observing your horse move at a walk. View him from the front and from the side. Does the inside or the outside of the shoe hit the ground first? Or, does he put the entire hoof down level? If his walk is level, he will most likely lope and trot level also. And, most importantly for cow horses, he will stop level also. If he does not land perfectly level his timing (and yours) will be off. This problem will only get worse as you work him at a quicker pace. Remember, all foot and leg problems intensify as the horse moves faster.

The best way to make decisions about your performance horse’s shoeing needs is to watch him move from the ground, and learn to listen to your seat.

If you have any tips on shoeing the performance horse please post them here and share your experience.

Winter Hoof Care

2005-12-12T19:01:00.000-08:00

hybrid composite-metal horseshoes

2005-12-11T12:40:00.000-08:00

I have a gelding in dressage training. he's working 3rd Level, showing 2nd. He has some arthritis issues in his right front fetlock and as we brought him back to work, he went well in the marathon composite horseshoes for about 3-4 months. As the work and his fitness level increased, we began having some problems with nail and hoof wall stability in the marathons.

I'm having him shod now in the Eponashoe composite/metal hybrid horseshoes, and I have to say I'm very impressed with them. So is my Farrier. They offer the stability of a metal horseshoe with the joint saving benefits of the composite. He is NOT sound when shod in steel or aluminum, but the hybrid is doing a great job of supporting his weakness and keeping the integrity of his hoof wall intact.

He's always been hard on shoes, and habitually looses one of the front shoes the first 2-3 weeks after being shod. We have solved this problem by using the Equibond glue, two nails on each side of the hoof and the Eponashoes. He's a big mover and very exhuberent about life. I'm grateful to the makers of the Eponashoe for making the effort to advance the research and development that is going into these shoes. For this gelding, they are the difference between him being a paddock potatoe and being in regular work.

For me it is the difference between being keeping him sound (without drugs) and having a lame yard ornament =) Reply to this post if you have any questions about whether Eponashoes are the right choice for your horse!

Barefoot vs. Shoeing

2005-12-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

Ice Boot Therapy and Laminitis

2005-12-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

As an experienced horse owner, I know all too well the difficulties that one encounters when a horse goes down with laminitis, commonly known as founder. Other than a broken leg there is probably nothing that happens to our horses that forces everything to come to a halt until we can attempt to correct the problem. Through my own experience and research, and my talks with professional farriers, I have come to the conclusion that one of the first courses of action you should take at the onset of founder is to apply dry cold therapy to reduce the inflamation and ease the pain in your horse.

Hoof-it Technologies has collaborated with MacKinnon to create an ICE HORSE® product that has more than proven itself to be effective in treating the inflamatory phase of founder or laminitis, the Big Black Boot.

Laminitis is a painful condition of the feet. The disease is usually associated with digestive disturbances. The actual word laminitis means inflammation (itis) of the sensitive laminae of the foot. These laminae are the membranes which hold the bone of the foot (pedal bone) in place inside of the hoof. When laminitis occurs the laminae becomes inflamed. It is as if your horse has to stand on very badly bruised fingernails. The pain of laminitis must be similar to how we would feel after we accidentally slammed our fingers in a car door. However, it is much worse for our horse because he or she has to try to stand on the hurt hoof and take the pain, or in the worst case, go down.

Symptoms of laminitis include: rocking back on the haunches, lameness, reluctance to move, general stiffness, heat in the hoof, increased fetlock pulse, laminitic rings, sensitivity to hoof testers, and dropped soles. Laminitis most commonly affects the front feet, but cases occur in all of the hooves. Horses with laminitis stand in a characteristic way that lets you know the horse is trying to take weight off of their feet. In severe cases horses may constantly shift weight from one hoof to the other showing obvious discomfort. At some point the horse will go down so that no weight is on its feet.

Laminitis can start rapidly or slowly. I have walked into my barn and found a horse down with founder, lying in its stall and unable to rise due to the pain. Other times you may notice just a slight lameness and a little warmth in one or more hooves.

Generally, laminitis will start as an acute event. This means that it starts quite rapidly and causes a lot of pain. If such a condition is treated quickly it can be stopped in a reasonable time frame and be over in 10-14 days. If it is not treated quickly and effectively and if preventative measures are not used it can progress to become a chronic case. I have found the Big Black Boot ice treatment to be the perfect first treatment in acute cases of laminitis.

Chronic laminitis is a problem which drags on and on and never quite goes away. The horse in question has repeated mild attacks of founder and the feet are so affected that any change in diet brings on the problem again. A chronic laminitic horse may still suffer from acute attacks requiring immediate attention.

Cold therapy is the first recommendation for most acute or chronic injuries, including the localized heat, inflammation and swelling that occurs in laminitis. Standing your horse in cold water will help, but the water can be detrimental to the already traumatized hoof.

The ICE HORSE® Big Black Boot dry cold hoof therapy provides a safe way to get the vital first aid to your horse when he or she founders. If you are anything like me as a horse owner, you know that getting your animal out of pain and back to soundness are the most important things. I think that you will find that the Big Black Boot is an effective, easy to use, natural anti-inflamatory treatment for your foundered horse.

Dr. Daniel Montoya is a cowboy freelance writer who is doing research for Hoof-it Equine. Let him know if you have any questions about using the Big Black Boot. You can comment on this post or contact him at danny@hoof-it.com

HOOF-it Pads for Soundness

2005-11-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

We had our farrier out yesterday to put new steel shoes on Greg's horse. The horse has over 1000 miles for the season and had 405 miles on this particular set of steel shoes. Greg and Qamaar had done 250 rocky miles - five days in a row, 50 miles each day- at Grand Canyon, and then three weeks later another 155 rocky miles at the Smokey Killen three-day ride in Nevada. The shoes were paper thin on the rear with the nail heads completely gone from the road side of the shoes. After trimming the hoof and paring out the sole, the farrier commented that the hooves looked like the horse was ridden in the arena! We used hoof-it pads all 405 miles, and the hoof-it was what kept the shoes on when they were paper thin. Many riders were very interested in what Greg was using to keep his horse sound over so many rocky miles, and how he could ride 405 miles in the same shoes. Cyndee Pryor

My foundered mare is walking great...

2005-10-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Thank you. The pour in pad worked just like you said it would. My foundered mare is walking great, thanks to a good farrier and your product. Pattie

Founder and Naviculer Help

2005-09-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

Just a few lines to tell how these shoes and pour pads have helped me help a lot of horses. I've been useing hipoplast shoes and medicated pour pads at the Bhighterdays Horse Refugee in Pipe Creek Texas on 2 very laminatic horses. The horses are no longer laying down all the time and are starting to grow good horn. These horses were shod in 8mm HippoPlast wedges and saw almost imediate improvement. Now we are presented with a horse that is pre naviculer this with 3 xrays and no diognostic blocks. I go over the horse real good and determane the feet are very dry and contracted... again Hippoplast 8mm wedges and soak the feet. This horse is in the high dessert of New Mexico. Three days latter the folks are poneying colts on him... 6 weeks later the foot has opened up so much that the old shoes are to small and we go to flat shoes. Bill Mc Donald BWFA Farrier

Bryce Canyon 2005 Ride

2005-09-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Bryce Canyon 2005 By Cyndee Pryor

What an experience! Greg and I arrived a day early to rest the horses after our long journey across two states from California to southwest Utah. Camp was nice with a few trees, sandy footing, showers, horse water, and outhouses. Anne and Dave Nicholson were courteous and welcoming. For the most part, about 75 to 80 riders started each day with a very high completion rate. The weather co-operated with us, but on day three in base camp we had a sudden hail storm which the riders missed out on the trail. We had applied Hoof-it before leaving home, and after a quick check to make sure all eight hooves of our two horses were covered, we started day one with much anticipation. Luckily for us, the ride started a little late as we forget to reset our clocks forward by one hour. The scenery was gorgeous with the Red Rocks providing a spectacular view. Besides the sandy soil and the Red Rocks, it felt like we were in the California Sierras most of the time. The footing was rather rocky and we re-applied Hoof-it to seven of the eight hooves after day one. Each day progressed into the next with the main difference being the accumulation of tiredness. Greg and I stayed in the back of the pack as Greg weighs in at 270 pounds with tack and I was on a fairly young horse who hadn’t even done two days in a row before. Greg did manage to finish all five days on the same horse and I finished day 1,2,4, and 5, giving my horse day three off. All the days were large loops with lunch being out of camp so we prepared crew bags which were taken out to lunch for us. Usually lunch was about 25 miles into the ride with great views, green grass for the horses to munch on, horse water, people lunch provided, and great vet checks. Most of the days were pretty technical and a seasoned horse sure helped. Some of the trail was following the side of a canyon, some of the trail took you right up to the edge of a mile long drop off with a birds eye view of the Red Rocks. There were places where the trail was on the side hill of a shale rockslide, but everything was passable with common sense and no sense of urgency - meaning slow down, dismount, walk your horse in hand, and pay attention. When it doubt, check it out! It wasn’t an easy ride on horse or rider. Some days we would climb up to 9500 feet, drop down to 6500 feet, climb again to 8000 feet, and repeat this process many, many times during the day. Other days we would follow the side of the mountains around one bend to the next, and after doing this about six or eight times, wonder if we would ever get to lunch. This is not a ride you would want to get hurt on. Many places it would have been tough to get you or your horse out. But the Duck was always aware of where his ducklings were, what they were up against, and remained a calm and commendable leader throughout the course of the week. There were quite a few rock sore horses by the end of the ride and some didn’t get to finish all five days. Ours looked great using Hoof-it for the duration of the ride. Some of the riders were using Easy Boots which worked ok, but some of the Easy Boots were pulled off in the bogs and muddy areas. We re-applied Hoof-it after some of the more rocky days, but after using it at home and on the single day rides, it was an easy job after we came in from the trail. Great ride, great trail, great company, and I’m glad I found Hoof-it.

Grooming Box

2005-09-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I definitely like the box. It is a great deal for the price. What I like about it is, it contains several different types of brushes, sponges etc. Everything needed to complete a basic grooming in one easy to tote box. It also had a bit of room for some extra supplies. I have one question though- What is the brush that is on a stick and screwed into a plastic cover? Yes, I would definitely reccommend this tote to others. I actually have already mentioned it to other people.

My mare was diagnosed with Navicular Syndrome

2005-08-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dear HOOF-it Technologies: My mare was diagnosed with “Navicular Syndrome”. One day I noticed that her stride had become short and stabby like. We took her to the vet for a full examination and x-rays and sure enough she was diagnosed with “Navicular Syndrome”. The vet prescribed meds (isoxsuprine) that were given to her religiously but she still seemed too uncomfortable to go back to her regular workouts. After looking on the internet I found your HippoPlast horseshoes and was eager to try them. I bought a pair and gave them to my farrier to put on. My farrier is a bit of a traditionalist and gave me a cross eyed look but after some convincing he went ahead and put them on. Much to our amazement she walked out of the cross ties a different horse. We put her on a line and her movement was night and day. Her short and stabby stride became once again free and long. She has now been able to go back to regular work and has even been shown in the childrens hunters. I know she will never go back to the 3’6 ring but she is comfortable and happy. Who could ask for anything more? Thank you for making a horseshoe that just makes sense! Sincerely, Ann Alexander

Farrier Directory

2005-08-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you are a horse owner, you share in the challenge of keeping your horse comfortably sound. If you're like most of us, you've experienced lameness issues with your horses. You know that unraveling the source of lameness is a team effort between your vet, (or often more than one vet), your farrier, and you.

Caring for your horses' hooves on a daily basis is as important as keeping clean water in front of him/her. Choosing a good farrier is also critical to keeping your horse sound. What do you think are the qualities of a good farrier? We are looking for top farriers around the country and for that matter around the world so we can build a farrier referral directory at hoof-it.com.

We need your input, so if you are a farrier, or you have a good farrier, contact us. We'll need your name, the name of your farrier, location of your farrier business, your farriers contact info - phone number, and email address (optional). Also, if you want to share why you like your farrier, or what makes you a good farrier, we'll add that to your free listing in our directory.

Thanks!
The Hoof-it Horse Care Team

My Mare Has a Bruised Sole

2005-08-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

I received my HOOF-it II repair kit and used it that day. She trotted out almost sound the next day. I turned her out and let her bruise heal while I was on vacation. The Hoof-it repair kit helped support and protect her hoof while she was healing. Thanks!

My Draft Horse

2005-07-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

I began using plastic shoes on my draft horse that kicked himself in the side of the foot as his confirmation was base narrow and because of the weight of a steel shoe. In looking for alternatives to protect him from brushing, I found Hoof-If horsehoes in Draft size and tried them. I noticed so much growth in his feet and that he was so much more comfortable , moving more fluid, and yes he stopped brushing and injuring his hind leg. I began to try them on my cross country and event horses and haven't gone back to steel since. The plastic shoes contribute to increased hoof growth. This give the farrier more hoof to work with if the horse needs correction in his hoof. The shoe flexes, this creates more circulation in the foot and a healthier foot. The shoe flexes and this protects pasture mates form injury of serious kicks from steel shoes, but protects the using horse from hard surface or stone bruises. I've had one thoroughbred with under-run heels for ten years. With plastic shoes and my certified farrier's expertise in trimming and setting the shoe, he has grown upright heel for the first tine in 10 years! I love plastic horse shoes. People ask if there wear as well as steel. I actually had them re set three times on my draft horse. He weighs about 2500lbs. We were doing trail rides and arena work with him. I think they wear better than steel. Thank you Hoof-It! Christine Amber, owner/trainer www.equestriantraining.com

Composite Horseshoes Question

2005-07-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Question:
I am interested in knowing more about the composite shoes - particularly I am curious if you can get more than one shoeing from them? How long do they last? does the farrier use regular nails?

Thank-you, Potential Customer

Answer:
Dear Potential Customer:
Thank you for your interest in HOOF-it composite horseshoes. Horses wearing our composite shoes benefit in many ways...

Here are just a few: -Light in weight - Shock absorption -Increase of blood flow (see graphic) -Less stress on tendons and joins

Our composite shoes are quite durable. The average horse will get at least one reset. I have actually had customers call and tell me that they have reset our shoes 5 times. Although I would never recommend re-setting a shoe that many times... I do hear about it quite often. On the other hand if you are doing highly competitive endurance riding or have working driving horses that are on asphalt all day 5 days a week you will probably only get one shoeing comfortably out of our shoes.

As for nails... yes (most) any regular horseshoe nails will work.

Regards,
Team HOOF-it

Mounted Patrol Horses

2005-07-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis Police Mounted Patrol

August 28, 2000

Thank you for your help in addressing the concerns of the Minneapolis Police Mounted Patrol Unit regarding shoes for our horses.When I first contacted you, we were preparing for protests related to the International Scientists of Animal Genetics conference that was being held in our City. We were looking for a shoe for our horses that would provide proper grip on the wide variety of surfaces our horses encounter, as well as flexibility and durability.We received our order in less than a week and our Farrier had no problem putting the shoes on. We used a combination of the Marathons and Anatomic. The test would be how they held up during the protests.During the protests, we had other Mounted Patrol Units from other agencies providing mutual aid. One of the things we noticed immediately was the fact that our horses had much less slipping than the horses from the other agencies that were using steel shoes, barium shoes, or a combination (steel with barium tips). Our horses definitely had much better footing, which was a great advantage!The shoes have been extremely durable while remaining flexible, which is healthier for the hoof. We are very pleased with the performance of your Anatomic and Marathon shoes and plan to continue to use them in the future.Thanks again Heinz! I look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Officer Angela M. Dodge

Minneapolis Police Department

Mounted Patrol Unit Coordinator

Founder

2005-07-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

Dear HOOF-it, I am writing to you about Bo Jangles, my 12 year old registered quarter horse gelding. Bo was purchased this spring and was slightly tender to pincers on all four hooves when purchased. This tenderness did not reflect at all in the ring or on the trail once you began a course of corrective, conventional shoeing.

All this changed dramatically in the June when Bo Foundered. Bo had been turned out to pasture, apparently the pasture was too rich in clover, and Bo gorged himself and became sick. When Bo was first seen by us after foundering, he was ready to go down under his own weight and simply could not stand to bear weight on any of his hooves. You responded quite promptly to our call for help and did corrective shoeing, incorporating special shoes and a rather miraculous product called HOOF-it II Hoof Repair Kit. This resin product was used by you to cover the hoof wall and to protect the frog and pad. Immediately following re-shoeing, Bo was substantially relieved. It was miraculous to see the difference a few hours could make where the intervening time was spent properly diagnosing and treating the problem with products which truly performed as well or better then represented.

You have followed up twice with Bo since he foundered and the results are truly spectacular. I was working Bo on the ground within two weeks of the foundering problem and riding him within three weeks. Your regimen called for keeping him active and he was able to maintain a high level of activity with HOOF-it to protect him. You have re-shod Bo twice since he foundered and Bo's recovery is truly miraculous. I ride my horse regularly and have taken him on four and five hour trail rides over fairly rough terrain with absolutely no recurrence of symptoms.

Bo is very reliable, very sturdy mount thanks to you excellent care and HOOF-it. I have personally thanked you a number of times for the excellent care you have given this horse and thought writing this letter would be helpful and a testimonial which you might share with other clients.

Thanks again.

Yours very truly,
Joseph I. Cronin, Esq.

Founder and HOOF-it

2005-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dear HOOF-it: I'm writing to express my thankfulness and good fortune in running across your wonder product. I have a 20-year-old Thoroughbred broodmare who had foundered and continued to have foot problems. We tried to keep her comfortable with regular shoeing, but with no luck. We tried trimming her and leaving her without shoes, which only made matters worse. This is where HOOF-it came into the picture. I had my blacksmith shoe her again, but with one major change - we used HOOF-it. With the HOOF-it, we were able to build her foot up and hold the shoe firmly in place. This allowed her front feet to finally grow properly. The positive results were immediate. After two weeks she was doing fine and walking comfortably. HOOF-it is a tool that all horsemen should know about. I've bred, owned and trained thoroughbreds for over ten years and I have rarely found a product that is worth passing on to others. This product really works, and it is easy for the average horse owner to use. My hats off to you and your great product. Thank you, Charlene Touzet Thorson, KY

Older Horse Care

2005-07-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

I want to express my sincere gratitude for all you have done for “Brudder”. Brudder performed well at a very large NCHA show last weekend. He competed against 28 horses in his class, most a third of his age. In fact, at 23 years of age he brought home a check. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the expertise and innovated HOOF-it products you brought to the table in making Brudder comfortable on his feet. I think you have a sense of Brudder that I have long had myself, he is a great individual and deserves the best in his old age, and I have the best in you and your HOOF-it products. Dianne

Hoof Problems

2005-07-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

Somken Up Lee (Smoke) is a 22 year old own son of Mr. Gunsmoke who has had careers in cutting, jumping and now dressage. He's been way above average in all three sports, and though he's proven himself to be "golden", he does have one problem... he does have BAD FEET. They are thin and shelly, and after a full summer and fall of competition, his feet are so broken up my shoer has to be quite clever to even find a place to put nails to hold a shoe on. Enter the glue shoe and HOOF-it!! My vet, shoer, and I felt he needed to go barefoot for the winter, but being very flat footed and tender without shoes he couldn't be ridden. We decided to try a glue shoe and keep ridding. It was suggested that I have Steve Samet take over as he did most with the glue shoe in my area. To make a long story short... Steve has found a way to help keep glue shoes on. HOOF-it is an incredible product for helping in many situations, this being one. He brushed HOOF-it over the glue shoe, thus helping hold the shoe on, and in doing so he stabilized the whole hoof capsule, gave the foot lots of support, and Smoke traveled and performed well... he was one happy camper, as was I. Now going to summer, we have a healthy, not so toey foot that should hold a shoe until winter when I certainly will use HOOF-it and glue shoes once again. Many thanks to HOOF-it, Steve and Sean for their help!!!

HOOF-it Helps Quarter Cracks

2005-07-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

I am writing this letter to inform you how happy and grateful I am with HOOF-it. My horse suffered a serious quarter crack on both front feet. With the excellent assistance of Steve Same (HOOF-it Farrier) and HOOF-it my horse immediately became sound. I appreciate how it easy the product is to use. Thanks again. Sincerely, Stephanie Zolkowski

HOOF-it Hoof Repair

2005-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

I watched your product being demonstrated at Equitana in Louisville, Kentucky a few weeks ago, not realizing I would be in need of it. But as fate would have it, my horse pulled a front shoe and the farrier had to patch it with a product he uses. It only stayed on one day! As luck would have it, a friend had bought your HOOF-it product at Equitana. I tried it and was amazed at the ease of application and durability. It has stayed on and I am delighted with the results. Gail Shelbyville, KY

Fitting HOOF-it Compostie Horseshoes

2005-07-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

Question:
I'm ordering my second set of shoes. I was hoping your shoes would encourage hoof growth and expand my horses feet. Well good news it seems to be working. Why do I sound suprised because I've tried all kinds of supplements,... well nothing really seemed to be all that effective. The only thing that seemed to make a difference was pulling my horses shoes and turning him out with a horse that really kept him moving for the winter. (no shoes & exercise) My only concern as I'm looking at the shoes that were pulled off, it apears my horses weight on the outside of the shoe pushed up the inside of the shoe. I see that the shoe was rasped round on the outside edges so as his foot expanded he was on the very very edge that did not have shoe under touching the ground. On his fore feet off and over the inside edge. I'm sure as my farrier gets more accustom to these shoes he will make adjustments. Also he though his standard clincher was a bit awkward. He wanted me to ask if he should be using a special one made for your shoes?
Thank you very much,
Leigh Cahill

Dear Leigh,
Have your farrier leave as much expansion room around the heels as he feels comfortable with. I usually leave 1/4 inch or a little less. With the shoe being flexible if a horse steps on the edge 90% of the time the shoe just flexes back into place.
The extra expansion room will ensure that you get a reset if the shoe isn't to worn.
I use regular clinchers and try to get my nails a little higher than I would with a steel shoe. There are times when I use to punch the nail heads down with my clinch cutter but I seldom do that anymore.

Low Heel Problems

2005-07-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

I purchased a set of Marathon shoes for my Peruvian mare (age 19) that has had a problem growing heels and does not do well with steel shoes. I put the shoes on in April and pulled them off in February. That set of shoes went through four resets before they wore out. The mare was taken on several mountain type trail rides as well as being ridden on the paved urban trail quite frequently during the summer and fall. The paved trail does give a way to dirt after the first 1/4 miles, so she wasn't on the pavement all the time. When the rain set in, she was worked in a covered dirt arena. My farrier was amazed with the heel the mare grew and I was amazed at how long the shoes lasted. I have used other composite shoes in the past but have never had these outstanding results. As a result of my trying the shoes and using them on two other Peruvians, my farrier is now recommending them to his clients. The majority of whom own trotting horses. This year we are shoeing several more horses with the HOOF-it composite shoes and I will be happy to let you know the results. They work well on our gaited horses because they do not inhibit the gait, nor do they enhance the gait. They do help keep the horses with flat feet or low heels from bruising which is a problem in our area because of the wet winters effect on the hooves. Thanks for a great product. Karen Kent, Washington

Carriage & Draft Horses

2005-06-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

As a trainer and driver of carriage and draft horses I felt very fortunate to find and use the composite horseshoes put out by HOOF-it Technologies. We train approximately twenty driving horses a year here at Winter Hill Driving Center in the mountains of Florida with the biggest demand being for CDE horses and ponies. As you can imagine there is a great deal of twisting and turning and a lot of road miles (up to 15 miles per day) to get in condition for these events. We have one set (four shoes) which is on it's fourth reset and that's on my Purcheron, Lexie, who trains every horse that comes in. We go eight weeks on reset for her and outside of replacing a nail or two we've never lost a shoe. As a hitch driver from 1971 on, I was probably the most skeptical of these products then anyone until a client's horse, another Pucheron, Ben, came in for training. After that it was love! So if you have any questions feel free to stop by our training center in sunny Florida if you want to see some great driving horses and HOOF-it Composite Horseshoes. Bob Giles Winter Hill Driving Center, Morriston, Florida http://winterhilldrivingcenter.com/

Contracted Heels

2005-06-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

Which one of your shoes would you recommend for contracted heals? Leigh

Leigh,
The standard Hippoplast shoe works well for contracted heels. This is link for the Hippoplast:
HOOF-it Hippoplast Shoes

Carriage Horses

2005-06-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

I have a horse drawn carriage business in Nashville, Indiana and have been looking for something to help absorb some of the shock to my horses legs. I was serfing the web one day and came across your site. I was wondering if these type of shoes would uphold to this type of work. I have two percheron geldings who work at least 30 hrs. a week on the streets. My boyfriend is a farrier and has never herd of these shoes. I was curious if we could have a trial pair. My one percheron wears a size 8, and I didn't know if you even carry anything that big.
Thanks, Hilary

Dear Hillary,
I shoe the carriage horses at Cinderella Carriage Co. in downtown San Diego with these shoes. During the summer months we get 5 weeks from the shoes and during the winter months the shoes will last from 7 to 8 weeks.
The Bigfoot draft shoe is modeled after a Werkman size nine shoe and should fit your Percheron. The dimensions of the shoe are 7 7/8w x 8 1/4l. Measure your horses hoof to determine if it will fit.
This is the link to the shoe :
Hoof-It Big Foot Composite Shoe

Cinderella Carriage Company

2005-06-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

Since my purchase of Cinderella Carriage Company in downtown San Diego I have had my horses shod with the HOOF-it composite Bigfoot shoe. In the past three years I have had no lameness problems related to concussion or horses slipping on the asphalt as the composite shoes aid in traction in all weather conditions.

My Farrier shoes all for feet with the composite shoes. During our busy season the heavy horses will get 5 to 6 weeks of wear from the shoes. One of my lighter horses actually gets a reset from a set of Marathon shoes.

I would recommend any carriage operation to look at the use of composite shows for the welfare and safety of your horses and your fares.

Joe Jeiter

Cinderella Carriage Company, San Diego, CA

Quarter Crack Problems

2005-06-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

I had a great experience with HOOF-it II hoof repair and composite shoes for horses. I had just purchased a new horse in Texas. Shortly after arriving in California he developed quarter cracks on the medial side of both front hooves. The cracks were fairly severe in that they ran the full vertical length of the hoof and all the way up through the coronary band. I was very disappointed. My new horse was now lame and I was looking at missing the whole show season if I could not get the cracks stabilized, not only to reduce the pain, but also to get some growth started quickly so as to minimize his layup time. My farrier told me about some new products he was working with that he thought would help. He used the HOOF-it hoof repair to fill in and stabilize the cracks in combination with the HOOF-it composite shoes. Needless to say, my horse's lameness improved very quickly and the cracks started to grow down at a very fast rate, probably three or more times faster than if my horse had been wearing regular metal shoes. My horse was back to full work in a very short period of time and I only missed the first show of the season. The HOOF-it products allowed me to greatly decrease the layup time of my horse and put him back to full work without any problems while the cracks were growing down. My horse did so well with the composite shoes that I kept them on him the whole time I owned him, about three years. The composite shoes were like "horsey tennis shoes." They had a lot more give and cushion to allow for an accelerated rate of growth of the quarter cracks, as well as to decrease the concussion on the hoof to minimize any pain as the cracks were growing down, thus allowing me to continue to ride and show my horse successfully instead of having to lay him up for an extended period of time.

Melanie Stokes - Ramona, California

Composite Horseshoes

2005-06-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

My client notes that she is able to ride on the golf course next to her house now with the Hippoplast shoes since they don't tear up the grass like other shoes! Also, her horses previously contracted feet are no longer contracted after just two shoeings. Thank you! Jonathan, BWFA Journeyman Farrier

Quarter Cracks

2005-06-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Hoof-it, I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for your wonderful product. We (my vet, farrier, and myself) have been struggling with persistent quarter cracks with my 8 year old Quarter Horse mare for the last 5 years. After many variations of heart bar shoes, different padding and trimming techniques, and a short stint of barefoot... we found that barefoot seemed to provide the best results. However, my mare has extremely flat feet and did not do well without shoes. After almost a full year with no improvement, I saw your ad in the California Horsetrader, and decided your composite Hippoplast shoes were worth a try. Bingo. After just 6 weeks we had almost 1/2 inch of new hoof growth with NO advancement of the existing hoof crack, after 12 weeks nearly 1 1/8 inch. She even went up a size. We are very pleased with her improvement which can only be explained by your composite horseshoes. Thanks again for your wonderful product. Diana W. San Marcos, CA

HOOF-it and Laminitis

2005-05-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

About one and a half years ago I was showing in northern California when I realized my yearling mare was off on her front left foot. When I brought her home I called my Vet. He took x-rays and when the results came back, he told me she had foundered and had ten degrees of rotation in both front feet. I was extremely upset, because I was so careful with her feeding and training program. I called my horseshoer and told him what had happened and he came over right away. He immediately put on these plastic shoes with a liquid substance poured onto the sole of the feet called Hoof-It to create a pad. As soon has he finished she was walking a better. After a three month period I called my Vet to have another x-ray taken. He called me and told me that her foot was getting better. He also said to keep using the Hoof-It product because it was healing the foot better and faster than he had ever seen.

Well it has been over a year now and she is walking and running normally during her turn out time. I asked my shoer if and when I could start working with her and if he thought I might be able to show her again. He gave me the go ahead about 3 weeks ago. I started working with her slowly. To make a long story short, I went to the 60th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show last week and I ended up Circuit Champion and Reserve Champion In my Division. This truly is a dream come true as I did not know if I was ever going to be able to show my mare again. I know for a fact that it was the Hoof-It Product that enabled my mares hoof to heal and grow so she could walk normal again. Thank You HOOF-it your products saved my Mares Life!!!!!!!!

Peggy Sibley,
Campo, California

Show Horse Hoof Problems

2005-04-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

submitted by Cyndee Pryor and United Steele

If one is very lucky, a great horse comes your way once in a lifetime. We all define a great horse according to our own criteria - a horse that can tolerate our inexperience, be patient with children, go fast, go slow, do trail work, arena work, dressage, hunter jumper, or work cows. Regardless of the definition, all great horses share the uncanny ability of figuring out what we want them to do and then do it well.

I have been so blessed with such a horse. He came to me with lots of energy and a great spirit of competition. He was capable of listening to me, and I listened to him. We started with NATRC, went into endurance and competitive trail riding, IAHA Sweepstake Competitions, and even tried our hand and hoof at dressage. He took me to many regional and national competitions with ribbons, plaques, titles, placings in the money, and memories. But one issue plagued us regardless of the sport we entered - he had terrible hooves.

We would come home from a competition, and my farrier would shake his head back and forth. However athletically gifted my horse was, his hooves couldn't hold up in spite of our best efforts. We tried competing in boots, we tried flat pads, wedge pads, we tried taking off as much of the front toes as we dared. We tried most everything during the ten years of hoof problems, all to no avail. That horse refused nothing I asked except to grow a heel on those front hooves. He naturally wanted to have almost no heel growth, contracted heels, and flat soles. His quarters were always broken away on all four hooves which put too much pressure on the heels. I had to miss important competitions, not because he was tired, needed a break, or wasn’t ready, but because his hooves wouldn’t hold up.

Then I found Hoof-it II Pads. I was at a 100-mile endurance ride with another horse and as always, had my eye on anything new that might help US’s hooves. The riders parked next to us showed me how Hoof-it II Pads had worked for them and gave me a catalog. I couldn’t get home fast enough to make that phone call.

Hoof-it II Pads have worked wonders for United Steele. After an early retirement, he is back in competition. His hooves look great - even with training and 50 mile rides. After the farrier finishes putting on new shoes, we apply Hoof-it II Pads to all four hooves. The pads fill in where quarters are weak and prevent them from breaking out. I fill in the nail holes to keep his hooves moist, and also use the Hoof-it to fill in around the heels on the outside of the hoof to give more support to the heels on the shoes. We fill in all around the inside of the shoe and the sole area. If it's winter and the horse isn’t being used, I can take the pads off myself without worry of thrush due to the wet weather. When I want to ride, I can easily put the Hoof-it on, regardless of my shoeing schedule.

My farrier is amazed with how well US’s hooves look now. He is no longer flat soled, his heels grow and are no longer contracted, and his quarters hold up to the workload. US hated his early retirement, and thanks to Hoof-it II Pads, US and I are quite happy and back in competition.

Rescue Horse

2005-03-31T18:48:00.001-08:00

Frankie was suffering from the abuse of neglect when he was rescued by Homeward Bound. Look at him now! He's making his debut as a movie horse on Desperate Housewives, Sunday, April 3, 2005 at 9pm PT. Frankie is one of nine rescued horses living dignified, healthy lives at Homeward Bound Horse Drawn Carriages in Julian, Californina.
He wears Hoof-it alternative horseshoes and has recovered completely from the effects of neglect because he now gets quality care.

Horseshoes from Germany

2005-03-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

My dressage horse has two different front feet. Needless to say, he's tricky to shoe. He has to be shod regularly at 4-5 weeks, or his right pastern angle gets more steep than the left, which torks his entire body and makes him sore in the back. He also has suspensory problems in the left hind as a compensation for the upright front.

Basically, he historically goes off the last week he's in a set of shoes and the first week of a new set of shoes and it is far worse if he goes longer than 5 weeks between shoeing. I decided to have my farrier try Hoof-it alternative horseshoes on him. I love them! He does too. He's been in them now for two shoeings. Since the composite material of the alternative horse shoes is not as hard as steel or aluminum, his heel on the left front foot has started to grow correctly.

What a great invention! There are lots of horses out there that don't do well standing and working on steel or aluminum shoes. I hope to compete him again this year at 4th Level and PSG.