Treating Founder (Chronic Laminitis) without Horseshoes
Guest book posts, 2003
Gretchen Fathauer's replies are in RED.
Hi, I liked your web site. I really love your Qtr/Ponies. Heather dhbeef@tds.net
My girlfriend just brought in a boarder for the winter. A 15 year old QH mare. I had noticed this horse a year ago or more at her home field, which is on the way to my girlfriend's property. She would ALWAYS be standing with her front feet on the ramp that goes up to her barn door. I figured she was a standardbred racehorse (we have many of them here) who was rehabilitating from an injury. If not, I assumed Navicular pain.
The owner's parents are tending her in the summers while their daughter is away at college and work out of province, and in the winters, the horse would stay at another facility.
This past week, the horse was moved to her winter home, and the caretaker called the owner's parents and blasted them for not noticing her front end soreness. The parents (not "horse-people") were shocked by the way she handled it, and moved the horse to my girlfriend's.
So...I had the opportunity to put my theory to the test. She tested positive for Navicular pain (likely just Bursitis at this stage) in her WHITE front right and negative on the left. Long toes, low and forward heels, QH, 15 years ....primary caretakers did not notice the soreness which came about so slowly...it all adds up and does not surprise me.
Thanks to this site I have been able to find images to explain the inner anatomy, and how I plan to go about slowing the progress of the condition and relieving some of the pain. Although we can't expect to alter the direction the horse is moving in regarding Navicular Syndrome, I believe we can slow it down so that this horse can have a few more good years and live them in more comfort than she is now.
....Barefoot.
Thanks for a great site. Chris Newman Prince Edward Island, CANADA olschris@hotmail.com
Taught by Gary Johnston (An advocate of bare feet in most cases ) Canadian Farrier School Lethbridge / Madden Alberta - 2001
Well, check out a navicular page I have under construction: Nacivular Page
I love the website--very informative. I came across it looking for information on remodeling of the coffin bone. I'm not too sure what would be best to treat my mare. Thanks for providing such a great website. Michelle, RioKiowaDoll@midwaynet.net
Great information source! poppykeith@charter.net
Ben Kirkland Valdosta, GA, USA
Thank you for taking the time to set up this informative and interesting site. The benefits just keep coming forward to why the natural hoof. I currently have my vet interested in learning more. I felt uncomfortable and awkward in the earliest of my learning. The changes quickly come in attitude and skill developed from reading, photo examples and study, study, study....(committing to learn).... Your site is VERY much appreciated. Sincerely, Cheryl Henderson Jacksonville, Oregon hndrsn@cdsnet.net
The info that I looked at was so cool.
from Clover
clover0420012002@yahoo.com
Thank you for a wonderful site. I've spent much time studying and learning from your story, and thank you for taking the time to share it with us. Molly mgamble@2z.net
It is all pretty overwhelming for the new barefooters! I love your site and what you are doing. I could have swore that I found a step-by-step to trimming on your site. Now it doesn't seem to be there. It had great graphics, talked about making the plexiglass angle marker, heel height, everything. KellieCampbell858@msn.com
Try: www.naturalhorsetrim.com/Section_14.htm
www.naturalhorsetrim.com/how_I_trimsketches.htm
http://www.naturalhorsetrim.com/HoofAngle.pdf
Thank you for sharing this... I am learning a lot...and this is a great education. We have a standardbred with early founder symptoms, and I am very confident that this is the way to treat this, rather than conventional methods. Thanks again - Keri - New Zealand. kmapperson@hotmail.com
Nice website.
Thanks for the website. Nice job! http://www.texas-alfalfa-hay.com
I think this is a truly wonderful web site. I was desperate about my horse - three months in the stable under vet advice and no improvement, just deterioration. 6 butes daily and losing interest in food - always lying down. I made a date for euthanasia, but--absolutely grief stricken--started searching the Internet. I found your site and a Strasser technician near us. We have now been trimming him for five weeks, he went toxic at first (it was hell and in awful weather), but we persevered and now he is strolling about with his chums and getting better all the time. The abscesses keep coming and making him sore, but he is cheerful and happy. I look forward to six months' time, when I hope he will be rideable again. Thank you so much. I cannot believe what a steep learning curve we have just undergone. God Bless Dr. Strasser and Kathy Clark, our dedicated hoof doctor. adrianne@toddsend.freeserve.co.uk Adrianne Smyth, Todds End, Todds Gren, Stevenage, Herts.
Not a member of Yahoo, but would like to subscribe to the naturalhorsetrim. Also, like the layouts of your barns - any chance of getting basic drawings?
Katie Bray wyomingrambler@praize.com
Great site and I will be returning to it often. Enjoying all the information and working hard to keep our horses all barefooot, happy and ridden. Sharon (sharonepredy@hotmail.com)
I PURCHASED A BELGIAN WITH AN ABSCESS IN HIS FOOT, AND FROG WITH SEVERE THRUSH. I HAVE LOOKED FOR A PLAN FOR A SET OF STOCKS, AND YOUR SITE IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED. THANKS, BRYAN, EASTERN SHORE OF MD. BRYANPBLP@AOL.COM
Wonderful suggestions. Fortunately for my 26 year old mare, who foundered in 2/02, I have a farrier who has been helping her immensely. However, she is still on bute and can't seem to stay off of it for more than a couple of days. My farrier suggested soaking her feet for 2 hours a day and providing her with a wheat germ poultice. Also, I would love more info on the Apple Cider soaks. Her white line looks reasonable, not perfect, but has improved 80%. Right now her biggest problem is hoof dryness, remarkably this old girl has come back from over 30% rotation to within 5%. I intend to subscribe to your newsletter. Thanks for listing. Debbie in Maine @ debora@nbnet.nb.ca
Re the apple cider vinegar soaks, I have used a mix of vinegar to water of about 1:8. You might look into participating in Dr. Kellon's jiaogulan trials: Click HERE Very poor circulation can sometimes result in dried out hooves, too.
I found your website accidentally as I was looking for solutions to saddle fitting for what seems to be an impossible situation for my gelding. I've been in tears all morning because I have tried everything to fit a horse I love dearly and once again the vet said the saddle was the problem. Your web site gave me hope again. The search for solutions is so difficult, emotionally stressful, and time consuming. I have never seen a website with so much info on this difficult subject. I've been to countless saddle fitting clinics, read countless books, and in my naivete' I've figured out more than what most of the clinics have to offer. You confirm all of what I've learned and more, and your site is laid out beautifully. Thanks soooo much!
Your TACO-FINOS look like wonderful horses. I bet they are fun to trim as well as ride. Keep up the good work. www.soundhoof.com (very soon to come)
Hello Gretchen: Again, I thank you for your devotion and efforts regarding laminitis. I first saw your web site 4 years ago when my mare contracted severe laminitis. I employed the natural trim method and attended Dr. Strasser's clinic in California. I was the only person in that clinic who specifically addressed the issues of trimming for laminitis with Dr. Strasser, and was blessed to have the opportunity to benefit from her life's work. I also learned of the infrasonic (Alpha waves - not ultrasound) machine that INCREASES circluation, eliminates toxins and relieves the pain of laminitis (as well as other conditions of the body). With these two combined therapies, I have seen wonders in healing and time of recovery, and would like to share this information with others. Christine Hatcher: Hatcher 332@Hotmail.com V: (760) 451-2700
Hi I've always said ponies don't need shoes on. I had a pony for 20 yrs. and never had her shod. Her feet were always good. I found your web site very interesting. Lots of luck, Ronnie from Preston
Thank you so much for your website and information. We are currently trying medication and confinement and we see little improvement. I found a farrier who had spoken of the wild-horse trimming prior to my horse foundering. I am calling her tonight. Thank you
Interesting study. I am dealing with a conditioned horse who began by throwing the left front shoe after 2 weeks. My belief was he over reached (it still is). I reset the shoe at 57 degrees with rears about the same. Over night he threw that shoe again and also the right front. Don't know why. He has tolerated these angles and shoes for several years. The was severe tenderness in both feet the next day. He has not overfed and there is no reason for founder (grass, feed, road, etc.). I am not see swelling in the ankle or coffin area and suspect tenderness from pulling the shoes. Got any suggestions? This is a 5 year old quarter horse gelding. R.D. King rjdcoop@aol.com
57 degrees in front is too steep. I would get x-rays, and use them to show me how much the heels need to be lowered to get the coffin bone bottoms ground-parallel, and how far back you can back up the toes. And be sure you don't have over-long or overlaid bars or protruding frogs. He may be stepping on his front shoes if he is getting sore in front, delaying breakover. Certainly setting him up so his coffin bones are tilted down in the toe will reduce shock absorption over the long haul, and it is just clumsier. I hope you get some x-rays to see what is really going on in terms of any arthritis or coffin bone degeneration, and to also guide your trimming in the future. You could have some arthritic changes starting. Correcting the balance of his fronts may alleviate this. Certainly worth a try. The only problem with correcting his balance is that it could make him too long-strided for Western Pleasure classes. Another reason for shoes not staying on is the common practice of rasping the clinches to ease pulling shoes, rather than bending them back individually without taking a lot of wall in the process. After a few resets of rasping the clinches and walls to ease pulling the shoes, the walls can really get thinned too much.
Like the web site - been introduced to your methods by a lady in the States. I'm interested in the subject because I have a fabulous quarter horse with lousy feet. She is always having lameness troubles after shoeing - my blacksmith is great and I have no trouble with any of the other horses, but Josey has had an endless problems with nail abscesses - splitting hooves - (wears a heart bar shoe to stop further splitting) or just general inexplicable lameness. Never had laminitis or no obvious signs of navicular according to my vet - at my wits end because I never seem able to ride her. Think I may download this lot and give both my blacksmith and vet something to read!!!
regards
lindywooduk@aol.com
I doubt she was put in heartbars simply for cracking hooves. If they feel she needs orthopedic shoeing, this is an indication that you may very well have a poor laminitic connection, and they feel the need to 'hold the feet together" with heartbars. Unless she is being quicked by nails often, I think the abscesses may be caused by other problems besides nails. There are some UK Strasser hoofcare specialists listed on my home page and Section 5--I hope you can connect with one. I hope you get some x-rays, which will show you more clearly what you are dealing with. If there is a lot of coffin bone loss, the prospects for a full and faster recovery are reduced. You may as well know up front what you are dealing with. It will also be of value in trimming to have some x-rays.
Love your website! The drawings and notes are were a huge help for me. I'm pretty new to the barefoot thing--can't wait for the contracted heels to heal. I live in an area of Australia where there are no Strasser trimmers around unfortunately so I am trying to do the trimming myself. Pretty scary stuff! Tough on the back, too. I just hope I'm not doing more damage. Looking at the photos here, my boy has a long way to go; his frog is half the size on any of these horses! He is still foot sore since the shoe removal about a month ago, but I can ride him on grass quite comfortably (actually moves better now than with shoes on the sand arena). I have ordered the "Lifetime of soundness" book so hopefully this will help me with my trimming. I am currently doing a diploma in equine tactile therapy and the next module includes hoof care. The course co-ordinator is a fan of the Strasser technique, also. Keep up the good work. Dianne Colledge dicolledge@yahoo.com.au
Scott Kroeger has been organizing clinics in Australia, and is a current Strasser hoofcare specialist in training. For contact info, etc., his web site is: http://www.thenakedhoof.com.au
Thanks so very much for showing me that what I've believed to be more beneficial for my Arab pony is actually true!!
Bare Foot is Better!!
Best regards Wendy & Khafji cornflowerblue@octa4.net.au
This has been very informative. I have a foundered mare that I rescued from starvation. She is very poor. My husband has been trimming her about once a week, but I will let him know that he can trim her more aggressively. We have a very sandy soil and she likes to lay down in it. She has laid down so much that her back legs go numb and she has trouble getting up and down. We do not stall her and I have a yearling colt that makes her get up and walk around. I'm glad to know it is good for her to walk around. We will encourage it more. I put her hay & water away from her so she would have to get up. I am encouraged by your article that she can possibly get better. Thank you. Stephanie Huckabee shuckabee@usouthal.edu
I hope you will get in touch with Dr. Kellon re diet recommendations for gaining weight without re-foundering her. Jiaogulan trials BTW, where are you?
After a year of farrier and veterinary failures, my horse Montana had the extreme luck of my finding a web site with information on Dr. Strasser's method of treating laminitis, and it led me to Scott Kroeger. We are still in the very early stages, but with trims every 3-4 days Montana is definitely showing some improvement and there is hope. I have completed the introductory course on the Strasser method of hoofcare and I am grateful that I will be able to head off any problems with my other horses. What a pity there isn't a Nobel prize for equine services! Debra Kellett, Little River, Victoria Australia - debrakellett@hotmail.com
Hello, I have been reading your site with extreme interest. I have a foundered mare who did so the end of March. She is still very uncomfortable. The vet and farrier have been working together. Her heels have been lowered (maybe not enough) and she is in padded and putty filled heart bar shoes. She was on bute awhile then on a month of aspirin. Now, an occasional bute. She has been in a large pen, alone until the past month when another horse developed an abscess and she gained company. I plan to discuss what I have learned on your site and references with both vet and farrier. I don't intend to lose this horse! I live in Georgia. Are any clinics available in the southeast or the Texas, Oklahoma area? My name is Elizabeth Malcome.. e_malcome@ yahoo.com Again thanks, Liz
Try and get Gayle Chariker to work on the horse; Gayle is in Atlanta, GA. hooform@earthlink.net
Name: Barbara Scott E-Mail: BScott@MareMeadows.com Homepage Title: Mare Meadows Ranch Homepage URL: http://www.MareMeadows.com Location: Gil Crest Training Center, Bell Florida
Comments: Anyone who will be bringing their standardbreds to GilCrest Training Center in Bell, Florida this Fall will be interested to know that the new Mare Meadows Ranch has 9 stalls available, as of this posting, for the 2003/4 season. The Ranch is adjacent to the best trotter track in Florida, 30 miles west of Gainesville.
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We also offer 24-hour foal watch for thoroughbreds, quarter horses and other performance horses. Lay-ups, nursing care for injured horses, etc.
Call Barb at 352-463-1337 to reserve your stalls today!
Gretchen Fathauer's reply--I really think stalling is counter-productive, both physically (less movement, no hoof mechanism on soft bedding) and mentally/emotionally--horses are just much happier being out in groups and free. Many previously sane, reasonable horses can get spooky and hyper from being confined too much. Plus it is healthier. Although your stalls are larger than average, the horses would be much better off in larger paddocks, with company. I like stalls to separate horses when you are graining them, but that's about it.
My horse is being treated by my blacksmith, who is trimming her much the same way as your instructions, however, she is always very sore after he cuts away her sole. Why does he do this ? By the time she's walking comfortably again, it's time for another trim.
jenny@jsimon.fsworld.co.uk
If he is trimming the soles in the toe area, and the toes are already over-shortened, the bone is almost through the sole. Get some x-rays--it will help guide your efforts.
Hello, My name is Angel, I currently own roughly 9 horses. One has a club foot, and another that has navicular. I've been searching a long time to find help for my mare, Gypsy. She has navicular. I'm ready for any advice that any one has. My email is angel.burrill@maine.edu. Thank-you
I have a page on navicular you might find interesting.
Hi. I just hired a new farrier - yesterday he came out and told me that my Mtn. gelding had been foundered. I got him a year ago last May, and within three months of having him he developed an abscess. He's had 4 abscesses in the entire time. My Vet would never tell me anything, but "it's just due to the real dry weather". How do I know I'm trimming my horses hooves right (angles etc.) as you suggest? I can't afford a farrier to come out 2-3 times per week. Tell me more about the boots please. thanks. Ann Sampson Lincoln, NE bs31220@alltel.net
You could have someone trim for you once or twice a month, and you can do tiny little trim tweaks in between. More boot info at: Section 18 and Hoof Boot Swap Page
I like your site. I am always looking for older and more natural ways to deal with many things. We were recently given a 22 year old horse. It has been foundered (grass, we have been told). A friend who 'knows horses' looked at her hooves and suggested corrective shoeing, and no pasture time (no fresh grass, just dried hay) immediately. This seemed very backwards to me and I am glad there are other proven methods out there. I have dealt with horses a little bit, but this is the first one I have owned. Thank you for the good site. Walter lazzyk@mts.net
In some cases, limiting grazing has merit. You can get the same results with a grazing muzzle, though, while still allowing the horse some grass, and a social life out in the field, more movement, etc.
Very interesting comments on rear-facing trailers. We are currently trying to find a good rear-face trailer, preferably a gooseneck hitch, but they are impossible to get here in the UK. Rice and Richardson trailers (same company), now do rear-facing trailers based on their old design with revised axle positions. You may be aware of them, as I believe you wrote the article a couple of years back. There is also another new make and design - Equi-Trek - which has a side ramp. It has many ideal qualities, but falls down in some areas. It is very high and we believe can be unstable. Ed & Cath Freeman, Scottish Highlands, foxhole4bb@aol.com
I cannot understand why they would change or discontinue the Kiwi design, which had so much going for it! Both Dr. Cregier and I see no reason for side ramps, which really are less safe to use, and add weight and cost unnecessarily.
Dear Gretchen, It was good to learn that someone besides Dr. Strasser (for another data source) was your first data source on healthy, wild hooves. It all made perfect sense to me. Who can argue with the shape of healthy, wild hooves, anyway? I was also rejoicing that I understood the basics from just these pages, and not the hundreds from Dr. Strasser's texts! We should be grateful that Jaime and others have had the opportunity to examine mustangs' hooves! I also love your fixer-upper - good job! Janis, janispodesta@aol.com
Hello, I found this site because of my husband was cutting grass late this afternoon and ran over a wild bunny nest. One died and the other was fine. He brought it up to the house for me to keep until he finished. It was very upset. After I calmed it down, I put it between my boobies and it stayed there until my husband hurt his eye. I then placed it in my pet carrier with water and a tender romaine lettuce leaf so I could take him to the ER for a check up on the eye injury. I didn't want to place it back out until later with hopes of finding mommy. I went down and found its nest and it got back in, so I'll go back a little later to see if she's out there. We love all sorts of animals. We have cats and a dog that was thrown out on our road. Would you be interested in telling me what I would need to do in order to learn how to be a rescuer in my area? I am on our local animal control board, and as far as I know we don't have a rescuer in our local town of LaGrange, Ga. I found several in Ga, but none in our town. Thank you for allowing me to visit your web site.
Sandra L. Brown
sandr9@bellsouth.net
Are you sure this rabbit is weaned yet? Was she eating solid food readily? My rabbits loved oatmeal, spinach, grass, clover, etc., and I felt leaving them a variety of foods was a good idea. If she isn't weaned yet, she either needs to be back in her nest where her mother can feed her...if the mother comes back...or you need to feed formula a while. BTW, mother rabbits are often gone for several hours at a time feeding, and then return to nurse their babies. If the mother was not there at the time of the accident does not mean she won't be back later. If the baby is still nursing, I might give some formula and put her back in her nest to see if the mother returns. Rabbit milk is very rich, BTW. I used canned goat's milk and egg yolk on my guys...I think goat's milk is better than cow's milk in most of these cases. Cow's milk has more lactose, which many species can't handle, and it is not rich enough. Milk composition for various species, from the Borden Company:
| Species | Solids | Fat | Protein | Carbohydrates |
| Cow | 11.9 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 4.6 |
| Dog | 24.0 | 10.5 | 7.9 | 3.8 |
| Cat | 20.0 | 6.5 | 9.0 | 6.8 |
| Rabbit | 30.5 | 10.4 | 15.5 | 1.9 |
| Mouse | 25.8 | 12.1 | 9.0 | 3.2 |
| Pig | 20.0 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 5.0 |
| Sheep | 20.5 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 5.4 |
| Goat | 12.8 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| Opossum | 14.0 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Gray Squirrel | 26.6 | 12.6 | 9.2 | 3.4 |
| Beaver | 33.0 | 19.8 | 9.0 | 2.2 |
| Coyote | 24.5 | 10.7 | 9.9 | 2.3 |
| Fox | 18.1 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 4.6 |
| Racoon | 13.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Otter | 35.9 | 23.9 | 11.0 | .1 |
| Deer | 23.1 | 8.0 | 10.6 | 2.8 |
| Antelope | 25.2 | 13.0 | 6.9 | 4.0 |
I have been stalling about releasing my baby possums, but they are ready to go now. I drilled a 4" hole in the side of an ice chest for their new home, which they like a lot, and which is both waterproof and insulated. I really hate to see them go! I was pretty sad to say goodbye to my rabbits earlier.
The wild animal rehabilitators listed are just the tip of the iceberg. There were only 3 listed in Ohio, for instance, but they all knew of lots more. You need to contact them and ask for referrals, and for information on how to become a wild animal rehabilitator. The list of rehabilitators in Western Georgia I have follows; you need to contact them all for more info.
Georgia, Western region, Coweta County (Grantville)..... 770-378-1810 (cell phone)
Georgia, Western region, Coweta County (Grantville)..... 770-583-3903
Georgia, West central region (Grantville)..... 770-583-3903
Georgia, West central region (Hamilton)..... 706-645-2490
Georgia, West central region, Muscogee County (Columbus)..... 706-322-5012
My name it Pat Robertson. email address is rlegacy@img.net. I am a "Certified Equine Sports Therapist" by ocupation. My mare just foundered, and I am just waiting for her first trim tonight. I will keep you posted on the results. Pat Robertson (CEST)
The horse boot swap page was just what I was looking for. I have a thin hoof walled TB gelding and a Appendix QH gelding with navicular (who is in shoes), but both get sore only on rocks on the trail. I have been looking for inexpensive horse boots, and I did a search and came up with your page. I love it. I may have found the boots I need, and may have a place to sell the ones I bought that were the wrong size. Thank you, Megan Roberts PeeWee43@juno.com
Hi, have a 14 year old App. Don't know what happened to his foot--had a small opening come close to coronet on the right front foot. I mentioned it to someone, but they said it would grow out and be ok. Well, it didn't, but I didn't think the hoof being split was that big of a deal. Had trouble getting farriers to come out--not too many to chose from around here--the other horses were long, but not having any problems. Buddy came up lame, got the vet out, who said the coffin bone had rotated. Didn't do any x-rays, but I guess he knows from experience. Wants the horse trimmed every three weeks, which we started six weeks ago, and have him on powder--Absorbine joint health. So far, Buddy is still very lame. I feel so guilty that I didn't realize something was going on with his foot. Just want him sound enough to enjoy himself. Hasn't been ridden for years and don't plan on starting. Can you give me any ideas of ways to help him? Thanks so much. My e-mail is janet46131@yahoo.com
If the opening is at the top of the coronet band, and parallel to the ground rather than vertical, it could be an abscess coming out. I do list some trimming contacts on my home page, Section 5, and my page on Martha Olivo. Hope you can get some trimming help soon!
Hi, I found a baby bunny out under my mom's car, and I am now raising it. He/she is so cute. He/she loves to lick my hands for the salt cya l8tr bye
Krystina Starks
kittycatmeow145@yahoo.com
You'll sure miss him when it is time to set him free! I just set my baby possums free today, which may be a victory of sorts, but it still feels bad! I probably could have done it a month ago, but I have really been dragging my feet. I found a good spot in the woods, fairly secluded and not near a road, and next to a creek with a gradual bank so they won't fall in and drown when they drink. I hid a cooler under logs that I have strapped shut, with a 4" hole drilled into one end. It should be a nice, secure shelter...insulated, waterproof, etc. Put in some excellent timothy hay as bedding, which they can also eat. Most of them did not hang around the shelter, but were soon exploring and eating all kinds of stuff I would never see as food, even rotted downed logs. The runt, a shy little female, was the only one not to venture far. I took her to the creek so she could see where the water was. Then took her back, and she crawled into the shelter. There were a lot of trees whose roots they can climb under for shelter on the sides of the hills, too. Now I'm worried about that small female...she always let the others eat first at my house, too. One of the males was riding on my shoulders, and crawling all over me for the longest time. I really will miss them. Even though they always slept in a pile in my house, when free, they were all striking off on their own rather than staying together. I had them in the bathtub at home. So now my tub is mine again, and clean...but it's still sad. I felt bad when I set my bunnies free, too, but one came back to see me a while later. The possums were more interested in contact with me than the bunnies, and braver. However, they were getting nippy...with me, and anything else they encountered. It is almost like they investigate everything with their teeth. The rabbits were gentler in that direction.
I kind of envy you with a new orphan animal. They sure can be lovable. Offer him some oatmeal--my bunnies really liked it. After I set them free, I would leave oatmeal for them where I let them out the first few days.
This page is very helpful and informative--especially the trim sketches. Thank you so much! Patricia
hi my name is Mandi, my daughter's pony, Princess, has a weight problem and is on the verge of foundering. She is just in an open paddock with mixed pasture. What can I do to stop this from happening, and having to spend a week in the starvation paddock? With the hoof trimming, does a farrier have to do it, or can you do it yourself? Farriers are very thin on the ground here and they are expensive. I would appreciate any suggestions.
I just read below about the grazing muzzle, do you know if they are available in Australia, and if so where. It sounds like a wonderful idea, I know my pony misses her mates. Thanks for the very informative website.
Mandi and Miranda Gould Kanmantoo. South Australia drewmanz@optusnet.com.au
You can learn how to trim yourself if you are handy with tools and can either learn from someone else in person, or are able to visualize a 3-D shape from drawings and photos. Re grazing muzzles, if you or someone you know is handy, you could try making a grazing muzzle and attaching it to a halter.
I thank your web site. I have 2 mules and a pony that never had shoes on. All we do is trim them on our own once a year whether they need it or not. Jenny the old mule fonders every spring, but we just turn her out in the mud pit for a while and she gets all good again.
No wonder she founders. She doesn't have good hoof form constantly being maintained. On dissections of cadaver specimens that are badly overgrown, we have seen a lot of coffin bone damage. I hope you start trimming more often, and trimming correctly so the coffin bones are ground-parallel.
Talking about bunnies makes me hungry--we also sell feeder rabbits.
That's kind of depressing.
all of you people are crazy. I cant believe I came to this web site
Hey, feel free to leave!
I feel bad for you because I think the reason you are against proper horseshoeing is because you have never permited yourself to be around proper horseshoeing. I have. I, by no means, concider myself one of the best, but I do know the only rule to horseshoing: THERE ARE NO "EVERY TIMES" IN HORSESHOEING. Its hard to put into words, but what I'm trying to say is that every horse is different and the same method applied on two different horses will give you two different results. It seems like you care for all animals very much, so it comes off strange to me that you preach only one method and shot down the rest as if they will never work. I feel like if you really cared about horses and there well being you wouldn't count any options out. I have had and seen tremendous results from heartbars and conventional methods. You can't say it doesn't work. I never said your method didn't work. The majority of the time that heartbar shoes don't work, its not because of the heart bar method but simply the improper use of the heartbar method. I feel that certian types of therapeutic shoes shouldn't be made so available to the uneducated public so that when they do things wrong, then you just have one more example to criticize those of us that put a lot time and effort into our education and shoeing horses. If you want to insult farriers, you need to not be so general, but single out those who are not educated and do not do quality work. We have been shoeing horses for thousands of years and for thousands of years it has been proven that there is a need for it. It's a necessary evil but sometimes there are no other options, for example in west Texas, horses have very important jobs, they have to work under very rough and stressful contions for days on end. I know that you might suggest boots, but that's not very realistic, and that's just one example. Treating domesticated horses like wild horses is not realistic, they don't live the same life. In my practice, I have many barefoot horses, and some of the ones I have in shoes don't always wear them. I am capable of keeping barefooted horses healthy as are many of my colleuges. I am just really angry that you would insult the whole farrier industry and suggest that we don't know how to trim horses or that we don't know our anatomy and understand what a healthy digit should look like. You need to open your mind and learn more about what you are attacking...you might be suprised when you meet the right people how good we are with feet(provided you keep an open mind). Most of us understand all methods of hoofcare(including keeping barefooted horses). The reason that we are educated in all of these methods is because they all have their place and we are true hoofcare advocates. You might be able to do your job better by learning our methods so you will know when something out of your range of ability might be better for the horse. I also have issues with short courses in trimming and suggesting to horse owners that they trim their own horses... that could be dangerous. I'm also insulted by the fact that you use the same website to talk about bunnies and such as founder. Founder and even care of healthy horses is something that I take very seriously. I don't think that it seems very serious to you if you are talking about baby bunnies at the same time. Its just a matter of proffesionalism from my point of view. Horses might benefit more if everyone had an open mind and did not profit from insulting others.
I am not profiting from the web site at all, nor profiting from insulting others; it isn't an internet store. It isn't a money maker. I am basically giving it away. If I devote one page to photos of my pets, and another to my farm, that is just a personal aside which I do not see as insulting or denigrating. If someone asks me about wild baby animals in a guestbook, which is not part of the main sections on hoofcare, so what? Web site guest books are traditionally less formal and more social.
I put up a lot of the photos of dissections, etc., for the benefit of horse owners. I would fully expect--or at least hope--that someone in the business of hoofcare is already familiar with this. A lot of horse owners have not seen this stuff before, though. The site is aimed more at horse owners.
I do not represent myself as making my living doing hoof care. I make it very plain that I am a horse owner who was forced to learn this stuff by the lack of hoof care available to me in a remote area. My web site started very modestly. I was taking some computer lessons at a cyber cafe in the late 90's, because I felt I couldn't go on being unfamiliar with computers when computers and the internet were becoming more and more pervasive. They said I could have a free web site. When I asked what I might put up on it, they said, put up something about what you're doing. So I put up a small page on my personal experiences with being forced to do my own hoof care. More and more people began to find the site, and share similar experiences with me. This is how it all began. Judging from the response I have gotten from the site, I must have struck a nerve with a lot of other horse owners when I described the difficulties I had had getting hoof care.
While short courses in trimming are not ideal, there is a real shortage of trimmers out there, and a lot of horse owners are being forced to take matters into their own hands. You have no idea what it is like to be a horse owner with a foundered horse in an isolated area, talking to a bunch of answering machines in the forlorn hope of getting somebody to at least show up. What I am offering them are some things they can at least try on their own in the meantime, instead of just giving up and putting the horses down.
You don't mention where to find all these outstanding shoers who get such outstanding results, nor do you even give your own name. I am not going to be naming shoers publicly who have done poor work and gotten poor results. But there must be a lot of poor work being done out there, or I wouldn't be hearing of so many cases, or receiving so many awful photos. Nor would the cadaver specimens we see at clinics be so predominantly pathological, if good hoof care were readily available.
The most thorough and educational website I have read. My horse, Willow, has been foundered on all 4 feet and had sole penetration on all, and we thought she was doomed. Found out about this method and in 6 weeks has grown 3/4" healthy hoof, and coffin bones are pretty well covered with new growth . She can walk now! The area vets had no clue, and I believe they made a bad problem worse, and then gave up. The clients at our barn are starting to understand the principles and about natural horse care as a whole. They have seen Willow at her worst, and now. Willow is only 5, and now has a chance for a normal life. Wendi Cope hopecreekconnemara@msn.com
Hi, my name is Cathy Hucks. I found out last night that my horse "One Grand Clu" may have chronic laminitis. I got him in April. I haven't ridden him because it's been too hot. Now this. I'm just worried of the cost--I'm not rich, but I love this horse. I will do whatever it takes because I want to ride this horse. He is beautiful. Just some ideas of costs so I can see how many more hours I need to work to pay of this. Your website is very informative. I like it a lot. My email is cgh56casey@aol.com. Thank you in advance for any info on this matter. My vet is Gwynn Hardee and I think he's great.
You could probably get some basic tools--leather gloves, a hoof knife, a hoof knife sharpener, a rasp, a couple of tiny rulers and a piece of 8x8 plexiglass you can use for a trimming gauge, plus a plastic 30 degree angle...for under $100...IF you are handy, able to visualize 3-D shapes from the 2-D representations on my site, and willing to work at it. Finding someone to show you in person is really helpful. www.thehorseshoof.com sells some of what you need, and you might call them for leads on people to learn from in your area.
Great information! Thanks for sharing. My horses are ok now except our TB gelding. He has a horizontal crack that started at his coronary band a couple of months ago. He has not been lame, but it looks like his reset is going to take a chunk of hoof. The crack is in the front and goes about 1 -1/2 inches to the side and it looks deep from the outside wall. It has grown about 2 !/2 inches from the top. My farrier said it was a gravel, but he was never lame. I am kind of concerned about it. Again I want to say thank you for all the research and the sharing of information with others.
Sandy
gellis@multipro.com
I have seen this on hooves where an abscess broke out through the coronet band, so I would tend to agree with your farrier.
Nancy WIlliamson NanC461@aol.com
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the email and your advice to them. I was just hoppin' around different sites when I came upon yours. My husband and I manufacture Kwick Relief Poultice and Heartland Hoofcare. We have a website www.KwickRelief.com I would like to know if you have ever heard of it? It is a small business as we have only been in it for about 5 years. My husband was a thoroughbred trainer and he left training to manufacture these products. If you don't mind look up our website and give me some feedback. Again, your site is GREAT!
Hi, just had a quick read of your site. I am a Master Farrier in New Zealand and find it interesting that a comment was made in your site that, in relation to treatment of laminitis "The orthodox view is that raising the heels will reduce the stress on the deep flexor tendon, thus reducing the likelihood of rotation.". I would like to know who's "orthodox view" is it. My training was as that of the "Hickmans Guide To Farrier" which (like Dr. Hiltrud Strasser) recommends lowering the heel so that the sole plane is in line with the distal phalange (coffin bone). I have never recommend shoeing ponies with chronic founder as it only encourages owners to ride them, putting more stress on an already damaged hooves. I am interested to learn more about Dr Strasser recommends in relation the hoof treatment. I have always recommended that horses should only be shod if the growth of the hoof and sole is not keeping up with it's wear but am yet to be convinced that a bare hoof is the answer for EVERY case on EVERY horse for EVERY use.
Doug Hunter CFP dghunternz@yahoo.co.nz
Fantastic Mike Considine Gold Coast Australia molmike@bigpond.com
Great site. I have mules and donks. My first jenny 's feet were in very bad shape. The guy who had her trimmed her once a year or so...feet like rockers on a rocking chair. Your site was a big help to understand the makeup of the hoof. It took me a year of trimming 2 to 3 times a month, a little bit at a time, to get them just right. I keep all my longears barefoot. Thanks for all the info you put in here, it's been a really big help... Rose Cochran brownmule99@hotmail.com
I have two barefoot horses and I am leasing a horse from my aunt. The horse I am leasing has shoes, I hate to see her suffer knowing that she doesn't have to. We used to own her mom and she died from laminitis, I don't want that to happen to her. I have been measuring the widths of her hooves and they have shrank a lot; her heels are so contracted now. My aunt doesn't believe that a horse can be ridden the same with shoes as it can be without shoes, but both of my horses are doing fine. She thinks my horses are OK because they have never had shoes, but I know many horses who have had shoes removed even at old age and are perfectly fine. Does any one know how I can convince her to pull the horses shoes and let me trim their hooves? (I have been studying the Strasser method) I have sent her multiple ads stating why shoes are bad for horses and the causes, but she just seems to not care what shoes can do. I just cannot convince her, so can any one help me? ~Darlene Bitsygirl@aol.com
~Darlene
Your site is good. Anyway, keep the good job up. Let my fellows be informed that I have been here. My name is Guy Onyeoru. Email:guy@mugu.com.
Thanks, Guy
Your site wowed me with excellent anatomy, and all those goodies about orphaned babies. Love the photos of your critterlings, S. H. Pearson, Middle Tennessee
This information is fascinating. It needs to be taught at vet and farrier schools and published in horse magazines. Also natural trimming should be used on all horses if people really care about them. I will try to convert my farrier. Our horses are retired and go barefoot but one has a crack of about an inch in length from the ground up in the front of a front hoof that is not improving. Thank you for such an excellent web site. Barbara Warner Lebanon, KY bkwarner@kyol.net
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