HOOFCARE

Sound Horses, Naturally!

A High Performance Barefoot Horse requires a High Performance Barefoot Trim. This is not just a horse without shoes.  It is a change in long-standing beliefs about what is correct horse keeping. It is a horse that is given the basic biological requirements for health, long life and soundness.

Dr. Bowker, a researcher and professor at the Michigan State University, USA recently held a seminar in New Zealand. Robert Bowker has spent the last decade and a half studying the function of the equine foot. His recent studies show how hoof function relates to the rehabilitation of serious hoof conditions. Much of his research has been on the microscopic level, and through the dissection and study of cadaver hooves, working his way from inside the hoof to the outside.

Dr. Bowker feels that the rear of the hoof is possibly the most important area for determining the health of the hoof and is exactly where three of his most well-known studies have focused on:

• The first was his hemodynamic flow theory, which proposes that blood flow through the network of tiny capillaries in the heel region plays a vital role in dissipating energy in the hoof.
• Second was his discovery of proprioceptor sensory cells in the heel region, which may transmit information to a horse’s central nervous system and allow him to feel his way across the ground.
• And third was his study presenting the differences he’s discovered between a “good” foot and a “bad” foot. 

HOOF TRIMMING SEMINARS - $380

Learn to trim your own horse.  A 3 day seminar held over a weekend designed to teach you the basics of a physiologically correct trim.  The mornings are devoted to theory and the afternoon to the practicum.

From this lifestyle, the barefoot hooves become strong, healthy, and fully functioning, and the entire immune system of the horse is strengthened naturally. Many hoof conditions such as laminitis, navicular, ringbone, contracted hooves, poor hoof quality and a host of other chronic illnesses and lameness can be completely healed, and other systemic problems (such as allergies and metabolic problems) can disappear. There are basically 3 main parts to Natural Hoof care, each an integral part of the whole system.  For more information on this and the following contact Dune Lakes Lodge Equine Centre: 

• Physiologically correct barefoot trimming,
• Seminars (learn to trim your own horse),  
• Rehabilitation for lameness problems
• Info talks
• Horse pre-purchase assessments. 
• Bitless Bridles
• Treeless Saddles

A barefoot horse with a balanced hoof trim, correct angles and proportions, plus natural living conditions extends a horse's life. It enables high performance without horse shoes, and ensures sound conformation and longevity.

Why change?

Most of the common health problems and lameness afflicting domestic horses are a direct result of man-made violations of their natural lifestyle. It's rare to see lame horses in the wild!

95% of all lameness originates in the foot. Horses with lameness problems in the feet have deformed hooves (either from shoeing or incorrect trimming) that are no longer able to function properly. Fortunately, this can be be prevented or cured when the hooves are trimmed with correct angles and proportions, the horse is returned to a natural lifestyle, and given movement of up to 15-20 km per day. These things are essential to both maintaining sound conformation and re-establishing sound conformation.

This physiologically correct trim enables the hoof to regain full hoof mechanism (which shoes and incorrect trimming don't allow), returning horses' feet to their proper function as a circulatory pump which supports the horse's heart and indeed, its entire system. As the hoof is literally the foundation of the horse, it makes sense that an imbalance in the hoof will affect the whole horse.

A healthy, fully functioning barefoot horse is capable of travelling vast distances with no ill effects. In fact, the more movement a horse has (even on surfaces like tar seal), the faster the hoof grows to adapt to the environmental demands placed on it.

Case Study: Frankie - Diagnosed Navicular

Navicular is treatable, and with the right conditions has a 100% success rate. What is it, and how does it develop?

Basically high or overlaid bars on the sole, and/or too-high heels lever the bar up into the hoof capsule. Dissection shows us that there is approximately 5mm of soft tissue between two hard substances: the top internal parts of the bar and the bottom of the navicular bone, through which the deep flexor tendon runs.

Navicular syndrome is the pinching and bruising of this soft tissue, between the hard horn bar and bone. Remove the cause and remove the problem! This is easily and very effectively treated with correct trimming and movement.

Download the full case study of Frankie, diagnosed with Navicular.

Hoof Angles & Proportions

The angles and proportions of your barefoot horse have a dramatic affect on the performance, health, and happiness of your horse. Read our articleoutlining the basic principles.

REASON TO CHANGE …………………..

“of 122 million horses - only 10% of the world population of horses in human care are sound!

10 percent are clinically, completely & unusably lame.

The remaining 80 % (97.6 million) of these equines are somewhat lame, but still usable.”

Quote from Walt Taylor in the American Farriers Journal, November 2001:

Volume 26, Number 6, page 5, 2001 Supplies and Services Edition,

Frankly speaking (letter from the editor)

……………………………………………………………………

Wild mustangs kept in conventional boarding conditions have all the problems of the domestic horse after 3 months in captivity.

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Most of the common health problems & lameness afflicting domestic horses are a direct result of man-made violations of their natural lifestyle.  95% of all lameness originate in the foot.

Horses with lameness problems originating in the foot (whether through shoeing or incorrect trimming) have deformed hooves which are no longer able to function properly.

Fortunately, this can be prevented or cured through a removal of the cause & a return to a natural lifestyle.

THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF HORSE SHOES

Horse shoes prevent wear of the hoof allowing the hoof to grow longer than it would naturally, resulting in unnatural forces on the hoof.

It destroys capillary tissue and hoof horn, especially the wall, through vibration of about 800 Hz (on hard terrain).  The effects on living tissue are similar to what is known in human medicine as Raynaud’s Syndrome, involving necrosis (death) and abnormal modifications of tissue.

It restricts the expansion of the hoof capsule, thus decreasing the hooves’ natural shock absorption capability by 70-80%.  Studies show that a shod horse walking on tar seal receives 3 times the impact forces of a barefoot horse trotting on asphalt.  These increased impact forces are factors in arthritis, ossifications ice ringbone and sidebone etc.

It limits the movement of the sole (flattening on weight bearing) resulting in bruising of the sole by the coffin bone.

Its nails puncture the hoof capsule, compromising the insulating function of the hoof capsule and leading cold into the interior of the hoof (a drop in internal body temperature adversely affects the biological processes of life, from cell metabolism to the effective destruction of pathogens).

It impairs the hoof mechanism (the vital circulation-supporting blood-pumping function of the hoof), overstressing the heart.

By impairing the hoof mechanism, circulation inside the hoof itself is also reduced, resulting in a reduction in temperature and a decrease in quantity and quality of hoof horn produced.

It increases the danger of injury and the severity of injury to the horse itself, to humans and other horses (like “brass knuckles”).  A shod hoof does far more damage to trails and land than a barefoot hoof.

Its weight damages joints, tendons and ligaments.

Its rigidity affects the course of motion of the horse’s foot, leading, among other things, to overstressing and/or ossification of the lateral cartilages.

It causes contraction and other deformations of the hoof.