The Holistic Hoof / Alternative Equine Hoof Care

22/10/2025

Tania Sundra from Avon Ridge veterinary services on PPID , always great information from her 👏

05/10/2025

More valuable information from Avon ridge regarding early recognition of Laminitis.

‼️ Part 1: Recognising the Early Signs of Laminitis

I’m fortunate to work with many proactive clients who understand that laminitis prevention starts long before a horse shows any outward signs.

Proper planning of diagnostic tests, and careful interpretation of those results, are the key to keeping horses sound and healthy.

⚠️ In recent weeks, we’ve seen insulin concentrations in some horses rise two to four times higher than they were just a month ago — a stark reminder that seasonal changes, pasture growth, and individual factors can quietly push horses toward laminitis risk without any visible warning.

By identifying these changes early, we can intervene before structural damage occurs.
Unfortunately, not every horse is monitored this closely — and for some, the first sign of trouble is already too late.

⏰ These are some of the early indicators of laminitis that every owner should be aware of 👇

• Strong or “bounding” digital pulses in one or both front feet or hind feet.
• Subtle lameness on firm ground compared to soft ground or reluctance to walk on firm, rocky ground.
• Shortened stride or mild stiffness when turning or moving.
• Weight-shifting between front feet while standing, or a reluctance to move forward freely.
• Subtle hoof changes — flaring, wider growth rings at the heels, or “dished” hoof walls.
• White line widening, seedy toe, or tiny red spots in the sole.
• Reluctance to stand for farrier appointments in a previously well behaved horse.
• Spending a lot of time laying down or reluctance to move around with paddock mates.

Even mild or fleeting versions of these signs deserve attention — particularly during this time of year.

⚠️ Early detection saves lives

By the time a horse becomes overtly lame, significant structural change may already have occurred within the hoof capsule.

Early recognition, combined with proactive, well-planed blood testing, allows us to make informed management decisions — from adjusting diet and turnout to implementing medical therapies that protect the laminae before they fail.

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

📬 Stay up to date with the latest veterinary advice and download our FREE LAMINITIS GUIDE: https://avonridgeequine.aweb.page/p/f601bfc8-8447-4101-bc10-07d1ae83c550

04/10/2025

Lots of valuable information in this post and also comment section.

💬 “I know I often go on about capeweed 🙄 … but a recent client’s senior horse really got me thinking.”

👉 This older horse has started coughing and struggling with exercise intolerance again — almost exactly the same time as last year.
👉 It made me wonder: could capeweed, now flowering and filling paddocks, be making things worse?

Most people think the risk is just about sugars (capeweed can hit over 30% WSC!) and laminitis.
👉 But that’s only half the story…

🌅 Morning risk – nitrates/nitrites
👉 Capeweed and flatweed accumulate nitrates overnight.
👉 In the hindgut, these convert to nitrites, which oxidise haemoglobin into methemoglobin — a form that can’t carry oxygen.
👉 Result: 🩸 less oxygen in the blood, 😮‍💨 breathing struggles, 💔 poor circulation, 🐴 biome stress.

☀️ Afternoon risk – sugars (WSC)
👉 Photosynthesis drives sugars up later in the day.
👉 Result: 📈 insulin spikes, 🐎 laminitis trigger.

🌼 Capeweed = triple hit
1️⃣ Nitrite burden in the morning (oxygen transport + biome disruption)
2️⃣ Sugar burden in the afternoon (insulin & laminitis risk)
3️⃣ Pollen allergen when flowering (airway inflammation, asthma flares)

💪 Muscle & Nerve Stress (Stringhalt link)
👉 Capeweed & Flatweed are linked to Australian Stringhalt.
👉 WA pastures are often low in magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) — both vital for nerve conduction and muscle relaxation.
👉 Low Mg/Na + nitrite stress = twitchiness, abnormal gait, poor stamina, and stringhalt‑like signs.
👉 Add this to asthma and circulation issues → seniors especially struggle with exercise intolerance and recovery.

⚡ The bigger picture:
👉 Capeweed and flatweed don’t just stress the lungs and hooves — they also stress the muscles and nerves.
👉 Seniors, with decades of exposure and reduced gut resilience, are hit hardest.

✨ Take‑home: With capeweed, it’s not just about sugars.
👉 Nitrates and nitrites from weeds like capeweed and flatweed can affect your horse’s blood oxygen, circulation, muscles, and gut biome — especially in seniors or horses with asthma and laminitis risk.

📚 References

Asmala, T. et al. (2019). Nitrate and nitrite in forage crops and risk of toxicity in herbivores. Grass Forage Sci, 74(4):511–523.

Arai, N. et al. (2011). Methemoglobinemia due to nitrite ingestion in horses. J Vet Med Sci, 73(10):1389–1391.

NRC (2007). Nutrient Requirements of Horses. National Academies Press.

Couëtil, L.L. et al. (2020). Equine Asthma: Current understanding and future directions. Front Vet Sci, 7:450.

Grace, N.D. et al. (2010). Mineral composition of pastures and implications for grazing animals. NZ Vet J, 58(3):118–123.

Waldridge, B. (2010). Nitrate and Nitrite Toxicity in Horses. Kentucky Equine Research.

Robertson, S.A. & Muir, W.W. (2013). Equine Anaesthesia. Saunders.

🔖 Hashtags

24/09/2025

Just a reminder, its not worth the gamble .

22/09/2025

I now stock the Equine Apothecary products after field testing them.
Its a very nice product to work with, easy use for my clients and effective natural ingredients.

31/08/2025

THE UNOFFICIAL HCP SURVIVAL KIT: HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOOF CARE PROVIDER ALIVE (BARELY)

(Because apparently rasping 1,200kg of metabolic ambiguity every week takes a toll.)

Your hoof care provider is a resilient species. They operate in silence, kneel in mud, and absorb more equine dysfunction than your average field vet and therapist combined. But even they have limits. Here's how to keep yours from quietly dissolving behind the wheel of their van.

1. Snacks. Always Snacks.
Hoof care providers are powered by caffeine, pocket lint, and sheer will. If you’ve got a flapjack, hand it over. If not, offer haylage or fence post bark — they’ll understand.

2. Clean, Dry Horses.
Nothing says “I respect your spine” like a horse that isn’t caked in five layers of damp archaeology. Bonus points if they’re caught before the trimmer arrives. Double if they don’t bolt.

3. The Sacred Square Surface.
Your HCP has trimmed on gravel driveways, sloped patios, soft bog, and once — by necessity — a trampoline base. A flat surface is not a luxury. It’s a form of love.

4. Don’t Say “While You’re Here…”
They came for one horse. You’ve now released a herd of seven, all overdue and two of them unhandled since 2020. This isn’t a surprise party. It’s a slow-motion ambush.

5. Tea. But Not Too Much.
Yes, a hot drink is divine. But too many offers and you’ve created an obligation loop. Now they’re trimming with one hand, holding a mug with the other, and quietly resenting your hospitality.

6. Speaking of Backs — They’re Broken.
Your HCP currently has:

One shoulder held together by kinesiology tape

Two knees on extended notice

A hip that speaks Latin when it rotates
They will never admit it. Just assume they’re in discomfort. Offer ibuprofen. Or a qualified osteopath who makes house calls.

7. Don’t Ask “Is This Normal?” Unless You Want the Truth.
The white line shouldn’t be black. The frog shouldn’t smell like compost. If you’re not ready for the answer, offer biscuits and a subject change.

8. Eye Contact and Emotional Containment.
Try not to lock eyes during a difficult hind. They’ve seen things. Let them focus on the hoof and mentally detach as needed.

9. Say Thank You.
Just once. No need for a parade. But after the horse has stood like a swaying giraffe on cobbles for 45 minutes, a quick “Thanks, I don’t know how you do it” can keep an HCP emotionally upright for up to 6 weeks.

BONUS TIP:
Never refer to their job as “just a trim.” That phrase alone has driven six of them into full-time goat rescue.

27/08/2025

I'm so happy for little Tom Tom , with the help of squish pads he has a new lease on life.
Really love working with the product, it was so easy to apply and the outcome for this little guy is obviously outstanding.

09/08/2025

Don't wait to manage your horse till spring, now is the time to get proactive to reduce access to pasture and watch your horses body condition score.

Did you know that wet winters = a higher laminitis risk coming into spring?
All the rain we've been getting leads to lush, sweet, fast-growing pastures and a spike in the starch, sugar, and fructan levels. If your horse or pony is prone to laminitis, that’s a dangerous combination!

While the cool weather is keeping growth at bay for now, as soon as temperatures warm up and daylight hours increase, the grass is going to take off and horse owners need to be ready. Being proactive is important, so for at-risk horses and ponies, you might need to start management earlier than spring by:

💡 Managing grazing through timed grazing, strip or track systems, or grazing muzzles

💡 Keeping their weight in check now, and reducing Body Condition Score if overweight

💡 Getting into the habit of doing regular hoof checks for any heat or changes in the digital pulse

💡 Checking that you have access to low NSC hay and chaff

💡 Being careful with calories in hard feed — if you're not already feeding a low sugar and starch feed, look into laminitis-safe options like Calm Care Plus or Lupin Fibre Boost

💡 Including a low NSC fibre source like Lupin Fibre Cubes to maintain fibre diversity and consistency while grazing is being restricted

If you need help managing your laminitis- or EMS-prone horse or pony, reach out to our team for more information or a tailored diet plan 💬

06/08/2025

For anyone feeding straw, have a look at this post.

Straw is often recommended as an alternative to hay in a variety of scenarios – hay shortage, for weight loss, to decrease sugar/starch in the diet or simply to give the horse something to ch…

31/07/2025

Every horse that has metabolic issues needs to be managed individually.

15/07/2025

Info for diagnosis and clinical signs for PPID or Cushings.

The classical signs of Cushing’s Disease in horses (pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction/PPID) of poor topline, sagging belly and long curly coat that fails to shed are only evident fairly late in…

24/06/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀.𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲?⠀
Ringbone occurs when the horse’s body lays down too many osteocytes (bone cells) than it needs. It often happens around an injury site or inflammation at the pastern.⠀
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Ringbone is a type of arthritis in the pastern joint(referred to as 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲. )There is a lot of movement in this joint so it causes immense pain. This is the most common area.⠀
𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲 is found in the coffin joint. While there is less movement there, it is a weight bearing area.⠀
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When there is inflammation here, it has nowhere to go and remains trapped in the hoof capsule. The coffin joint is highly susceptible as it degenerates quickly. ⠀
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Genetics plays a part, as does conformation and the type of work the horse does.⠀
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Show jumpers, polo ponies and some western disciplines are more prone to ringbone.⠀
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Repetitive work on hard surfaces and horses that are overweight are also highly susceptible.⠀
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The signs are not easy to spot. A choppy type gait with head bobbing, reluctance to bear weight or go forward and mild and recurring laminitis are a heads up.⠀
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Flexion tests and X-rays will help to distinguish ringbone from the myriad of other hoof problems. Your farrier should be brought up to speed as well as they will be part of the treatment plan. Nutrition can also help to contribute to making the horse. More comfortable.⠀
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It’s important to get onto it quickly as there is no cure for ringbone and it is degenerative. ⠀
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It can however be managed and more comfortable for your horse. There are many great herbs that reduce inflammation, ease pain and several that assist in bone issues like Yarrow and Comfrey. Circulatory herbs also help with this problem.