D.N. Malkin Farrier Services

11/01/2026

The "Raincoat" Mistake: Why a Donkey is NOT a Small Horse.

We see it all the time: A horse and a donkey standing in a field during a cold rainstorm. The horse is grazing happily. The donkey looks miserable.

Many owners think: "If the horse is fine, the donkey is fine."

Wrong. Biologically, you are looking at two completely different animals.

🌵 1. The Desert DNA Horses (Equus ferus) evolved on windy, rainy temperate plains. They are built for bad weather. Donkeys (Equus africanus) evolved in the African Desert. They are built for dry heat, not wet cold.

🧽 2. The "Sponge" Effect Run your hand over a horse in the rain. The water beads up and rolls off. Why? Because horses produce sebum (natural grease) and have a dense undercoat that acts as a natural raincoat. Donkeys do not have this. Their hair is coarse and lacks that protective grease layer. When it rains, water doesn't roll off a donkey—it soaks in. A wet donkey is wearing a soaking wet wool sweater against its skin. It sucks the heat right out of their body.

⚠️ 3. The Danger Zone Because they lack this waterproofing, a donkey can enter hypothermia in temperatures where a horse would be perfectly comfortable. Without shelter, this leads to:

Pneumonia (a leading killer of donkeys).

"Rain Scald" (severe skin rot).

Immense stress (look for the "hunched" posture).

📚 The Science: According to The Donkey Sanctuary (UK), the world's leading authority on donkey welfare: "Donkeys do not have a waterproof coat like the horse."

The Rule: A horse can stand in the rain. A donkey MUST have a roof.

Be a pal. Build the barn. 🏠🫏

04/11/2025

Warning to horse owners after ‘potentially disastrous misinformation’ on laminitis shared on social media. Read more below

17/08/2025

As many of you know we lost my mum last year to cancer and as a family we are raising money to support the amazing charity MacMillan by walking the Northumberland Coast Mighty Hike 2025 in her memory.
The charity are something you never wish you would need but in the darkest days they offer invaluable care and compassion. We want to give back to the charity so they can support families like ours in their darkest of days.
Any donations would be appreciated 💜

Help Daniel Malkin raise money to support Macmillan Cancer Support

15/07/2025

STUD HOLES ⚫️

Whilst type of studs and placement can be down to personal preference and individual horse needs here are some general rules -

✅ Always plug your stud holes to prevent stones and mud packing up in them, this will also protect the stud hole threads
✅ Plan ahead - if you need stud holes pre-warn your farrier BEFORE they arrive for your shoeing appointment
✅ Always use the smallest studs you can get away with
✅ Allow for the foot to slide a little - you don't want to bring the hoof to a sudden stop as this prevents the natural shock absorbing system of the foot and limb from working properly
✅ When using double stud holes - use studs the same height in order to keep the feet balanced
✅ Studs on the inside of the foot should be rounded to minimise a striking injury to the opposing limb
✅ Traditionally you use a bigger pair of studs in the hinds as this is where most of the power comes from
✅ Use studs with caution on hard ground to avoid jarring the joints and bones
✅ There are different shape studs for different types of surfaces and ground conditions - if unsure which to use, ask your farrier for advice
✅ Choosing what stud height - a general rule is how deep you think the foot will sink above the shoe - so if you have a mud line 1cm above the shoe, use a 1cm tall stud

13/07/2025

🥳 That's a wrap! Thank you for celebrating with us! 🥳

P.S. Appreciating your farrier is for life - not just for Farriers Week 😘

If you've enjoyed our posts this year, please consider becoming a member of the BFBA - together we can do even MORE💪

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✅ Lots of CPD
✅ Farriery Competitions
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👀 Keep an eye out for the winners of the Horslyx goodies and BFBA hoodies to be announced soon 👀

25/03/2024

⭐️ please share ⭐️
Wanted grazing to rent for a couple of our older horses 🐎
Ideally somewhere near Hamsterley & Butterknowle.
Will consider short or long term grazing- they are great lawnmowers for anyone needing their grass attacking before putting their own horses on!