KO Farrier Services

06/03/2025

𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

If the feet aren’t right, nothing else will be. Long toes, underrun heels, collapsed walls, and unbalanced trimming don’t just affect stride, they affect the entire musculoskeletal system.

We see it all the time: a horse struggling with stifle pain, hock soreness, or back tension… and the root cause is poor angles or foot pain.

𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆:
- Long toes/low heels that stress the DDFT and navicular area
- Crushed or underrun heels that cause a toe-first landing and increase concussion
- Negative palmar angles in the hind feet, which strain the stifle and SI
- Thin soles and bruising from poor protection or rocky footing

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Every time the foot lands wrong, shockwaves travel up the leg. That adds up, fast. Hoof pain often leads to compensatory soreness, uneven loading, and chronic inflammation in joints, ligaments, and even the back.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘅: consistent, skilled farrier work. Someone who understands hoof mechanics, your horse’s job, and how to protect and support the foot as it grows.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀:
- Work closely with a farrier and vet as a team for radiographs and shoeing feedback
- Protect thin soles with pads or pour-ins if needed
- Don’t overtrim heels to “fix” them—fix the toe and let the heel grow
- Prioritize traction and comfort on the road or in rocky turnout

No hoof, no horse. And no, it’s not just a saying.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐗 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞
xxvets.com ◦ (940) 514-9500

04/20/2025

Hoppy Easter! 🐰🐣🐇🪺🐤🥚

04/14/2025

Insulin dysregulation in horses what is it?

Let’s make it super simple.

First look ar the term and break it down as quite often you can work it out

Insulin- a chemical created by the body

Dysregulation- its not being managed properly by the body - its not regulated

Like a warm bath needs hot and cold water - if not regulated it can be too hot or cold

Insulin dysregulation has two components

1. Hyperinsulinaemia - insulin concentration in the blood is too high

2. Tissue insulin resistance - the insulin knocks on the door of the cell saying “here you go- here is some glucose”. But the cells can’t “hear” the knocking.

These can occur separately or together as a compensatory response to each other

Horses with insulin dysregulation are a greater risk of developing hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL) making insulin dysregulation the core element of Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Laminitis and insulin dysregulation go hand in hand.

If you have done everything you think is needed to help your horse and they are still showing signs of laminitis then consider doing an insulin test.

The gold standard is to do a glucose load test where you fast the pony overnight and in the morning give a small feed with a measured amount of glucose. Then draw bloods 90 mins later.

If the insulin is high then you know that this needs to be addressed.
Diet and exercise are the gold standard but glucose lowering drugs are becoming available now.

Lower the glucose - lowers the insulin.

04/05/2025

VECTOR CONTROL AROUND HORSES: WHY IT MATTERS

Bug season is right around the corner! Besides being very irritating, it's important to remember that some of these insects can spread infection and disease to your horse (and, in some cases, to you as well). Therefore, a smart strategy is to control the problem before it gets out of hand and minimize populations from the beginning.

The attached infographic contains some suggestions to get you started. Please keep in mind that there are many variations of these suggested programs that will still meet the same goals and follow the same principles.

As always, reach out to your veterinarian for recommendations suitable for your horse’s specific situation!

03/22/2025

03/19/2025

04/26/2024

Our planet is certainly blessed with lots of incredible species, but let’s not forget that not all of them mix successfully. For example, did you know that the plants listed below (many of which are extremely common) are toxic to horses?

The good news is that a 1,000-pound horse has to consume significantly higher quantities of a toxic plant than a smaller animal to be affected clinically. However, some plants are cause for concern since even a curious nibble or repeated browsing over several weeks or months can lead to serious illness or even death. Therefore, it’s in your horse’s best interest that you learn to recognize poisonous plants so they can be promptly removed from your horse-keeping areas.

If you suspect your horse has ingested a poisonous plant:
• Remove the horse from the source.
• Contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Attempt to determine how much of the toxic plant was eaten and when it was eaten.

Pro tip: another commonly overlooked reason a horse may become poisoned, is allowing horses to graze a pasture after it has been sprayed with herbicide but before the weeds have died and disappeared.

As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and guidance!

03/21/2024

Spring has sprung! Which means…vaccination season is upon us as well!

If you are wondering what vaccinations your horse should receive, the answer is — There are no “one size fits all” vaccine recommendations. A veterinarian who knows your horse and your management system is your best resource to recommend what vaccines your equine friend should receive and with what frequency!

While vaccination does not prevent disease in all circumstances, a good immunization protocol minimizes the risk of infection and remains an essential component of responsible horse ownership. A vaccination appointment is also the perfect opportunity for a yearly check-up of your equine friend and a great way to catch any health concerns early.

If you have yet to contact your veterinarian about scheduling your horse's vaccinations, we encourage you to do it soon!