High Desert Farrier service

07/29/2026

Conformation faults of the equine pastern generally fall into three categories: the short upright pastern, the long upright pastern, and the long sloping pastern.

Ideally, the pastern's angle and length should prevent the ankle from touching the ground. At the same time, the pastern length and angle provide leverage to act as a shock absorber to the ankle joint, the knee, and the rest of the horse’s body.

The 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 prevents injury caused by the ankle striking the ground, but it does little to act as a shock absorber.

The 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 is merely a longer version of the short upright pastern. It prevents the ankle from striking the ground, but it lacks natural shock absorbing capability.

The 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 does not prohibit the ankle from hitting the ground and predisposes the horse to strain within the flexor tendons and the suspensory ligament.

Learn more: https://myseniorhorse.com/fun-stuff/anatomy-physiology/conformation-of-the-equine-pastern/

07/24/2026

safe Nailing Zones in the Equine Hoof 🐴

06/01/2026

Basal insulin can help, but it is not enough to rule out insulin dysregulation in the field.

That is why dynamic testing matters. The OST continues to be one of the most practical tools for identifying exaggerated postprandial insulin responses and assessing laminitis risk earlier.

Management is rarely just about weight loss either. Diet, pasture access, exercise, hoof care, and long-term compliance all determine whether these horses stay stable.

Good EMS management is long-game medicine.

Explore FREE case-based equine practitioner resources here: https://www.theequinepracticecompany.com/equine-freebies/

05/29/2026

Heel height is a bit of a hot topic at the moment, but what actually matters is the structure hidden inside them: the digital cushion.

➡️ The digital cushion is a thick, fibrous structure at the back of the hoof. In a healthy hoof, it takes up more than half of the available space inside the hoof capsule and acts as the horse’s natural shock absorber.

➡️ Every time the horse lands, the digital cushion compresses and expands to absorb concussion, support blood flow, and protect the structures higher up the limb. It’s quite literally the horse’s “landing gear”.

➡️ When the digital cushion is weak, underdeveloped or damaged, the whole hoof struggles to function properly. These horses are often more sensitive on hard ground, have thinner soles, lower heels, and place more strain on other internal structures.

👉 👉 So rather than focus on the heel height you can see outside the hoof, it's better to pay attention to what’s happening inside the foot, and whether the hoof is able to move, flex and absorb force the way nature intended. (Of course there are "rights and wrongs" when it comes to the external heel height, but that's a topic for another post...)

❓ If you want to learn more about healthy hooves, and how to achieve the strongest possible hooves on your horse, join our Hoof Care Essentials online course. It's got so much valuable information inside it, it'll make your head spin 😂

🔗 Link in comments 👉

05/19/2026

Deep inside the lamellae zone are tiny super strong structures that we don’t often talk about- the collagen bundles.

I’ve shown these as white strands that are anchored from the inner hoof wall at the bottom of the epidermal lamellae and they attach into the periosteum like tissue of the surface of the distal phalanx (P3). They are very small and thin and my diagram is just to show their orientation.

These are not random fibres thrown together like wet spaghetti.

They are highly organised structural bundles directed largely in the line of force transmission between the hoof wall and P3.

The lines of force….. that’s important.

Nature has engineered this tissue beautifully.

Thousands upon thousands of these microscopic collagen bundles interweave through the lamellar corium, helping distribute force through the hoof capsule during loading and movement. They behave a little like tiny springs and suspension cables combined — allowing controlled flexibility whilst still maintaining remarkable strength.

This is important because the hoof is not a rigid wooden block.

It deforms.
It flexes.
It expands.
It twists microscopically under load.

And yet P3 remains suspended within the capsule through this incredibly sophisticated interface of dermal and epidermal lamellae together with these very important structures- the collagen bundles. .

When we look at dissections and slices like this, we begin to appreciate that the lamellar tissues are not simply “attachments.” They are living biomechanical structures designed to manage enormous repetitive forces every single day.

It also helps us understand why laminitis can be so devastating.

When these attachments weaken or fail, the entire force distribution system of the foot becomes compromised. The bone is no longer being supported in the same way, and displacement of P3 can occur depending on the severity of tissue failure.

Remember they don’t ALL fail. Many are still present and functioning and hold on for dear life.

That’s why if you can stabilize the foot and support the bottom, you stand a very good chance of stopping P3 dropping or rotating. And I mean P3, not the wall…..

This is why anatomy matters.

The hoof is constantly telling us the story.

05/05/2026

04/10/2026

White Line Disease (WLD) is a condition that affects the sensitive inner wall of a horse's hoof, leading to separation and potential structural failure. Understanding the early signs is key to prevention. Here’s what horse owners should look for:

•Changes in Hoof Texture: Watch for a dusty or crumbly texture at the hoof wall.

•Wider White Line: A widening of the "white line" itself is a common warning sign.

•Hollow Tap Sound: When cleaning the hoof, listen for a hollow sound upon tapping the wall.

Prevention is crucial for long-term hoof health, which includes keeping the horse's environment clean and dry and maintaining a regular farrier schedule.

If you notice any unusual changes in your horse’s hooves, it is important to contact your veterinarian and farrier for a proper examination and diagnosis.