Ruth A. De Gennaro/ RAD Hoof Trimming

12/23/2022

We are having an ice storm of freezing rain here in Western Washington state. I didn't know how I was going to safely care for my horses until I remembered an old photo I saw with burlap tied to horse's feet to navigate icy streets. Now the socks will work on horses too if they are having problems walking on ice

12/10/2022

I have lost count on the number of people over the years that refuse to do this so hoof trimming can be done in a cooperative manner without so much struggle. Too many people are under the mistaken belief that because you want your horse to do something, they should just do it without any reward and oftentimes dishing out punishment If the horse doesn't cooperate. They could save themselves alot of trouble and stop having an adversarial relationship with their horse buy doing what Animal behaviorist's call counter conditioning. A further refinement would be clicker training and a start button target but for simplicity i always suggest counter conditioning first. It requires no prior education on the part of the owner or horse and is generally effective unless the animal is extremely afraid and won't eat. In those cases, Veterinary sedation is needed for at least a trim or several, until the owner can put in the effective training time using counter conditioning

trimming feet can cause alot of anxiety for many horses and Donkeys. oftentimes simple counter conditioning with soaked hay pellets or other low NSC feed lik...

08/29/2022

I do horse clicker training too , a short one from my Channel

a clip from 8/28/22. she's so cute . this was the start of a longer video that was too long , thanks for watching 🤠 🐎

08/26/2022

This is true, even using slow feeders some horses will eat themselves into insulin resistance and laminitis!

The horse pictured here is genetically predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and was given free choice, unlimited access to hay. He developed obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and ultimately insulin-induced laminitis. When he could no longer stand, hay was kept in front of him 24/7.

After getting a hay analysis, the owner was advised how much to feed based on actual energy requirements (calories consumed vs. calories expended), to weigh the hay, and to use slow feeders. When the horse was sound, the owner scattered the hay over several acres. The horse made a full recovery and achieved his ideal weight in 9 months.

For weight loss, a good rule of thumb is to feed 1.5% of current weight, or 2.0% of ideal body weight in hay (lbs/day), whichever is more. Example: Overweight horse of 1200 lbs, ideal weight is 1000 lbs. [1200 lbs x 0.015 = 18 lbs/day; 1000 lbs x 0.02 = 20 lbs/day]. Use of slow feeders or small hole hay nets will slow consumption. More information here: https://bit.ly/3Cmh50L

07/06/2022

This is a great store in Winlock, WA just off Exit 63 on I-5 . I just picked up some cute western snap shirts . Also got a great training saddle for my horse. So much merchandise in all price ranges . If you're in South West Washington state , this shop is worth the trip. English and western tack and apparel. Just about everything horse you can think of from apparel and tack to decor and gifts .

07/06/2022

This is true. I wish more people understood this

How can you be sure your horse isn't in pain?

You can't. 😞

I'm sorry, it's true. 🤷

Until we can read horses' minds or they learn to speak, we can't say for sure whether a horse is in pain or not.

Let me share a personal story with you. 📚

My knee has hurt me for YEARS. As a kid, I twisted my knee terribly in a skiing accident. Later I hit the asphalt hard while running on the same knee. Then about a year ago, a running horse hit me from behind, causing me to land on the same knee on the asphalt again. 😫🤕

It's never been the same since.

HOWEVER... I walk and run normally, I'm extremely active (I can ride, squat, hike, swim, whatever normally), the knee palpates and flexes normally, and it's not reactive to any touches or movements... The doctor even told me my *bad* knee palpates better than my good one 🤷

But yet it hurts.

Just because the doctor can't find it (yet, we are waiting on further diagnostics), doesn't mean it's not there.

Now imagine if I couldn't communicate with the doctor in any way to tell them I'm in pain. If they could *only* go off of symptoms.

Now pretend that story was about a horse.

The moral of the story is... Just because your vet can't find the cause, doesn't mean your horse isn't in pain.

And the only way your horse can communicate pain is through their behavior. Sometimes that's a sour expression when the saddle goes on, and sometimes it's three-legged limping around. Sometimes pain looks like "laziness", sometimes it looks like a tail swish, and sometimes it looks like a rear. Sometimes it's as subtle as tension around the eyes and nostrils.

Believe your horse. Listen to them. If they say they are in pain, they are in pain.

06/29/2022

Thanks to Steve North for this one.....

04/06/2022

They make a great senior horse feed

With our Frequent Buyer Program, when you send in 15 proofs of purchase, receive a $30 visa gift card.

02/14/2022

Happy Valentines day

12/05/2021

Can you detect when your horse is in pain ?

Learn to assess a horse for lameness with great precision in less than 2 hours. Interactive game based on real horses for students, horse owners and vets.

12/04/2021

If you want to see how a hoof transforms itself with barefoot care

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that I have recently released a brand new online education platform called eFarriery Education. If you follow the lin...

11/24/2021

Is it simple "stocking up" or the more dangerous Cellulitis, know when to call the vet

Do you know the difference between stocking up and cellulitis?

Many horses will "stock up" with subcutaneous edema (fluid swelling) in two or more legs (usually the hind limbs). Stocking up generally results from a significant decrease in exercise and usually resolves as the horse starts exercising again.

Lymphangitis( or vasculitis, big leg disease, staph infection, or cellulitis) on the other hand is a bacterial infection and a dramatically different condition. While its causes may vary, it’s easy to spot once it sets in: the swelling will be extreme, hot and very painful to the touch, and the horse will be depressed due to the fever and discomfort.

If you think your equine friend has cellulitis or even if you're not sure, we encourage you to seek professional help promptly. Your horse doctor will make the best treatment recommendations, both to reduce swelling and to address any sort of bacterial infection that might be active or that could occur due to the edema in the soft tissue.

Read more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lymphangitis-frustrating-condition