Kobus Els Remedial Farriery

Kobus Els Remedial Farriery With 29 years experience, Kobus provides Expert Remedial and Routine Farriery in the Gauteng Area 🐴

Farriery is one of the oldest equine professions, with roots stretching back over 2,000 years. 📜🐎 From Roman “hipposanda...
24/09/2025

Farriery is one of the oldest equine professions, with roots stretching back over 2,000 years. 📜🐎 From Roman “hipposandals” to medieval blacksmiths shaping iron shoes ⚒️🔥, farriers have always been essential in protecting and supporting horses that carried societies through agriculture, transport, and even battle. ⚔️🚜🏇

Today, modern remedial farriery builds on this heritage, combining centuries of knowledge with science and innovation 🔬✨ to correct gait issues, manage injuries, and optimise equine performance. 🐴💪

In South Africa 🇿🇦, farriery has its own proud legacy — adapting global techniques to suit local breeds, terrain, and traditions. 🌍🌾

This Heritage Day, we celebrate the timeless profession of farriery: a calling built on history, skill, and an enduring partnership between humans and horses. 🐎❤️

Kobus Els Remedial Farriery — continuing the legacy, one hoof at a time. 🖤

Farriery is not just a job...It’s the sound of steel striking an anvil before the sun rises. The long drives from one st...
23/09/2025

Farriery is not just a job...

It’s the sound of steel striking an anvil before the sun rises. The long drives from one stable to the next. The heat of summer, the cold of winter, the sudden downpours — and still, you show up. It’s the sweat on your back, the ache in your hands, and the quiet pride in shaping something that will carry a horse forward.

But farriery is more than hard work — it’s about people and horses. It’s learning each client, understanding every horse as an individual. It’s the quiet trust built with an animal that cannot speak, yet tells you everything in the way it stands, moves, and responds.

And it’s about being part of the journey. You’re there for the small moments — the steady walk after an injury, the perfect shoeing before a show. You’re there for the big ones too — the wins, the breakthroughs, the milestones that mean everything. And when the tough days come, you feel those too, because you’ve walked every step alongside them.

Farriery is passion lived out through long hours, resilience, and care. It’s not just a profession — it’s a commitment, and above all, a tribute to the horses and the people who give it their all.

Stud shoes are a game-changer for horses competing on grass or uneven country terrain 🐎✨. By adding removable studs to s...
09/09/2025

Stud shoes are a game-changer for horses competing on grass or uneven country terrain 🐎✨. By adding removable studs to specially designed shoes, we can give horses the extra traction they need for disciplines like showjumping and eventing – helping them stay balanced, confident, and safe through take-off, turns, and landings.

From pyramid studs for soft ground to round or square studs for firmer surfaces, each type offers a different level of grip. Placement is just as important – too far forward can affect stride, while balanced heel placement improves stability without straining the joints.

The right studs, fitted correctly, support performance while protecting hoof health. That’s why stud fitting should always be guided by an experienced farrier.

🌱 Spring is on the way — and that means changes for your horse’s hooves. 🐴As the weather warms and the grass starts comi...
29/08/2025

🌱 Spring is on the way — and that means changes for your horse’s hooves. 🐴

As the weather warms and the grass starts coming through, hooves grow faster but can also become softer and more vulnerable. Add in muddy paddocks and sudden shifts in diet, and problems like cracks, thrush, or even lameness can quickly appear.
At Kobus Els Remedial Farriery, we focus on proactive hoof care to keep your horse strong, sound, and ready for the season ahead. ✨🐎

Ever noticed your horse’s hooves looking a bit brittle, cracking, or just not growing like they should? 🐴💭It’s easy to b...
12/08/2025

Ever noticed your horse’s hooves looking a bit brittle, cracking, or just not growing like they should? 🐴💭

It’s easy to blame the weather, footing, or even their shoes… but sometimes the real problem is happening on the inside.

Gastric ulcers and poor nutrient absorption can quietly affect the quality of new hoof growth – meaning even with regular farrier visits, the hoof just isn’t as strong as it could be.

Strong hooves start young! 🐴✨�A foal’s hooves grow quickly and are soft enough to develop imbalances if not managed earl...
25/07/2025

Strong hooves start young! 🐴✨

�A foal’s hooves grow quickly and are soft enough to develop imbalances if not managed early. Regular farrier check-ups during these first critical months can prevent long-term issues like toeing in/out, contracted heels, or club foot — problems that are far easier to correct while your foal is still developing.

Early farrier work isn’t just about neat hooves – it’s about building a solid foundation for a lifetime of soundness, comfort, and performance. Investing in the right care now can save years of rehab later.

Why do X-rays matter in remedial shoeing? 🧐📸They reveal the inside of the hoof — showing bone position, joint alignment,...
09/07/2025

Why do X-rays matter in remedial shoeing? 🧐📸

They reveal the inside of the hoof — showing bone position, joint alignment, sole depth, and more. This allows for precise trimming and shoe placement, especially in cases like laminitis, navicular, or lameness issues.

No guesswork. Just accurate, targeted solutions for long-term soundness and comfort. 👣🐴

Soundness starts from the inside out.

We recommend using quality hoof oil this winter to keep hooves healthy 🐴❄️ It locks in moisture, prevents cracks, and pr...
28/05/2025

We recommend using quality hoof oil this winter to keep hooves healthy 🐴❄️

It locks in moisture, prevents cracks, and protects against cold, wet conditions. Natural oils like laurel, neatsfoot, and tea tree nourish and shield the hoof, while lanolin and beeswax boost flexibility and growth. 👈
shoppe stocks a wide variety of incredible products aimed at improving and maintaining your horse's hoof health! Shop their range online or in-store.

❄️ Winter Hoof Care in South Africa 🐴South African winters may be mild, but dry air, hard ground, and slower growth can ...
14/05/2025

❄️ Winter Hoof Care in South Africa 🐴
South African winters may be mild, but dry air, hard ground, and slower growth can quietly impact your horse’s hooves.

Here’s what to watch out for:
🔸 Dry, brittle hooves – Moisturise regularly & avoid overwashing
🔸 Hard, compacted ground – Stick to your farriery schedule to avoid bruising
🔸 Slower hoof growth – Don’t delay trims; imbalance can sneak in
🔸 Cracks & chips – Early intervention prevents bigger problems

Winter doesn’t mean “less care”—it means different care. Stay ahead with consistent, expert hoof support.

🔎 Understanding 3D Pads in Remedial Farriery3D hoof pads are a game-changer in equine hoof care—designed to protect the ...
05/05/2025

🔎 Understanding 3D Pads in Remedial Farriery

3D hoof pads are a game-changer in equine hoof care—designed to protect the frog, sole, and digital cushion while providing targeted support and correction. 🐴

✅ Why use 3D pads?

– Protection against trauma and rough terrain
– Shock absorption to reduce limb stress
– Frog support to aid circulation and caudal hoof health
– Correction for imbalances, flat feet, or low angles

From Full Mesh Pads for rugged terrain to Frog Support Pads for engagement and circulation—each type has a purpose in promoting comfort and performance.

We use 3D pads with precision, only where it benefits the horse. Every case is unique, and so is our approach. 👣

📞 For hoof care that puts your horse first, contact Kobus Els on 082 801 2663.

Keratoma Pt. 3: The Farrier’s Role in RecoveryFollowing keratoma surgery, recovery isn’t just about healing—it’s about r...
22/04/2025

Keratoma Pt. 3: The Farrier’s Role in Recovery

Following keratoma surgery, recovery isn’t just about healing—it’s about rebuilding. The farrier plays a vital role in stabilising the hoof, protecting the surgical site, and guiding the hoof back to full function.

🛠️ Custom Shoeing for Recovery:
Once the site has healed enough, your farrier may apply a custom shoe, bar shoe, hospital plate, or frog support system to:
🔹 Shield the area from pressure, dirt, and bacteria
🔹 Redistribute weight away from the affected zone
🔹 Encourage balanced, healthy regrowth

In more complex cases, heart bar or egg bar shoes may be used to add stability and comfort as the horse resumes movement.

✂️ Trimming & Maintenance:
Regular trimming (every 4–5 weeks) is essential to keep the hoof balanced and prevent distortion as it grows out. Your farrier will:
✔️ Monitor new horn growth
✔️ Adjust shoeing as needed
✔️ Prevent strain on healing structures

🚨 Ongoing Monitoring for Complications:
Recovery isn’t always linear. The farrier stays alert for signs of:
🚩 Infection or separation at the surgical site
🚩 Delayed or uneven growth
🚩 Lameness from imbalance
🚩 Soreness or excess pressure

Any issues are promptly communicated with the vet to keep healing on track.

⏳ Long-Term Support:
Full hoof regrowth may take up to 12 months. Throughout, your farrier ensures continued support with specialist shoeing, maintenance, and careful transitions back to normal work—always putting the horse’s comfort and future soundness first.

📞 Need experienced support for your horse’s recovery?
Get in touch with Kobus Els Remedial Farriery for expert care and a customised recovery plan.

⚠️ GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING ⚠️We’ve recently taken a closer look at keratomas—what they are, how they form, and the surgi...
13/04/2025

⚠️ GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING ⚠️

We’ve recently taken a closer look at keratomas—what they are, how they form, and the surgical procedures used to remove them. Now, we’re diving into one of the most important phases: post-operative farriery care.

This particular horse underwent surgery to remove a large keratoma, which left a significant cavity in the hoof. What follows is the journey of recovery through four specialised farriery cycles, each one designed to:

✔️ Protect the exposed surgical site
✔️ Encourage balanced hoof growth
✔️ Provide maximum comfort during healing

You'll see in the progression that there’s major hoof wall growth from just below the coronary band down to the toe, as well as visible regeneration from the sole upwards, gradually closing the surgical opening.

These cases are a reminder of how critical proper farriery is—not just in everyday soundness, but in recovery from pathology too. Every trim, shoeing and technique played a role in ensuring this horse stayed comfortable and could grow out the hoof safely and correctly.

🔧 Patience, precision, and purpose in every cycle.

👉 In our next post, we’ll be taking a more in-depth look at the techniques and tools we use to achieve this kind of result—from shoeing choices to support structures and trimming strategies. Stay tuned!

Need help with a similar case or have questions about post-surgical hoof care? Feel free to reach out!
📞 082 801 2663

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