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By Carole Herder What is your favorite piece of horse equipment? What could you not do without? I think we all have that ‘essential’ tool, the ‘must have’ aid. Excluding your bridle and saddle (if you use them!), is it your hoof pick? Your long-lines? Your neck rein/strap? Your rasp? Your plaiting bands?? For many…
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By Carole Herder So you want to go barefoot (or rather you want your horse to go barefoot!) but you are nervous. Will he be lame? Will I be able to ride? Will he damage himself? What will everyone think of me? How long will it take his hooves to be strong? So many questions,…
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By Carole Herder Cracks. Cruddy, cruel, conniving (yes, they do seem out to personally attack our horse’s beautiful hooves) hoof cracks. What causes them? And why are some horses prone to them but not others? Types of cracks: • Grass Crack – a superficial crack starting from the ground and moving up. Can be caused…
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By Carole Herder Need some scientific jargon to back up your barefoot theories? I came across a great article by Dr. Robert Bowker recently, entitled ‘Nerves, Nerves, Nerves: Why Are They So Important To The Horse?’ The article gives an in-depth descriptive narrative on the different types of nerves in the hoof, how horses feel…
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By Carole Herder Do you oil or condition?? Did you know that 90% of the moisture required for the hoof wall comes from within the blood and lymph vessels? Moisture balance is extremely important to healthy hooves. It is the moisture, made up of water and salts and electrolytes, which ensures that the tubules (hollow…
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By Carole Herder The French born fashion designer Coco Channel is one of my most respected business women. She was listed in Time Magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people of the 20th century. One of her fabulous quotes comes to mind when I have a good look at various faces. She…
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By Carole Herder Finally! One of my pet peeves has been analyzed through scientific study and the right answer has come about! Do horses prefer to be scratched or patted? In the grand scheme of things it is probably not a life-changing question, but it bothers me immensely when riders, particular top competitors on their…
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I want to share my horse story with you. I am 40 yrs old and got my first horse a year and a half ago (after wanting one since I was 6). I got a 13 year old Appaloosa gelding who is the best horse in the world. His name is Max. The previous…
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By Carole Herder Looking for something good to sink your teeth into? I’m not talking about a slice of chocolate cake! I’ve mentioned before that knowledge is power, and the best way to gain this is through reading, talking and experiencing. It’s often hard to know what books to buy or magazines to subscribe to…
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