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By Carole Herder I spoke recently about how to get x-ray vision for your horse’s hooves, or rather how you can judge the quality of the hoof by looking at the outside and underside of it. Another great way to help the feet, and possibly other areas of the body, are Ting points. These are…
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By Carole Herder Did you know that some equestrian sports still ban barefoot horses? Only last year a barefoot horse owner was disqualified at Blair Castle International Horse Trials in the Working Hunter Championship for being un-shod. I was also catching up on the 2014 rules for The Tevis Cup (100-Miles-One-Day Trail Ride) where they…
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By Carole Herder If someone is not a horse person, smell may be the first thing they notice when they enter the barn. They may not find it pleasant. Can you imagine? I think horses have a sweet, sweet smell; not every horse of course, but most. I am used to going out to see…
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By Carole Herder I am constantly mentioning the age old phrase, ‘no hoof, no horse’. A bad hoof can cause your horse not to perform well, and can even cause lameness. But the horse’s feet can tell us so much more, and not just by their visual appearance. Do you know how to take a…
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By Carole Herder Much of the sensory relationship you have with your horse will be with sight and touch. You will get a sense of your relationship from how he responds to your touch. If he flinches and moves away he is sending you a message. If he leans into you, there is a message….
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By Carole Herder When many of us look at our horses we see gentle yet strong, beautiful animals that are part of our families. Taking care of horses means paying attention to the details of their physical body and behavior. When I first approach my horse, and walk around him I take note of what…
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By Carole Herder Most of us will weigh our horses regularly, or at least we know how to do it. Here is a reminder of the formula if you have forgotten! ‘Girth’ is calculated by placing the tape across the horse’s back just behind the withers and catching the other side under the horse so…
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By Carole Herder I found a great interview recently with Dr. Robert Bowker, one of the leading hoof research pioneers in our discipline. You can read the full interview here (dated 07/01/14) http://www.foundationsofsoundness.com/blog.html but I would like to reiterate one of his points regarding diet. In the interview, Dr. Bowker talks about the holistic approach…
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When transitioning to barefoot, there are some challenges you should be aware of: 1. When you first go barefoot, ignorance is most definitely not bliss for the people around you. Any disapproving looks and comments you will receive are from those who have no idea about the anatomy of the hoof, let alone the advantages…
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