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  • Needful Things

    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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  • Battles Wins Back to Back!

    Announcing Trade Supplier of the Year Winner at the 2015 BETA International show in Birmingham, UK This past week, Greg Giles, CEO of Cavallo Horse & Rider, attended the BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) show in Birmingham, England. We just received an exciting report from an overjoyed Greg, letting us know that Battles (one of…

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  • Nerves and Bloodflow – Keeping the Hoof Alive

    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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  • Hoof Moisture Balance – A Natural Approach

    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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  • Working With Your Horse’s Unique Personality

    By Carole Herder What sort of personality does your horse have? I blogged about anthropomorphism recently and human traits and characteristics are certainly something we all put upon our horses! Is he cheeky, quirky, stubborn, willful, lazy, or excitable? How many of us adjust the way we present ourselves based on who we are in…

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  • The Face of Pain

    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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  • Patting or Scratching?

    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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  • Liberated Horsemanship

    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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  • Different Horse, Different Hoof

    By Carole Herder Different horse, different hoof. That is my motto – for trimming, for boot fitting, for health care. I remember a friend of mine who got her first horses and decided to keep them barefoot. Luckily they had never been shod so she was off to a good start. She learned to trim…

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