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Pathology is the medical term for the study of the way a disease works. Hoof pathologies are when something has gone wrong with the equine foot, like laminitis, thrush, abscesses, flares, navicular or negative palmar angle. These are diseases or non-conformational issues. What about club foot? Yes, there are instances whereby this is hereditary and…
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Managing lameness and rehabilitating an injured horse is something we have all had to consider. Recently two articles appeared in the same national publication that tracked the stories of attempted re-hab of two different high profile performance horses. The stark variance in outcome is something that some would just accept as the luck-of-the-draw. There is…
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Horse riding has physical health, psychological and over-all benefits of happiness and well-being. This is just a reminder for us and the non-horsey around us, who wonder about our level of sanity as we brave the winter weather to get out there and ride. And the research is there! Check out www.bhs.org.uk (study published in…
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If you are struggling with your horse’s bare feet, don’t give up. It is a huge commitment but it is one of the most worthwhile things you can do – allowing your horse to be free of metal shoes. He may be a little tender in the beginning as he adjusts but stick to your…
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Welcome to the most rewarding addiction in the world: horses. What is an addiction? “An addiction is a condition that results when a person engages in an activity that can be pleasurable, but the continued act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities.” Sound familiar? I can certainly think of many an…
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What we call “hoof mechanism” is the pumping function that restores hoof health to your horse; absorbing shock rather than delivering it; (The following video is an internal view of the hoof mechanism and may not be suitable for all viewers). Your solution is to simply pull off those metal shoes and use Cavallo Hoof…
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Oh the horrors! My friend sent me this picture when she was visiting an old castle in Europe. You can see a display of some the horse shoes used over the last 1,000 years or so for horses, ponies, donkeys, and even oxen. The list on the left of the exhibit explains what each shoe…
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Bruising of the sole – what causes it and how can it be remedied? Below are some of the more common causes of sole bruising in horses: Stepping on a rock Laminitis Pedal bone rotation Excessive hoof trimming Badly fitting shoes or shoes left on too long (leading to bruising and/or corns) First of all,…
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Karen Province, Membership Coordinator for the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), recently asked me to help in the selection process to choose a winner for the PATH Volunteer of the Year Award. PATH International Though PATH International began with a focus on horseback riding as a form of physical and mental therapy, the organization…
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