Natural Hoof Care Specialist |
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Today the performance horse industry has become quite physically demanding of our equine athletes. Therefore it is vital that our horses receive the best of hoof care throughout their careers. As the old adage goes.... "No hoof no horse"
These photos are from a 22 year old breeding stallion that had succumb to the improper hoof care and nutritional program that he had been receiving and therefore was physically unable to service mares. Notice the ripples in his hooves in the comparison photo due to laminitis. Also notice the trimmed portion begins at the lateral toe quarter and ends with the medial heel. This is a good example of improper peripheral loading as well as significant collateral laminitis and imbalance. Following proper hoof care and changes to his nutritional program this stallion regained his ability to service mares. Here at Fairchild Cutting Horses, we strive for hoof symmetry and perhaps most importantly to maintain the true biomechanical relationship between the hooves' and their respective leg bones. Acquiring biomechanical accuracy of the hoof should allow a horse to move true to its musculoskeletal structure, maximizing soundness, performance and consistency. "The hoof is a book to the body" This is our basic philosophy, and therefore we believe that a dis-eased body will dis-ease the hooves or a dis-eased hoof will dis-ease the body. We would like to emphasize that hoof conformation and integrity are affected by many variables. Some of the primary factors affecting the hooves of our performance horses today are NUTRITION, PROPER HOOF CARE, MUSCULOSKELETAL SOUNDNESS, ADEQUATE EXERCISE AND ENVIRONMENT. In summary, normal hoof conformation usually suggests that many of the previously mentioned factors are satisfactory. Abnormal hoof conformation as seen in founder, navicular. flared and club hooves strongly suggests that there are inadequacies in the aforementioned and therefore the perpetuation of these hoof conformations are usually completely unnecessary. We apply our extensive knowledge of hoof management to every horse that is within our care, ensuring they have the greatest opportunity to succeed no matter the equine discipline. Our goal is to optimize each horse's level of soundness, thereby increasing performance and consistency in the arena. It is our utmost desire to help others through education and by being of service, and hope that you will contact us if we can help you and your horse in any way. Please remember that we also provide seminars and clinics, and would be happy to provide this service at your next equine event. "De Agony of De Feet"  This photo of a 17 year old stallion shows the egg bar shoe that came off of him a year and a half earlier. This photo actually should have been taken holding the shoe further down his hoof, because that would give you a better picture of how this horse was actually wearing the shoeing apparatus before we removed it. After a year and a half of proper hoof care management and being barefoot which promotes natural hoof mechanics and soundness, this horse's heel quarters spread out nearly two inches, thus completely eliminating navicular pain and lameness. This stallion continued to travel honestly sound..... barefoot in the limestone country of Central Texas.  [Replacement Heifers] [Training Program] [Horses For Sale] [Links Page] [Home] |
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