An interesting "discovery" in barefoot trimming...
I recently read about a well-known farrier that gave a program at an international hoof care summit to vets and farriers. He was advocating a trim for contracted under-run hooves that called for "opening cuts" and trimming back heels and bars which "borders on surgery" (his words). He stopped just short of blood and mentioned checking sole thickness with thumb pressure. Then there was something else I read where a person had a vet service out to check on her diagnosed navicular horse that was being trimmed by a fellow trimmer trained in the Strasser method. This veterinarian recommended trimming "opening cuts" and lowering the heels and bars as well as walking the horse. Another story talked about how another famous barefoot trimmer has "discovered" many of the same techniques for reversing contraction.
The Strasser Method has been known in this country for about 10 years. During that time, Dr. Strasser, her method, her trained trimmers and her trim recommendations have been disputed and ridiculed as being "invasive". Now it seems that people are "discovering" these techniques and advocating them without giving credit to their inventor!
When I was in the Strasser Hoofcare Professional's course, I was told not to "rock the boat" with vets and farriers. I was told not to take difficult cases outside of a hoof clinic. I was told not to teach owners how to trim their own horses. But all of this rocking the boat, difficult cases and teaching owners how to trim was all started by Strasser herself! Had it not been for a SHP that first taught me to trim my own horses, I would never have pursued the education myself.
I still believe that some owners (not all) can learn to maintain their own horses if there are specific things I can show them how to do and feel reasonably assured that they can learn to do those specific things. Many former SHPs have gone on to form their own trimming schools that are based on the Strasser Method. I am not teaching owners how to become trimmers. But I will share as much information as I can with anyone who wants to learn.
The Strasser Method has been known in this country for about 10 years. During that time, Dr. Strasser, her method, her trained trimmers and her trim recommendations have been disputed and ridiculed as being "invasive". Now it seems that people are "discovering" these techniques and advocating them without giving credit to their inventor!
When I was in the Strasser Hoofcare Professional's course, I was told not to "rock the boat" with vets and farriers. I was told not to take difficult cases outside of a hoof clinic. I was told not to teach owners how to trim their own horses. But all of this rocking the boat, difficult cases and teaching owners how to trim was all started by Strasser herself! Had it not been for a SHP that first taught me to trim my own horses, I would never have pursued the education myself.
I still believe that some owners (not all) can learn to maintain their own horses if there are specific things I can show them how to do and feel reasonably assured that they can learn to do those specific things. Many former SHPs have gone on to form their own trimming schools that are based on the Strasser Method. I am not teaching owners how to become trimmers. But I will share as much information as I can with anyone who wants to learn.
Barefoot Horses Throughout History
Did you know that Alexander The Great rode his noble horse, Bucephalus, into battle at Gaugamela when the horse was 25 years old? And then the barefoot horses of his army battled through what is now Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and back up through Iraq, Iran, Afghansitan. These are rocky mountainous areas. His horse died in battle at the age of 32 in what is now Pakistan. (To see a really good map, go to: http://www.bible-history.com/maps/map-alexander-the-great.html). There's a great scene in the movie "Alexander" portrayed by Colin Farrell, which depicts Bucephalus bravely battling a huge black elephant. All art and sculpture of the Syrians and the Greeks, including Alexander, depict horses without shoes! To read about Bucephalus go to http://faq.macedonia.org/history/buke.html Alexander was educated by Aristole and was a contemporary of Xenophon, who was the first person to ever write about horse training and keeping. Xenophon wrote that if a horse was to be kept confined, that the floor should be covered with stones the size of a man's hand for the health of the horse's feet.
"To secure the best type of stable-yard, and with a view to strengthening the horse's feet, I would suggest to take and throw down loosely four or five waggon loads of pebbles, each as large as can be grasped in the hand, and about a pound in weight; the whole to be fenced round with a skirting of iron to prevent scattering. The mere standing on these will come to precisely the same thing as if for a certain portion of the day the horse were, off and on, stepping along a stony road; whilst being curried or when fidgeted by flies he will be forced to use his hoofs just as much as if he were walking. Nor is it the hoofs merely, but a surface so strewn with stones will tend to harden the frog of the foot also."
"To secure the best type of stable-yard, and with a view to strengthening the horse's feet, I would suggest to take and throw down loosely four or five waggon loads of pebbles, each as large as can be grasped in the hand, and about a pound in weight; the whole to be fenced round with a skirting of iron to prevent scattering. The mere standing on these will come to precisely the same thing as if for a certain portion of the day the horse were, off and on, stepping along a stony road; whilst being curried or when fidgeted by flies he will be forced to use his hoofs just as much as if he were walking. Nor is it the hoofs merely, but a surface so strewn with stones will tend to harden the frog of the foot also."
Soundness verses Health
.Can you have a sound horse that does not have healthy feet? Of course! The feet can be shod tightly to produce a foot that can't feel the damage that may be present. Orthopedic shoes are designed to make the horse instantly sound and they do this by putting pressure on the blood supply to the foot to reduce sensation.
In order to have nerve function, blood flow is necessary! Blood flow is squeezed out of the hoof when the shoe is nailed on tightly. The steel conducts cold which also reduces nerve function. If you've ever kept your feet in your stirrups for a few hours in the cold weather, you know what pressure and cold can do to your feet. Even without the cold, I know when I workout for 30 minutes on the eliptical machine at the gym, my feet get numb on the bottoms. The foot of a horse is very nerve and blood rich. So if a horse has excess horn or shoes which prevent normal healthy blood flow, they may suffer damage to internal foot structures yet not feel it.
In the case of horses transitioning to healthy feet, the blood flow is reintroduced to areas of damaged tissues. This may cause pain and inflammation. But even once the horse has transitioned successfully to a healthy foot shape, the horse may still be sensitive to rocks if not used to walking on them regularly. This doesn't mean that the horse that is shod and can't feel the rocks is healthy even though he appears "sound" because he can't feel them, or that the barefoot healthy-footed horse that can feel the rocks is unsound.
In order to have nerve function, blood flow is necessary! Blood flow is squeezed out of the hoof when the shoe is nailed on tightly. The steel conducts cold which also reduces nerve function. If you've ever kept your feet in your stirrups for a few hours in the cold weather, you know what pressure and cold can do to your feet. Even without the cold, I know when I workout for 30 minutes on the eliptical machine at the gym, my feet get numb on the bottoms. The foot of a horse is very nerve and blood rich. So if a horse has excess horn or shoes which prevent normal healthy blood flow, they may suffer damage to internal foot structures yet not feel it.
In the case of horses transitioning to healthy feet, the blood flow is reintroduced to areas of damaged tissues. This may cause pain and inflammation. But even once the horse has transitioned successfully to a healthy foot shape, the horse may still be sensitive to rocks if not used to walking on them regularly. This doesn't mean that the horse that is shod and can't feel the rocks is healthy even though he appears "sound" because he can't feel them, or that the barefoot healthy-footed horse that can feel the rocks is unsound.
The Great Hoofcare Debate
Many people learned about taking their horses barefoot thru the internet. I heard about Dr. Strasser's books when my pony foundered back in 2000. I couldn't wait to get a farrier trained to trim in this new Barefoot Method. As a year went by and my farrier, who had been to one Strasser Seminar but later took the hoofcare course taught by Jaimie Jackson, my horses went from bad to better to worse. I didn't know what I didn't know, so I went to an SHP, Nancy Filbert who taught me over the next few years. Then when I felt I could afford it, I took the SHP course myself. It was a time of turmoil in the hoofcare industry and within the Strasser organization itself. Dr. Strasser came to this country and, after having met Jamie Jackson, the two decided that they didn't have the same strategies for returning the hoof to health. Dr. Strasser, a German veterinarian, had been curing stall-kept shod horses in her clinic for 20 years. Jamie Jackson, a farrier, had been observing feral horses of the the American west for years. Both had ideas that were, and still are, controversial among horse professionals. Many other folks decided to jump on the Barefoot Bandwagon and some were successful while others were not. Some followed Strasser's teachings and some followed Jamie Jackson's. Other's followed different barefoot gurus but everyone is still trying to find the holy grail of barefoot trimming.
I have found that over the years I have been studying and practicing this trimming art, what works for me and the horses I have trimmed. I found this out both by trimming the wild horse trim and by trimming the Strasser trim. One thing for sure is that every horse and every owner and every situation is different and a trimmer needs to be flexible, strong and willing to try different things until they find something that works. I have 4 horses now (used to have more) and through the years, I have trimmed them all. I trimmed for my friends and as they learned to trim too, we were able to make our lame horses sound. I don't know everything about hoofcare but I feel I have had quite an education over the years and can explain why I do what I do.
RECENT NEWS:
Sadly, one of my clients had to put her horse down due to colic. I don't know the exact causes in her case, but it made me want to just bring attention some important considerations:
1.) During winter, horses, especially older horses, do not move around as much left on their own, unless the owner rides regularly. Lack of movement contributes to digestion problems like colic.
2.) Since most people are feeding hay in winter, adequate water intake is vital to maintaining gut function.
3.) If the water is not clean, horses will be reluctant to drink as much as they should. Just topping off a large tank of water is not recommended. Old water should be emptied, tanks should be cleaned out, and fresh water put in daily. (I personally don't like automatic waterers as I can't judge how much water horses drink. But even those should be checked DAILY to make sure they are working properly and clean.)
4.) If you have electric fencing, be absolutely positive there is no electrical conduction with metal water tanks.
5.) Be sure all animals are allowed access to water. Sometimes a bossy horse will keep others away.
6,) Be alert to how much water your horses are drinking and if they are not drinking as much as you think they should. Watch for signs of colic and call a vet immediately if you see your horse looking at his sides or pawing the ground. Early signs may be just a pained look on their face.
7.) If you are feeding grain to an inactive horse, you are really doing more harm than good. Quality hay or better yet, pasture grass, will keep an inactive horse healthy through the winter, especially our milder southern winters. Supplement with minerals and salt block.
8.) It's quite normal for horses to loose a certain amount of conditioning and weight in the winter. It's ok.
9.) Round bales are a convenience for the owner but can contain mold and shouldn't be used in my opinion. They contribute to a lack of movement too. The horse will just stand around all day to eat in one place. Parceling out good quality hay in various locations to encourage some movement is a better way of feeding and it allows you to inspect it for noxious weeds, dead rats, bugs or mold.
10.) Horses are better off without blankets or clipping. They have an efficient means of thermo-regulation in growing a good haircoat and subcutaneous muscles that raise and lower hair to trap air for warmth or cool off. There is no way you can be as efficient in regulating the horses temperature as Mother Nature. Horses get too hot in blankets, then sweat. My horse did just fine for 10 seasons of fox hunting with her natural coat.
11.) Horses are healthier if they live OUTside the barn, not inside. Stalling contributes to lack a of movement and can cause respiratory problems, hoof deformities TMJ and teeth problems and of course colic.
I think vets will concur that all of the above is good advice. They may not like the fact that you won't be calling them much though!!:-)
I have found that over the years I have been studying and practicing this trimming art, what works for me and the horses I have trimmed. I found this out both by trimming the wild horse trim and by trimming the Strasser trim. One thing for sure is that every horse and every owner and every situation is different and a trimmer needs to be flexible, strong and willing to try different things until they find something that works. I have 4 horses now (used to have more) and through the years, I have trimmed them all. I trimmed for my friends and as they learned to trim too, we were able to make our lame horses sound. I don't know everything about hoofcare but I feel I have had quite an education over the years and can explain why I do what I do.
RECENT NEWS:
Sadly, one of my clients had to put her horse down due to colic. I don't know the exact causes in her case, but it made me want to just bring attention some important considerations:
1.) During winter, horses, especially older horses, do not move around as much left on their own, unless the owner rides regularly. Lack of movement contributes to digestion problems like colic.
2.) Since most people are feeding hay in winter, adequate water intake is vital to maintaining gut function.
3.) If the water is not clean, horses will be reluctant to drink as much as they should. Just topping off a large tank of water is not recommended. Old water should be emptied, tanks should be cleaned out, and fresh water put in daily. (I personally don't like automatic waterers as I can't judge how much water horses drink. But even those should be checked DAILY to make sure they are working properly and clean.)
4.) If you have electric fencing, be absolutely positive there is no electrical conduction with metal water tanks.
5.) Be sure all animals are allowed access to water. Sometimes a bossy horse will keep others away.
6,) Be alert to how much water your horses are drinking and if they are not drinking as much as you think they should. Watch for signs of colic and call a vet immediately if you see your horse looking at his sides or pawing the ground. Early signs may be just a pained look on their face.
7.) If you are feeding grain to an inactive horse, you are really doing more harm than good. Quality hay or better yet, pasture grass, will keep an inactive horse healthy through the winter, especially our milder southern winters. Supplement with minerals and salt block.
8.) It's quite normal for horses to loose a certain amount of conditioning and weight in the winter. It's ok.
9.) Round bales are a convenience for the owner but can contain mold and shouldn't be used in my opinion. They contribute to a lack of movement too. The horse will just stand around all day to eat in one place. Parceling out good quality hay in various locations to encourage some movement is a better way of feeding and it allows you to inspect it for noxious weeds, dead rats, bugs or mold.
10.) Horses are better off without blankets or clipping. They have an efficient means of thermo-regulation in growing a good haircoat and subcutaneous muscles that raise and lower hair to trap air for warmth or cool off. There is no way you can be as efficient in regulating the horses temperature as Mother Nature. Horses get too hot in blankets, then sweat. My horse did just fine for 10 seasons of fox hunting with her natural coat.
11.) Horses are healthier if they live OUTside the barn, not inside. Stalling contributes to lack a of movement and can cause respiratory problems, hoof deformities TMJ and teeth problems and of course colic.
I think vets will concur that all of the above is good advice. They may not like the fact that you won't be calling them much though!!:-)
