Q: I have my horse shod regularly - usually every five weeks - and his feet look perfectly normal to me. But he trips a lot, especially when being ridden in a paddock. Is this a physical/foot problem, or to do with the way he is being ridden? Is there anything my farrier can do? …
Problems with using a twitch
I haven't been a big fan of using a twitch on horses for quite some time. Some people argue that a twitch might hurt the horse or are in others ways unkind. It's my understanding that using a twitch correctly on the nose of a horse releases endorphins which are considered soothing to the horse and …
Andrew Nicholson (Friday photo)
Kevin Bacon's hoofcare range is endorsed by Andrew Nicholson. For the Friday photo this week, here's an image of Andrew competing at Badminton in 2010 on Avebury. Visit the Kevin Bacon's NZ website for more info about this great range of hoofcare products.
Mango Butter Sunshade
Today was a scorcher here in Christchurch. This stuff is great for horses and people for protection from the sun. Savvy Touch Mango Butter Sunshade is SPF30 and proudly made in New Zealand. Ingredients include calendular oil, active manuka honey and mango butter naturally. It applies to the skin beautifully and the pump bottle makes …
The equine foot – short video clip
A great video from Rood and Riddle about common riding surfaces and the types of shoe we select for use: hat-tip Tweedie & Associates
Hoof abscess question
Question: I have a 20-year-old TB gelding who, after having unbalanced, cracked hooves, has come a long way with corrective trimming from an experienced and reputable farrier. While his hooves have improved dramatically in a year, he still has slightly flat feet and his hoof wall, I am told, is quite thin. The problem is …
Relief for itchy horses
It's that time of year again, when rugs are being biffed off the horses, their winter coats are being lost and in some cases, lighter cover options are getting dragged out of the barn. Driving around on my daily tasks, I see so many horses scratching themselves on fence-posts, fences or sometimes less suitable itching …
Farrier Blog 