Horse Care is Changing
Last week I attended a few classes, two on hoof care & trimming and one with an Osteopath that was on the correlation between hooves and the body and how they influence one another. While there, I met a handful of like-minded horse owners and we discussed how horse care is changing - for the better. We all agreed that in years to come, we may find that typical methods could become obsolete, as other options are explored.
As more & more people and professionals explore ‘alternative’ methods and witness the profound results & benefits, it is seeming that these alternatives should maybe be our standards. Research, case studies and trial & error seems to be showing that what we’ve been doing with our horses for so many years is actually proving to be a bit detrimental.
Progressive hoof care practitioners and equine bodyworkers will be the first to tell you that “motion is lotion” and full-time turnout is ideal. Spending time in a stall does not seem to be helping our horses bodies, muscles, bones, hooves, emotions, mental states and even internal organs.
Metal shoes might also become obsolete, as new options such as composites, glue on’s and even boots are rapidly gaining traction by providing the same benefits, without disrupting the integrity or circulation of the hoof.
Stall time is being minimized at some facilities, but instead of being replaced with your typical grass turnout, we’re now seeing many people switch to dry lots and track systems (also called paddock paradises) - which are essentially turnouts that have been made into a maze of some sorts. These systems encourage horses to move more throughout the day, across varying types of ‘terrain’ or footing. Not only is this beneficial for the musculoskeletal systems but also their hooves. In one of my groups about track systems, someone tracked their horses movement and noted that he walked nearly 15 miles in one day! That’s a great deal more than our typical stalled horses, even performance horses, that get plenty of exercise.
Dry lots are such a fantastic option, especially for easy keepers that really need to have their grass limited. Instead of your typical dirt, clay or muddy footing that can contribute to yucky hooves - pea gravel is making quite the name for itself. Not only can it help with the mud, but it can also provide a comfortable but firm footing that can potentially increase circulation in the hoof by up to 40% per Dr. Robert Bowker, who says the magic numbers are to use 3/4” pea gravel that is 4” deep.
When it comes to feeding, we’re seeing that too little hay/forage and too much grass, grain, carbohydrates & sugars are wrecking havoc on our horses digestive & endocrine systems as well as their hooves. A growing number of horse owners are switching to forage based diets, some with 24/7 access to slow fed hay.
But with mineral balancing that is based on the forage or grass testing, we can really improve overall health and hoof quality. Research is also showing that many of our horses are consuming too little copper and zinc and too much iron - whether it be from their food, grass, hay or water. Unfortunately, excessive iron also inhibits the absorption of copper & zinc which could lead to a looser connection in the hoof wall. However, many supplement companies are becoming increasingly aware of this and removing added iron while simultaneously boosting the copper & zinc. I highly recommend reading Pete Ramey’s Feeding the Hoof article, as well as any information published by Dr. Kellon.
These are just a few of the changes that we are seeing, but it is extending into other areas as well, whether it be with topical products or supplements - we’re finding that a more natural approach is proving to be much more effective.
