Healthy Hooves Natural Hoof Care
Wendy Snell
(503) 606-9883 ~ Home
(503) 871-6923 ~ Cell
farmmamma2@msn.com
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Frequently Asked Questions!
1) How can my horse go barefoot and still handle the tough gravel logging roads I ride on? The short and easy answer to that question is.... Hoof Boots!! In the last few years the hoof boot industry has taken off and is now providing a multitude of tested, effective and affordable boots that provide your horse with the protection he may need for his time out riding, while allowing him to be barefooted and natural for the rest of his time. Rest assured, whatever your discipline or need, we can find a hoof boot for you that fits the bill.
2) I have heard that barefoot horses must be trimmed as often as every 4 weeks, is that true? Well, ideally you want to have your horse's hooves trimmed BEFORE they look like they need a trim. In other words, before any damage is done. Many trimmers have found that a 4 week trimming schedule allows for the hooves to be maintained in such a manner. Now, with that said, I live in the real world that includes limited time and money to do all the things that need to be done. I have found that a 6 week schedule works pretty well for almost all horses and still gets the hooves tended to before they are damaged by overly long hoof walls. In rare cases, especially during winter time, some horses can go 8 weeks between trims, though 6 weeks really is better. The difference between 6 weeks and 8 weeks amounts to 2 more trims per year which when measured against the improvement in your horse's hooves is a fair trade off, I think. If you have a horse with severe hoof pathology that needs correcting (severe cracks, founder rehabs, navicular rehabs, etc) I will recommend that your horse be trimmed more often (every 4 weeks) in order to best manage and improve those problems. Once your horse has healthier hooves, we can drop back to a less frequent (6 weeks) schedule. |
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Healthy Hooves Natural Hoof Care |