Darkhorse Farrier Service

Fortunate to have such an eager helper this morning ❤️

Alright folks, after trialing my potions on a bunch of guinea pigs (er, horses) the results are in....the potions work, and they work damn good!

I'm now offering these for sale.

Backcountry Balm is great for horses who hate sprays; the 75ml black applicator is super handy to bring in your saddle bag for on-trail application.

Also available in 8oz tins if you want the larger amount.

This stuff works, and it lasts way longer than water-based sprays. It lasts long enough to get through a full shoeing job without your horse stomping or twitching, which is what I made it for.

Sweet Stuff is a gamechanger for sweet itch and summer skin irritations. After failing miserably with zinc creams and steroid sprays, I made a slow infusion of lemonbalm, plantain, and yarrow (from my garden!) and it's the one thing that has stopped my horses from itching.

The black applicators are $20 and the tins are $40.
I can work in delivery on my shoeing routes.

Yes I know my hands are filthy, I shoe horses.

Hey folks, I'm opening my books for online consultations!

Over the course of my career I have worked on thousands of individual horses, with thousands of individual feet. My practice has been largely focused on providing hoof care for complex lameness cases and horses with pathology; including acute and chronic laminitis intervention, contracted heels, navicular syndromes, pedal osteitis, canker, penetrating cracks, and more. This has allowed me the opportunity to work alongside numerous equine veterinarians to apply a diverse range of trimming and shoeing approaches.

Over the past few years, I have had an increasing number of horses referred to me with lameness issues caused directly by hoof trimming protocols developed by barefoot fundamentalists. These groups prey upon well-intentioned horse owners and trimmers simply seeking information and education. They misuse rhetoric and context to sell "one size fits all" methods and approaches that fly in the face of science and ultimately harm horses.

If you're confused about your horses feet, please skip the cults and the comments section, and consider a trusted source instead! Your horse deserves individualized consideration.

A consult can work for you if:

- Your horse is recently diagnosed with an injury or a pathology and you are exploring rehabilitative trimming and shoeing options

- You are struggling with soundness issues and would like additional information or opinions

- You trim your own, and/or don't have access to a reputable farrier

- You want to train your eye, understand what you're looking at, or are seeking easy to understand explanations from an experienced professional

A consultation provides:

- Easy to understand information about your horse's individual hoof conformation and its associated impacts.
- Suggestions on next steps (and what I would so if it was my own horse)
- Referral to accredited resources for further learning and follow up

To book a consult, please pay here:

https://link.waveapps.com/xm8m92-ymb88z

After payment, email [email protected] with the following:

- Photos

Views of the feet from several angles, and a conformation photo of your horse standing square. Photos must MUST be taken within one week of a trim, and at the appropriate angles for an accurate assessment. Please check out https://flexhoofboots.com/how-to-take-great-hoof-photos/ for guidelines on taking photos correctly.

- Background info

History, concerns, current hoofcare regime and cycle length, recent radiographs (within one year), living environment (including terrain), routine, diet, work type and workload, any known metabolic conditions or history. In short, the more information the better.

- Questions

What information outcomes you're hoping for

Here's the fine print:

You'll receive a reply within 5 days of receipt of your information.

What I will NOT do:

- Diagnose your horse. I am not a vet nor do I pretend to be one. What I can do is offer my suggestions on what areas you might ask your vet to assess, or certain radiographic views

- Condemn your farrier. What I can do is educate you on the current hoof conformation, trim, and/or shoeing package. I can also suggest alternative approaches or questions you can ask your farrier about their approach

- My approach to hoof care and education is evidence-based and in alignment with the approaches endorsed by all major farriery focused associations and institutions

- Online assessments are my own opinion and not recommendations. I assume no liability or responsibility for information provided

This is a great visual example of the relationship between conformation (alignment of bony column and pull of DDFT) and associated loading patterns.

What creates the matrix – hoof geometry and limb conformation relationship

Hoof geometry – limb conformation relationship goes both ways... but it is not symmetrical.

Hoof geometry can influence DDFT tension and fetlock position to some degree (the second one being very individual and quite unpredictable).

On the other hand, from what I’ve observed, it is the baseline DDFT tension and the individual fetlock biomechanics that shape the long-term morphology of the hoof. This baseline is the result of the entire limb configuration (conformation + posture + body mass + movement patterns + use).

Fetlock position depends on multiple factors (suspensory ligament, SDFT, and to a lesser extent DDFT and more) – and in turn influences the tension in both tendons.

What we are dealing with is not a simple cause-and-effect, but a complex system.

Trimming and shoeing change hoof geometry directly and can influence that system. However, angles and alignment at one moment are not the same as morphology.

Two hooves can show identical angles right after trimming, yet have completely different load distribution and internal relationships.
Alignment may look similar - but each hoof will continue to grow in its own direction.

There are feet that stay stable for weeks or months with almost no intervention.
There are those that rapidly grow the toe, chronically crush the heels and overload the frog.
And those that grow excessive heel, compress the toe and tend to flare.

Some improve quickly after correction and stay that way. Others remain persistently painful in the heels, under the navicular region or at the sole. All of them may have been trimmed to exactly the same angles.

This is where the asymmetry of the hoof geometry - limb biomechanics relationship becomes critical.
Changing geometry can influence the system - but the system responds differently depending on its setup and limits.

Lowering the palmar angle and lengthening the toe does increase DDFT tension - but increasing tension in a low-angle foot (one with insufficient baseline DDFT tension) will not create a club foot (which comes from excessive baseline DDFT tension).

Baseline tension is one of the factors that defines the range we can actually work within and the natural tendencies of that specific hoof.

Can we help distorted feet? In most cases – yes, sometimes a lot.
Should we correct them? Absolutely – but while respecting the limits of the tissues.
Are we able to create ideal morphology on every hoof? Unlikely.

We need to find the best possible form for each foot, define the best trimming cycle and optional shoeing solutions.

A corrected, fully functional foot may still have a bit of underrun heels. It may still be a bit elongated or steep in PA if the DDFT doesn’t allow it to go lower. Some bowing in the coronary band may persist. The HPA may not be fully alignable.

When we leave different feet unattended, they distort in many possible ways depending on the factors above. This is exactly what the 3×3 matrix illustrates – different distortion tendencies depending on limb biomechanics, showing where the hoof is being shaped from internally.

The colours represent different DCA tendencies: yellow - normal range, red - narrow, blue - wide.

P.S. Funny how someone in the comments called limb and body conformation ‘external’ factors in reference to hoof morphology. A little reminder – the hoof is part of the horse, that's the point.

Link to Part 5 of the DCA series that elaborates on the above mentioned aspects in the comment.

Here's a happy ending to a nasty injury, and nice little collaboration with another farrier.

This fella torqued his medial heel quarter loose. I came in for a couple of cycles of casting, dremeling, and plating to stabilize the capsule, and after stabilization the horse graduated into a nice handmade z-bar shoe from Aaron Maida to continue his healing process.

Biosecurity is on everybody's minds lately, especially given the wider outbreak of EHV-1 and the local cases of equine strangles and strep.

Farriers travel to multiple facilities and touch upwards of 10 horses a day. Your role is to INFORM us if you suspect a horse on the property is ill. Informing your farrier will help ensure they don't become a disease vector.

My very simple protocol for suspected illness at a facility is as follows:

* Reschedule work on the affected horse
* Reschedule the affected facility to the END of my day
* Wear a change of clothes
* Sterilize tools and chaps with bleach spray

Even if a horse is just "a little down", or you suspect it's "just" a virus, this protocol applies. This protocol also
applies to horses with suspected skin conditions (eg. lice). I promise I will not stir up the incredibly overdramatic equine rumour mill, but I will make these changes to our appointment.

I also have horses at home, and they would prefer I bring them home carrots, not mystery ailments. ❤️🐴

Here's a cool little feature on winter horseshoeing with myself and Jenn Thiele CF Ajfc!

Meet the women keeping horses steady in the Okanagan Motorists on B.C. Interior highways have been required to have snow tires for months. Just as truck drivers need chains, working horses need specialized winter gear too. CBC's Jacqueline Gelineau spoke with the farriers who keep horses clip-clopping through the Okanagan winters.

🙌 Winter laminitis…. What is this all about? 🙌

FACT - Research has indicated that 80-90% of laminitis is caused by endocrine (hormone system) disease (link to research in comments).

While there are many disease pathways to laminitis, if a horse has autumn and winter laminitis in the northern hemisphere, I immediately consider two of the most common underlying causes:

1. Endocrinopathic or hormonally driven laminitis, and
2. Mechanical/trauma driven laminitis

Laminitis = disease of the lamellae resulting in a lack of healthy attachment between the coffin bone/inner foot and the outer capsule. These two causes are often connected due to hoof care failing to optimise welfare in horses, leading to hormone imbalances, however a horse with ideal hoof welfare parameters can succumb to endocrinopathic laminitis simply due to what is called the seasonal rise in ACTH (hormone) levels.

Why winter? Because of the following facts:

1. ACTH, a hormone, rises in late summer to late autumn, called the ‘seasonal rise’ and this results in insulin and glucose fluctuations in both normal and those with an PPID/Equine Cushing’s disease. Horses can develop laminitis during August to December including horses on a very consistent diet (eg, hay only, no changes in fructans in grass for example)
2. Rising ACTH hormone levels can stimulate the production of cortisol, the ‘stress’ hormone - produced naturally during periods of excitement, pain, exercise, fear, trauma, and when there are infections - think of the situations this might manifest?
3. Higher cortisol makes veins less responsive to vasodilators, which can trigger foot pain if there is impaired circulation.
4. Higher cortisol, if production is high and sustained, can impair immune function, induce insulin resistance (or make it worse if already present), create electrolyte abnormalities, and reduced protein utilization.
5. High insulin which can accompany insulin dysregulation is a known risk factor for laminitis
6. Poor hoof morphology is associated with poor posture and development, pain, lameness, and altered blood supply to the hoof, therefore at higher risk of BOTH endocrinopathic AND mechanical laminitis
7. Cool temperatures and frosty grass can trigger laminitis connected to hormone changes increasing the risk due to high sugars in frosty grass and impared circulation in the hoof

Identifying vulnerable horses at risk…

1. Age - older horses naturally have higher ACTH levels, although PPID has been diagnosed in horses younger than 10 year of age
2. Horses with hooves with less than ideal hoof morphology (form and function), therefore less than ideal welfare parameters (see photo and background research and studies) which will have altered circulation, sometimes permanently.
3. Horses with unhealthy and compensatory posture and development and therefore less than ideal welfare parameters (see photos and background research and studies) which will result in altered load and circulation to the hooves, and associated lack of ideal hoof morphology. A negative cycle can develop between hoof and body, body and hoof.
4. Horses with a genetic predisposition for endocrine disease (esp PPID/Cushing’s EMR - equine metabolic disorder - and IR - Insulin Dysregulation)
5. Horses with higher than ideal ACTH, all year round or during the seasonal rise
6. Horses given an inappropriate diet, management, and welfare states
7. Horses with hoof care imposed on them which perpetuates or causes sub optimal welfare state, identified via externally verifiable objective evidence of physiology, postural and behavioural welfare parameters
8. Horses in chronic pain, chronic stress, or sub optimal regulation of the autonomic nervous system - this might be recognised as sub optimal behavioural welfare parameters and is perhaps more prevalant in the population that you think!

I recommend horse owners test ACTH levels in any horse considered at risk, at least once a year. Pergolide/prascend is a drug which helps control ACTH levels and can help promote healthier homeostasis or regulation of all the horses systems, and reduce laminitis risks.

To help prevent seasonal rise laminitis or laminitis at any time of the year, hoof care and horse care which promotes optimum welfare in horses is advised. This typically involves:

1. Species and welfare focused management which allows for the expression of natural behaviour and optimises neuro-muscular health and healthy homeostasis
2. Diet which best meets nutritional needs and welfare of horses in all stages of their life
3. Informed decision making and advocacy for horses which supports welfare, and includes appropriate exercise, training, interaction, hoof care and other necessary interventions of domestic horses to meet welfare needs.
4. Avoiding stress or interventions which may challenge homeostasis
5. Avoid frosty grass and high carb diet
6. Protect hooves from low temperatures

As an evidence based, welfare focused integrated hoof care provider, my role is to help owners provide the best HOOF and HORSE care to support optimum welfare state in their horse.

This is why I base my assessment AND gauge the impact of management and other interventions imposed based on current welfare and changes in welfare parameters over time; indicating the overall welfare state of an individual equine.

While this post cannot unravel and explain everything about this complex topic, my hope is that it causes pause for thought, and careful consideration of horses during the seasonal rise of ACTH.

Vulnerable horses especially need extra careful consideration of hoof health during this time.

The most disturbing statement I hear (often) after a consult is this:

“I wish I had known this sooner… I would have changed my hoof care for my horse beforehand”…

Most horses are lame. This is established in studies (see details for some in the comments), and in my considered experience, from my own documentation and opinion, this is increasing the risk of laminitis and other welfare issues, which for most, can be either avoided altogether, or minimised in their impact on welfare.

You may believe your hoof care provider is optimising welfare, but they may not. Question everything, seek objective evidence of welfare parameters, and ask “can we do better for his horse?”.

To take accountability, requires one to actually be accountable. Don’t believe everything you hear or read about laminitis. Fact check, apply critical thinking and reach out to established organisations and professionals with a proven track record of supporting optimal welfare parameters and laminitis.

Please, for the love of horses, take extra care of your horse, and those in your care, not only during the seasonal ACTH rise, but all year round 💚

Www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴

I'm stocking Groom's Hand Deep Thrush Gel!

If I have pointed out to you that your horse has a butt crack where there shouldn't be a butt crack (the heel bulb) then this stuff is for you.

It comes with a dispensing tip that goes right where the sun don't shine. Most of these are already promised (you know who you are!) but for anybody struggling with thrush please let me know and I will get one for you!

Even in the dry weather, thrush is still hanging out behind the scenes in little crevices and caves, this stuff seems to do a good job of nuking it.