Treating Founder (Chronic Laminitis) without Horseshoes
Guest book posts, 2001
Gretchen Fathauer's replies are in RED.
Hi I found your guest book on my search engine, but I can't seem to find your treatment on Founder (chronic laminitis) reading other people's comments it sounds like it might help my horse Al. My e-mail address is pmoto.man@gateway.net
Scroll down to the bottom of this page--the navigation links are all there.
In 1894, David Roberge wrote a book "The Foot of the Horse or Lameness and all Diseases of the feet traced to an UNBALANCED FOOT BONE". This book seems to have been a forerunner of all your theories about the hoof. If it were up to me this book should be reprinted and copies included with every horse as an OWNER'S MANUAL. Sincerely, Bob Creel-a student of the horse's hoof- bcreel@msn.com
This is available at www.abebooks.com and www.bibliofind.com
I am also one of Dr Cregier's followers. I lecture on horse transport in the UK & will tell my students to check out your excellent site. Seeing rear- facing transportation should = believing! Pauline Norris, M Phil Pauline@fulmar.demon.co.uk
Absolutely outstanding! The Neds & I took our first tentative steps into the realms of shoelessness in April 2000, after I attended a Strasser course for horse owners in the UK. This was organized very efficiently by Jane Harbidge. Dr Strasser paid me a visit in early August, to view my feeble attempts at a natural trim, which was followed by a visit from Jane in November. Recently my resolve has been tested by an exceptionally wet winter, making 24 hour turnout impossible, and compromise inevitable. I don't own the land that my horses graze. Your excellent web site has given me the boost I needed.
Many, many thanks,
Marie-Ann Roberts. marie-ann.roberts@virgin.net
I have tonight read your page and are very interested in what you have said. I have a 10 year old welsh pony who in the last 7 days has become lame. I have had her feet trimmed, and was considering getting no-bute, what do you think? Susan inghamsusan@hotmail.com
I think No-Bute is fine, but the most important aspects are the trim, frequent movement, soaking feet, etc.--the mechanical aspects, as opposed to relying on drugs and nutritional supplements. Please don't get tempted to aggressively medicate. Of horses I have heard about who died, many were literally being destroyed with too many drugs resulting in kidney and/or liver failure. Are you sure the trim is correct? Send photos--it may not be. The good news is that if she has only been sore 7 days, you can probably turn this around a lot faster than if she had been foundered several times over a number of years.
A client found your website , and passed it on to me. He has a welsh mare with chronic laminitis. She has shown improvement since I took over her case , but have been looking for the next level. This method is slightly more aggressive , but theory seems sound. The owner and myself believe most anything is better than a heart bar. As most of us know, most everything dealing with horses - is theory.
R. Denner - Farrier
Awesome information. Very informative. Glad to see pictures and explanations of different cases. Will request my farrier and trainer read. Thanks!
My horse ZooZoo has gone through a bout with some degree of laminitis or whatever!, we grooved her left front hoof, backed it up, always had a shoe on it until it abscessed, and then one day that shoe just couldn't stay on, it had to be pulled....it's been getting better having the shoe off and keeping a removable boot on, just like you suggested . We didn't know about, well, I didn't know about your methods and my team has never mentioned your method. The groove section has very little left to grow out. It's taken four months.
Your article is making me question many things. I normally would have ZooZoo shod every five weeks as going longer, she would start to go off in stride. Her feet got so sore from the wetness around here we wound up putting medicine plates and that worked like a charm until the end of the summer...and show season...then we started having massive problems.
I don't know if my vet and trainer are alarmists or perhaps just don't know about your methods for recovery. I did notice that having the shoe off her foot got better faster, I thought. I also wondered why the big push to have the bar shoe on if it was all so critical, thinking that without the shoe on that coffin bone was going to push through her foot without that added support. But without the shoe and her standing on it with the removable shoe it has improved. Neither the vet nor the shoer want to do much to the foot. My trainer and I have bugged them to trim every two weeks so that the front sides do not flare out. We have always been told if a horse gets to the point that some of yours have. They have to be put down. I have been paranoid. ZooZoo has never been that bad.
After reading your information I am not in such a hurry to do heart bars again. Shoer has suggested advanced support system. I don't know which way to go..I had originally thought about the "sneakers" for her, but now that I read your articles...I am questioning my thoughts. I have another month to decide. I just don't think the walls will take nails.
Using your method of frequent, which means I'll have to trim, trimming, there is no damage to the coffin bone or further dropping even with no shoe but keeping the removable shoe on? I've been told it's the wet ground here that causes the problems. My trainer doesn't want to let her out of her stall to be in the paddock to walk on her own. She is afraid ZooZoo will jump around an injure the coffin bone, etc. Isn't that overly protective? Those feet are really hard. (The shoer said her feet were in the best condition he had seen in three years and that the front foot is coming along well.) I don't feel that ZooZoo should be kept that confined. I think that she needs to be out and about and that she wouldn't jump and buck if her feet were that bad to where the coffin bone is going to push through if in fact it's that ify. Am I out of line with that thinking? It just seems to me that she needs to have that freedom and that recovering foot is booted. She is hand walked daily, but in a 16x16 stall that has mats and bedding (not heavy bedding). She has a 16 x 42 paddock that is closed off from her now. Please advise your opinion.
You are saying that by trimming, booting and allowing to move around at will is better. Can we "trust" the horse not to do something beyond it's physical capacity and not hurt itself?
I guess my attitude on a horse isn't going to jump around if the feet are toooo sore is wrong by Hawaiian standards, but I'm from Ranch country. What do you think? I'm open to any suggestions.
This horse never had a lick of hoof problems until we came to Hawaii and started showing. She is very talented and I don't want to loose her. Thanks for info and any responses. Will pass on your info to my team. Pam Herrington pam@hi.net
put the shoes on back to front ianlindsayawcf@ukonline.co
That inhibits hoof mechanism and promotes contraction even more than "normal" shoeing, so I am not for this idea, even though it has palliative effects.
On behalf of all the horses that will benefit from the information you are providing I just want to say
THANK YOU !
Phil Morarre softouch@cncnet.com
I don't actually have a horse at the moment, but after seeing this awesome sight, and seeing all the wonderful success stories that you have had with this new method, it is really cool. The internet is a wonderful thing and to be able to find this sort of info out in such detail is awesome.
I live in New Zealand and I think this sort of thing is relatively new here.
Thank you very much for providing such an informative site.
My friend has a quarterhorse/appaloosa, 5 year old gelding. He had a lump on his knee and was quite lame. The vet said that it is from an old injury and he is lame because of arthritis in the joint. The vet has also given the horse a shot of cortisone. This has helped him with his lameness--he is sound now. My friend is also giving the horse something called Glucosamine. This is very expensive stuff.
What I am wondering is if she was to let him go barefoot, with the correct trim, would this help his joint, or is this a problem he will always have?? His confirmation is not 100%.
Any help on this matter is greatly appreciated.
Regards
Melanie Warbrooke.
murray.keating@xtra.co.nz
Repeated cortisone injections into joints can be destructive to joints. It only gives temporary relief. It is sometimes used to promote faster fusing of the lower hock joints in the case of bone spavin.
Glucosamine at least does not have a bunch of bad side effects.
Doing a correct barefoot trim on him will help him, but whether or not it will do much for his knee I can't predict.
I am looking at your website tonight in Scotland and I have a horse who is sore with laminitis. I am very worried about her, but your website gives me hope that she will recover when I see the cases that you have saved.
Best wishes Leigh, email luc1990@bigbluespot.com
Please contact Jane Harbidge in the UK for some help. She is a Strasser-certified hoofcare specialist. She has a clinic coming up in Aberdeenshire Jan. 26-8, which will be taught by Dr. Strasser. Your pony could not be in better hands, and it is coming up soon! Jane is at janeharbidge@hotmail.com
Thanks for this site! Probably one of the most informative around. I've been trimming my own for a few years now but I'm switching them over to the Strasser trim. Still a little wimpy taking that much heel out but they were so low anyway it's been painless. The big test will be in the spring when I can fire up my old mare and test those wonderful gaits of hers. Too icy now to chance it.
One little complaint...... You update the site frequently but never mark where it's been updated. There's so much info here it's hard to find the new stuff.
The most frequent updates are clinic schedules. Scan the homepage table of contents to see if I have added a new section. I am considering doing a little on navicular. Still in the works, though. Sometimes I add things to existing sections, though.
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! Sue http://www.cyberportal.net/buddy/
Hi, I was reading an advertisement in the horse magazine about Old Macs boots, and it interested me because I have a pony that is suffering form chronic founder. The article on the internet was of great use and I have decided to buy one pair of the boots to try and see if they can help in the treatment of the disease, and more than likely if all goes well, I will purchase a second pair for his hind feet . Many thanks
Jade. jayb4@ hot mail .com.au
The trim is more important than boots. let us know how the Old Macs work for you. Many boots seem to fit fronts better than backs, though.
Thank-you, thank-you, Thank-you.....We haven't had the opportunity to ready everything thoroughly yet but have spent the past couple of days printing it all out. You have put a great deal of effort into putting this site together and I'm delighted that we stumbled onto it in a round about way. We will definitely be in contact with you soon as we have a great deal to share with you and questions as well. Sincerely, Doris & Sam Rose Mariah del Sol Shepherdsville, KY. e-mail...rosemariah@alltel.net (502)543-9218 fax..(502)543-5284
Very informative! I wish more people would take the time to read this. My horse will be 5 in May and, except for one five week period (due to a stranger trimming him), has never had shoes. We completed over 300 miles total last year, both competitive and pleasure, all barefoot! Lory Walsh HrsLdyLory@aol.com
Congratulations!
Much thanks to Dr. Strasser and all the wonderful people who stayed the course and are getting the word out on the natural trim! I have a great Anglo-Arab named Chavaz who I just started this method on. Luckily he only has minor problems and now I know I can correct them. Thanks again! Bonnie Maloney bonniegerl@hotmail.com p.s. I saw a tape of a hoof dissection that Martha did and I was amazed...Bless you, Martha!
Karen Copeland copeland@fac.unc.edu Thanks so much for providing this information to us all. Hopefully you will save many horses from lives of pain or worse-slaughter. I have recently purchased a wonderful middle aged navicular horse that I am hoping natural shoeing will bring him back to his original self. He is a lovely big sweet guy and deserves to be pain free. His heels were unbelievable high and the frog on the right front almost non-existent it was pushed so far up into his hoof. I would love to hear about others success stories with navicular.
Thanks, Karen
You are missing the point of this web site completely if you are thinking of using shoeing to correct a problem. The Strasser trim shown on this site, only with the toes being backed up less vigorously, will work fine. High heels and high bars are your horse's problem. Where are you? You just need some hands-on trimming help. We have a lot of people on the naturalhorsetrim list who are using the trim on navicular with success. The trim works faster on navicular than founder, actually.
Great website! Your site has gotten started in the right direction with my 10 year old Tennessee Spotted Saddle Horse, Gypsy. Since pulling her front shoes, we have been going through the abscess stage in treatment but I know this is the right way to go as my other Spotted Saddle Horse , Rhinestone has never had shoes on and has the feet shape and condition shown in the pictures of the wild mustangs. Greg Mather kentmather@aol.com
Great site! The pictures are clear and give a good idea of what happens in founder.
It is heartening to see some validation to my long-held belief that the majority of hoof problems are caused by shoes! I hide my babies from the shoer for as long as possible, using exercise to keep the hooves trimmed the way God made em, not some shoer's idea of the ideal hoof! I buy most of my mules back east, where shoeing doesn't seem to be in favor.. They all come with the most beautiful little feet.. round and low heeled. Strong as iron! After a year of shoes on the first two, I noticed that they had boxy little "donkey feet" with high heels and crooked hairlines. hmmmm ... I also noticed that all the mules shod by my particular shoer at the time had a tendency to "toe-out" on only the right front! (about 15 animals) That was the beginning of my search for the right method of shoeing. At this time, I leave them barefoot and untrimmed for as long as possible. However I do have shoes on the front feet of my mountain mules, as I have noticed that captivity seems to cause a general weakening after a year or so. I have a four acre pasture, but they still tend to "sore up" after a long weekend on the rocky mountains of central Arizona. I am open to new ideas and fully intend to start on your program!
I am gonna go wade thru your whole site and see about learning to trim myself.. I have been arguing with my shoers about low heels for years! So glad I was forwarded this link!!!
When is the next clinic in Arizona? diane muleshoe@qwest.net
No reason to wait for another clinic in AZ. James Welz, a Strasser hoofcare specialist in training, is in AZ. Contact info, www.TheHorsesHoof.com Horsneakers are also made in AZ. www.horsneaker.com
I have been trimming my own horses' and ponies' feet for the last 20 years and none of my animals have ever had any foot problems because of it. I always thought that putting shoes on prevented the frog from coming into contact with the ground therefore completely defeating it's purpose, which was to act as a buffer. I pay particular attention to keeping the heels low, and the toes short. A few months ago one of my mares foundered a couple of days after foaling, even though her uterus was clean. She now is extremely lame in one of her feet, the vet has done a couple of nerve blocks and still can not pin point the problem. He told me that because she is lame in only one foot it was not a founder problem. But bless his heart he did serverely cut back her toe and lowered the heel just in case, perhaps he is one of those vets that has lateral thinking. Is his assumption correct? I would love to hear what you think. Jane Holton-Jeffreys, holton-jeffreys@xtra.co.nz
Since it is only one foot, are you sure it is not just an abscess? More walking, and long soaks in warm water with some apple cider vinegar added may bring these to a head quicker. I would suspect an abscess even more if the lower leg is stocked up--this often happens before an abscess exits the coronet band. Are you getting other laminitis signs, like a strong digital pulse? A dose of activated charcoal may help if it is laminitis due to gut disturbance from stress. But are you sure it IS laminitis?
Gretchen, After reading Jamie Jackson's "Horse Owner's Guide to Natural Hoof Care" and Dr. Strasser's "Lifetime of Soundness," I attended a "Natural Hoof Care Clinic" given by Martha Olivo. It was very necessary for me, a novice hoof trimmer, to actually see a "natural trim" done. Martha Olivo trimmed both of my horses before she left my area, and I am glad because I would never have had the nerve to trim the sole and bars down that much. Both of my horses bled a bit on one foot, but amazingly, both gave a hugh sigh of relief and never moved their foot, but began licking and chewing in a satisfied fashion. I have been attempting to maintain the trim that Martha did and therefore find your website extremely helpful when I forget how the "natural trim" on a hoof should look. Dr. Strasser is having a clinic (maybe two) in my area in July and I am excitedly looking forward to it. Both of my horses are becoming more sound every day and I can see that they are moving in a more relaxed and graceful way. We still have a ways to go, but I know I am on the right track now!! I had previously taken them to a nearby vet school and even though the radiographs showed no coffin bone rotation, they both had significant "navicular changes" and lesions on the navicular bone. I am trying to interest all of my horse friends and horse club members in learning about what I consider to be one of the most important discoveries ("the natural hoof trim") I have ever made in my lifetime of working with horses. THANKS FOR YOUR WEBSITE AND WORK IN THIS AREA.....IT CAN HELP A LOT OF HORSES! Gale Hair shadywd@bellsouth.net
I have a 12 year old QH/Morgan x Gelding that foundered from an infection a about 5 months ago. The vet and farrier tried the conventional methods of treating founder. The horse got worse by the day. He couldn't even stand for more than a few minutes at a time. I couldn't give up on him, even though everyone thought I should put him down. I found the Strasser method and trim sketches on a web site. I printed it and took them to a friend that would trim the horse as it suggested. We trimmed him twice a week and he steadily improved. I included a herbal supplement to assist with pain and circulation (NO Bute or Isoxoprine). Only herbal. This horse today, because of this method, is doing great. He continues to improve. I never see him down and he is all over the pasture now instead of in one place. This method of trimming is what I attribute his recovery to. Thank you for your very informative site. shelley@zianet.com Shelley Cochran
My name is Melissa Cornell and I have a Shetland pony that was given to me just today and a mini-mule that I have had for some time. They are both foundered. I have owned horses all my life, but have never dealt with founder before now. My mule has been trimmed as regularly as my other horses, but I feel it has not been often enough because her hooves always start turning up before it is time for the farrier's visit. I am glad to have found this site so that I can get some tips on what to do. I would love to be updated on any new findings. Thank you, Melissa Cornell lisser01@juno.com
Susan Klinger e-mail cavsdream@aol.com I just got intrested in this concept of barefootedness through a friend of mine whose horse had foundered. My horse has navicular and I just took his shoes off him about 2 months ago. Thankfully my farrier believes in this method and so far so good. I can't say that we don't start out somewhat gimpy when we go on a trail ride, but work out of it in time. I own a thoroughbred x-racer and he has a history of a bowed tendon from trauma received soon after I got him. The treatment for this was 3 degree pads, stall rest and wrapping, along with magnets. That seemed to work for a few years. I than changed farriers and he took away the pads and balanced his foot. About 6 mos. later is when the navicular signs showed up. We tried the bar shoes, which helped somewhat, but I knew and my farrier told me this was not going to cure it and they are not to be used forever. His heels were starting to contract and he wasn't always sound. Now we have removed the shoes and with my farrier's knowledge, my faith in God,.and the fact that my horse has the will to live, and I love him and he loves me, I am very optimistic this will work.
BEST EXPLANATION OF FOUNDER AND TREATMENT WE HAVE SEEN. WE HAVE TWO HORSES THAT HAVE FOUNDERED AND THE VET, DR. BRUCE CONLEY, HAS RECOMMENDED A SIMILAR TREATMENT TRIMMING PLAN. WE ARE TREATING THE ABSCESS WITH ANTIBIOTICS AND WONDER IF THIS IS AS EFFECTIVE AS ALLOWING THE ABSCESS TO PENETRATE AND DRAIN. SINCERELY, BELENDA WILLSON. bawillson@wyodino.org
Sometimes overdoing antibiotic therapy can have other complications.
I recently bought a registered Tennessee Walker and found that he has the beginnings of navicular. I am trying to take the gentleman to court that sold him. I truly believe that he knew Generator Sly was having difficulties. I believe however that I have a horse that I may be able to ride for a while and then again maybe not. This is only the second horse I have ever purchased in my life. Can you give me any firsthand info on navicular. Linda lnewcome@labyrinth.net
Navicular responds even faster to the trim than founder. The only difference between the founder trim and trimming for navicular is that for navicular you would do a mustang roll in the toe instead of fully backing up the toe profile to the white line, which you do for founder. The rest is the same.
Quit wasting your time in court and start trimming. When this horse is fully rehabbed, the guy will be sick he sold the horse to you.
I AM THOROUGHLY ENJOYING READING THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT FOUNDERED HORSES. I AM WILLING TO TRY THIS METHOD ON MY FOUNDERED HORSE, AS THE CONVENTIONAL METHODS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. X-RAYS HAVE REVEALED MINIMAL ROTATION/ IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE HE FOUNDERED. WE PULLED THE SHOES AND LOWERED THE HEEL, AT THE ADVICE OF A FARRIER (SURPRISE) . TODAY WAS THE FIFTH DAY WITHOUT SHOES AND HE ALREADY IS A CHANGED HORSE. THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS SITE. I TRULY APPRECIATE IT AND SO DOES "BIG BOY". I PLAN TO PUT HIM IN ONE OF THE BOOTS SUGGESTED ON YOUR SITE AND SEE HOW HE RIDES. WITH THE SMALL AMOUNT OF ROTATION, THERE IS NO REASON WHY HE IS NOT RIDEABLE. BEST REGARDS, LINDA jlcofield@msn.com
Hi, I've been reading your site with great interest. I am a AFA certified farrier--18 years in the business. One of my clients has asked me to do Strasser style trimming for her. She has purchased Dr. Strasser's book and we are going to work with the barefoot approach this Saturday. I have 12 horses of my own and they all needed some hoof care this week. So what the heck, I decided to experiment on them. I have to say lowering the heels was against my "farrier religion" and I was leery about doing it. However after I trimmed one of our guys the I've worried about because of under-run heels, I was pleasantly surprised. This colt is only 3 and has never worn shoes. He is turned out with 4 buddies most of the time. He pastern axis did look better after the trim. After that I jumped in and trimmed my stallion (my favorite horse and trail buddy). He has seemed a little off. Never really lame but just this nagging thing that made me feel that all is not right for him. It seemed that his hoof/pastern axis was broken back. I screwed up my courage and cut down his heels. Incredibly his pasterns seemed much more in line with his hoof angles. Also after 5 years of almost year round shoeing, his heels are definitely contracted. He had lost some of his elasticity from when I had first started riding him. I may try the horse boot approach on him this year. Totally barefoot is out of the question. We trail ride too many abrasive surfaces. Sometimes we ride 25-30miles/day for 10-20 days at a stretch. I have nailed on a lot of shoes over the years and have felt that there has to be a better way. But glue ons have not proven very practical. I'll keep checking your site for more info and passing your URL on to my clients. Thanks, Vicky Smith, twh@voyager.net
Am finding your article very interesting, and have learned my ponies have been trimmed exactly opposite to your approach. The Farrier will come this week, to try your method. ddesrochers@telus.net, Dan Desrochers
I thing this sight is fabulous, fantastic, wonderful, etc. How wonderful it is to see people coming around to the realization that mother nature is vastly more proficient at healing than we could ever be, that what we should be doing is assisting instead of controlling, and whenever we start to "improve" on the natural way, we really screw things up. My beloved and valuable QH stud colt developed laminitis yesterday, and I have been heartsick since I found him sore-footed. I have been agonizing over what to do--so many conflicting approaches, and many not conforming to my way of thinking. I began to think I must be way off, and, by providence, found your article. I wish there was some way to contact somebody right now, as I am supposed to meet the farrier in less than 12 hours, and he wants to install heart bar shoes. I've only dealt with one other foundered horse, which a vet pronounced hopeless, and whom I refused to give up on. I never installed shoes, kept his feet trimmed, left him out on pasture, and sold him last year to a woman who rides every weekend on trail rides, and during the week, too. Maybe I am just to concerned about this horse, maybe I am going to listen to my instincts instead of my vet and farrier. Do horses do okay with this method if the weather is terrible, the temp below zero, the ground frozen solid and snow covered, and no immediate end in sight? If ANYONE SEES THIS NOTE, COULD YOU ANSWER IT QUICKLY.?!!!!!? I'd sure like to talk to someone with a real voice, who could answer my questions, and reassure me somewhat! Thanks so much Katy Bowen-Brazell k_bowen_brazell@hotmail.com
Perhaps there is hope for my pony! Vet says he had sinking feet, but I notice no dish at coronary band. Radiographs showed rotation of 5-6 degrees with arthritis. Perhaps with what I have learned here we can help my pony be more comfortable. Thank you, it has been most helpful! Peg bb@redbird.net
Hi Gretchen: I was wondering if you had a network of farriers in the Houston, Texas area that were familiar with the Strasser procedure? I need to start work on my horse and I would prefer someone who has already done the trim or knows about it. I don't want to cause my horse any more undue pain or discomfort. Thanks-----jane------janemchapman@usa.net
You could contact Christina Blue, who hosted the Austin, TX Strasser clinic last year: cblue@mail.com or Darolyn Butler Dial at darolyn@swbell.net, who has hosted Martha Olivo clinics in Humble, TX or Patricia Cox in Dripping Springs, shadowlea@mindspring.com, who has also hosted Martha Olivo. They may all have some local referrals for you.
I was told about your website after talking with a lady whose mare had foundered a couple of years ago. My 12 yr. old Arab gelding foundered last week. I had never had a horse that foundered, so I am trying to learn everything I can about this condition. His heel on the bad foot is quite long and he wears his toe off. Upon recommendation from my vet I am taking the x-rays to another vet for a second opinion. After reading the articles, I have a million questions to ask my vet and I have hope that I can correct his problem. I was being lead towards heart bars, but now I don't think so. Keep up your good work and I will keep you posted on Ali.
Elaine Wigley ewigley@qwest.net
Try to get copies, or at least Xeroxes, of your x-rays to guide your trimming efforts to get the coffin bone bottoms ground-parallel. Where are you? You will need hands-on trimming help.
The natural hoof trim makes perfect sense to me because, back in 1993, I took delivery of 20 "Waler" horses which were caught wild in the Kimberley region of north-western Australia. It struck me at the time that every last one of them had ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FEET!! We now live on the narrow coastal plain a few km out of Perth in Western Australia's south, which sadly, is extremely sandy. Naturally (or rather, UNnaturally), the horses we still have from that original mob now require regular hoof maintenance and it makes my heart bleed for them ( as well as for my bank account) to see some of them restricted to predominantly sand paddocks. It's sure gratifying to find that, once we've completed the long, difficult and expensive process of achieving sustainable pasture on our property, that these precious animals CAN once again have NATURALLY healthy feet. After all, even though they would've been destroyed otherwise, we did remove them from an environment that they had perfectly adapted to, and are therefore duty bound to provide them with the best possible care. Thanks for a fantastically informative site. P.S. If you're curious about the Waler horse, visit www.whsa.ispdr.net.au
Ian Hutchins ihutch@iinet.net.au
Hi, I don't know the first thing about computers or typing, but my horse foundered, and I was forced to figure out how to get on here, and I found you! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE! Now I have to find a farrier who will take the time to use your way to fix my Ebony . myway710@aol.com
HELLO, MY NAME IS: MARY Q. ADERHOLT, AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH (CHRONIC LAMINITIS). AND ESPECIALLY AM VERY INTERESTED IN ALWAYS KEEPING MY HORSES BAREFOOT AND MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF THEIR HOOVES. I WILL READ ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. aderfm@aol.com MARY
Your web-site is a triumph--at last a common-sense natural approach instead of yet more chemicals and imprisonment for horses...There had to be a better way....while I'm here, anyone got anything sensible to say about sweet itch? Much as I love my horses, I'm not putting pygamas and wrinkle-cream on them every night before shutting them up, which is all the web has to recommend at the moment. FREEDOM FOR HORSES.... GRIMSHAW@ZOOM.CO.UK.
Horses with poor hoof mechanism often have skin problems. A better trim that enables hoof mechanism, and 24 hour freedom to move, may help your horse's circulation enough to make a difference. It certainly won't hurt anything!
Hi! And thanks so much for all your work. My vet has agreed with you and me . My shoer needs some knowledge here. My Morgan has "goat's feet," and foundered 3 months ago. Then had pads and studs for winter, which I didn't want. Loved seeing those intuitive feelings of 'no shoes' I've had so widely covered. Will be in touch! Peter Vanderveer -pvanderveer@mediaone.net
I enjoyed your site, I'm a farrier of 20 years and have been trying to copy the wild horse foot for many years. Found the article on 4-point trims by Ric and thought it written just for me. Your site has many similar thoughts. I've also got a foundered Welsh pony that continues to improve with methods similar to what you have prescribed, only with front shoes. Lower heels and rolled toes, carved out bars and frogs. He's also on MSM. He's moving more freely all the time. Thank you for putting information on your site and not just ads. Dawn Mumpower. mumpowerstables@oregonfast.net P.S. I'm new to the internet, but don't want my e-mail address passed all around. Would be interested on your thoughts on chronic lameness due to a strained suspensory ligament.
I urge you to do a phone/photo consultation with Sabine Kells about the suspensory ligament problem. Also, I think you would get better results without shoes in the long run. Balancing the foot better than it had been when setting shoes will help, but your progress will be faster in the long run without the shoes.
I don't take ads on my site. I tell people where to find things, but nobody pays me to do it, so I am free to be truthful and unbiased. I have been approached to promote a number of products that I won't list if I am not convinced they are worthwhile.
What a wunderful job, it really makes sense.
I would just like to say I commend you on the time and effort you have taken to present this information...and the best thing is you share it. I am a a breeder of Welsh Mountain Ponies and Cobs, and I find greys more prone to it, and they got worse as they got older. Then I wonder about the history--before I got them (show ponies) they were on heaps of bute. I have done it, too. I will now trim my ponies every 2 weeks. Thanks.
Cheers Deb deborah171@ozemail.com.au
ITS GREAT! THANK YOU. BOB ZIEGLER bob_ziegler_2000@yahoo.com
Your web site is wonderful and very informative. I've just recently tried to help my 16 yr. old QH mare become sound again by removing her shoes and lowering her heels. I'm only six weeks into it, and find it a bit discouraging, but your site has made me feel more confident of my decision to try the barefoot route. Thank you! leslielendvoy@hotmail.com
Hi, I wrote to you the first time in August of 2000, and have been steadily working on my horse since then using your methods of trimming. I have had INCREDIBLE results! I checked in with you in October 2000, and let you know she had begun the severe changes they go through before their feet recover. On one foot, the coffin bone actually rotated down in the moonsickle area of the sole during the last phases of recovery. The second had only a small line where she would have rotated through. The other two were better and have not rotated through yet, anyway. She is doing great. The trim goes like a regular trim now, no pain. I could have used the sling...oh well...hope to never be in that position again! She is very trusting again with me--she now knows I am trying to help, not hurt (like the farrier!) It is very easy to keep up with the trim a couple of times a week, and have no problems with her, than to wait for the farrier and have nothing but problems that cannot be fixed. It's worth learning this trim. It has saved an incredible amount of money and recurring injuries that come along with unhealthy feet!
Sorry you have had such frustrating experiences with farriers. Many are truly dedicated and skilled, but the best are hard to get when you're a backyard horse owner with just one or two animals.
Her feet don't even look like the feet that I knew. They look completely different! HEALTHY! One thing I didn't do was give up ...it's very easy to get discouraged...but believe me, it's worth waiting and doing it YOUR way!!! It's almost been eight months now and the "founder ridge" on the front of her hooves has grown down all the way...about 1/4 of an inch left to file off--the new laminae are growing sooo DOWN. I know that sounds weird, but you can really SEE the improvement!! That's what keeps me going...I love it!!!!! I'm crazy about my horse and want to keep her as healthy as I possibly can....without YOU, she'd probably be dead right now! We definitely will be full time riding this summer!!! Thank you for everything. And remember us horse people desperately need humane people, LIKE YOU, to teach us the CORRECT way to help our horses! We as humans have advanced medically; we need to help our animals advance and live a comfortable life, too!!! Please stay on the internet, I often visit your site!! Thank you again!! I intend to spread your word to everyone I know with a horse (actually, I have been) and without if they'll listen! Thank you, again! Krista Waite, Connecticut Kristawaite@aol.com
Hello! I have 2 young Morgans (only 9 months old) and am interested in keeping them healthy. It seems as though there are an awful lot of cases of foundering around here; a friend of mine just took her 5 year old to Columbia, Mo. to the Equine Center at the University there and was told that Morgans seem to be more vulnerable than other breeds to this condition. They advocated the backward shoes/stall rest approach and I found this site while researching laminitis for her. I've printed a bunch of information out to give her in the hope that it will help her decide what to do. Is it true that Morgans are more susceptible to founder? What can I do to keep my young ones safe? They are currently on a dry lot and fed grass hay which we grow (a timothy mix) along with locally grown oats, a small amount of "Dynasty" feed (from the Kent feed store) and a small flake or two of alfalfa. We have several large fields of fescue that I want to use for turn out when we get the fences in shape, but I worry that it could cause problems when they get out on the grass. I'd like some input from others more knowledgeable about this. I've been told that founder can be cumulative and wonder if that is true? Are they doomed? I'd sure appreciate any information you could give me. My e-mail is: behr@rnet.com . Thank you! Jane B.
Morgans tend to be easier keepers. Be certain they are not magnesium-deficient. Also, as light horses, they are a harder-hoofed breed, which means they need harder ground to effect full hoof mechanism than, say, a draft horse. The way you are keeping them sounds fine. It is important to get correct hoof form and maintain it often, so they will have hoof mechanism and good circulation. Plus plenty of exercise is important. If you meet these criteria, easing them into grass will work out better. Generally, I would not let them out full time on big, lush fields, fescue or other, until it gets hotter and drier out. Certainly I would be reluctant to suddenly turn them out full time on lush new grass. Ease into the grass, and make sure they are still eating hay, too. Plus have them active and maintaining good hoof mechanism via a good trim. Another problem with the lush spring fields is that the ground is too soft to get as good hoof mechanism in a harder-hoofed horse than they will get later in the season when the ground is drier. Another way you can turn out horses on big fields of new grass is to use grazing muzzles, but bring them in to remove the muzzles and feed hay, allow access to salt blocks, etc. They are quite able to drink with the muzzles on, but they can only eat limited amounts, and can't get at salt blocks.
Some easy keepers have more problems with carbohydrate overload. These horses will do better on a high-protein, high-fat, lower carbohydrate grain mix such as the VitaRoyal high-pro diet, which contains linseed meal, soybean meal, and wheat bran as the main grains, and less molasses than you find in the average sweet feed. It also has more iodine, to aid thyroid function. It contains a balance of magnesium oxide and calcium carbonate to up magnesium intake without leaching calcium out of the bones, which magnesium oxide alone could do. For more details, www.vitaroyal.com
Another factor often overlooked regarding spring founder are spring vaccinations. I favor doing them some other time of year, and not all at the same time. Some people who have been having antibody titers run have been finding that the shots give immunity for considerably more than one year.
This is a very informative site. I am dealing with a foundered pony as of this day. I rescued her; her feet were about 4 inches long and she was standing on her heels, and putting her weight onto her back feet. The x-rays that were taken show complete rotation of the coffin bone. She is standing on the tip of the coffin bone. The vets suggest putting her down. I understand founder a lot better now and the length of time it takes to bring a horse back, if possible. Thank you for having this web site available. mthb@peoplepc.com Mare
I think your web site is great. We have a pony that founders at the drop of a hat. It was nice to know what I have been doing for her was correct. I have never seen or have been told by our vet or farrier what could be done to prevent foundering. I have been thinking about taking in some abused horses that have been taken by the SPCA. A lot of this info on your web site will be helpful in taking care of these horses. My name is Susan Furr my e-mail is gdfurr1@aol.com. I am from N.C. and wish you would have some classes closer to here. Again, thanks!
There are some contacts on www.TribeEquus.com And check my homepage for lists of clinics, and Strasser students.
Hello, I'm Ted. I own 7 mustangs adopted from BLM and they do have good feet. I saved one old mare 22 yrs old and she was foundered when I got her. Her feet were 17 inches long and she could hardly walk where she was kept in a stall. Everyone laughed because I had a horse that I couldn't ride, but now with trimming every 2-3x a week and one and a half years later, I've got a horse with 6 inch hooves and a new colt. Thanks
6 inch hooves are still too long. Send me some photos so I can see what you are doing. I am glad she is better, but in 1-1/2 years you could have made more progress. Sometimes it is unsettling to trim off as much as you need to if you do not have prior experience. People I have shown trimming to in person are always surprised at just how much can come off--indeed, NEEDS to come off. Where are you?
This is wonderful. I am going to try it this week end. My old gelding may still have a chance at bucking me off this summer if this works. The photos are important since when one sees that it looks so horrifying. Coupled with the reassuring information that it still can grow back gives me the motivation to try it. P. Diane Schneider (pdianes25@hotmail.com)
Hi Gretchen, Nice job, but some of the sketches are hard to figure out. This site overall was very helpful for me in understanding opening cuts better. There are a few typos on the site, but otherwise it's very well done. (hope you don't mind the critique). I will be sending lots of people here.
I have a question. Are foundered donkeys treated the same way as horses ?
Phil Morarre softouch@cncnet.com
Yes, except that the toe angles are different. Go for 30 degree hairline slopes. There is less difference between the front and rear toe angles in donkeys and mules than there is in horses. In horses, the front toe angles are lower than the hinds. In mules and donkeys, there is less difference.
The sketches are very understandable to people with a background in reading blueprints or mechanical drawings. Most other people have a hard time translating between a 2-D photo or diagram, and a 3-D form. For them, hands-on trimming help is invaluable.
Very exciting. I need to see it in person. Where did you take the Strasser course? I want to do my two horses naturally and am meeting with resistance from my farrier. I'd like to convince her.
We are looking to do rainwater collection (Texas). Surely you are treating your water or it wouldn't continue to test out better than your well water. We're also going to do straw bale construction of our new barn. So this natural trim seems right in line. My e-mail address is ingrid@ahlerssoftware.com
No, I am not treating the rain water. It is collected in a concrete cistern, which may be why it is not acid. It tested out surprisingly well. And better than the well water.
Thanks for all the good advice. You would not believe all the misinformation out there about laminitis! I was told to stall up my grass foundered mare and put her on lots of bute. I didn't do it and just had her feet trimmed and kept her walking. She is doing better and I am sure she will recover. I hope more people see this site!
I'm glad that I found you on the internet. I have a pony that foundered years ago before I brought her home. I feed her Bermuda hay and some O&M. She gets real bad and then gets better. This time I have my doubts, but I did get some trimming ideas from your info.
Thank you-
Jan Grogan
jgrogan@kids-ccs.com
Thank you for your web site. I live in NC and would like the name, if you have one of a person doing this kind of farrier work. If not, how can I learn how to do this kind of trim on my own horses? Thank you, Nancy Young tele. 1-828-698-9737 or e-mail: deermeadow_2001@yahoo.com or snail mail: Rt. 3 Box 233, Hendersonville, NC 28739
Hi;
I hope you don't mind this message, but I just read section 21 on your web site, and I have a friend that is selling a horse trailer that has front ramps on it. If your horses would make a sharp turn, it would be easy to load them from the front to face the back. If anyone is interested in this trailer it is in MO and can be seen on www.kingdomstables.com
Thanks for all your hard work. This web site is really going to help me with my mare and her feet.
Janet shylow@iland.net
I do not think a front loading trailer, where they can get tangled up in the hitch, is a good scenario. The safest loading technique is backing them in.
Thanks for the sketches. I have drawn them for myself as models when I trim today. It is great to have something this detailed and necessary for our equine partners. And yes, no one in my circle of family or friends understands the dedication required of this great responsibility. I hope to find local people with the same interest who I can mingle with in person. I have been drawing horses' legs and hooves since I was 10, never believing that someday I would actually own horses or that it would come to this, a genuine fixation for soundness. Is this true for most of us? Thanks for caring and sharing. Betsy Riger in Tracy, CA. rigerb@yahoo.com
Fabulous, I am so excited. Finally I have found folk who believe what I have for so long, but not had anywhere to go with it. I live in Australia, and it's hard for people to wrap their brains around anything quite so different. My son and I started a horse rescue organization here in the last 6 months; I am seriously considering studying the method. It can save so many lives. Sonja earspresident@yahoo.com.au
I enjoy your site. My horse is an Arab (I am a late bloomer on horse owning) and being my first horse, I never noticed that he had a toed-in front hoof. However, I rarely shod him, and since his owner did not care much for him the first 13 yrs. of his life, he was rarely shod. I took him in nearly 4 years ago and saved him from the feedlot. He has no arthritis or problems. I am sure this is because he was blessed to have a lack of "corrective shoeing". His current farrier is leaving his toes too long, and I noticed he is having some trouble, and began to wear his feet out. I have someone new beginning next week for his trims, and am going to be showing him your info. I know my horse can feel in his bottom feet. This is all good. I am studying your info and made of point of posting the barefoot horse web info on the bulletin board and made flyers for anyone who wanted to take home the website. Thank you for what you are doing and sharing.
I am still looking over the photos, trying to make sense of everything, and haven't as yet found any on horses with one toed-in front foot. However, I am not having my horse shod this summer. I noticed during the winter without shoes, his heels spread out, and he slipped much less on the snow. Now that the dry Colorado weather has taken over, I am taking him for walks on the rocky ground getting his feet used to it. I also took him out of a stall/run and have him outside with other horses in a more natural life. He is much happier and much calmer.
A toed-in hoof may be laterally imbalanced--ie, high on the inside.
Enjoyed your lovely family of pets. I saved a rabbit a few years ago, and she had 17 babies at one time in the house.
Debbie dwdavi@home.com
Hosted a clinic with Martha last Sept. All who attended thought it was awesome and most enlightening. All horses did well over the fall and winter. All were turned out 24/7 and their feet were soaked when the weather was dry at least 5 days a week. However, we still made no progress on the contracted heels. My farriers attended the clinic and we have all avidly studied all info. we can find. So we decided the opening cuts needed to be more. So we opened the area more and have several very sore horses and a few abcsesses in the heel area have happened. The questions are:
1) Where do you stop taking out the wall that has hooked around to the frog.
Draw a straight line between the apex of the frog and exiting out back more towards the outsides of the heel bulbs. Any heel wall in side this line needs to be shortened so it is not weightbearing.
2) How deep do you go?
Take it down slowly until it is just barely pink--then stop. If you go any further, you will get bleeding.
3) Does all the hard wall between frog and end of hoof wall that starts the bar have to be removed or is this overkill?
I don't understand this question. Do you mean, do you remove overlaid bar in the seats of the corns? (The seat of the corn is the small triangular area between the heel wall and the bar in the heel area.) If so, you do remove overlaid bar, which is harder than sole. It prevents sole growing where it should be growing in the seats of the corns. When you remove overlaid bars, there may be very little or any sole under them because they have so compressed the sole corium that the sole has been prevented from growing in this area. Taking the folded over bars off is going to enable the horse to grow sole again in this area.
4) Does the area always bleed in order to remove this section?
Not necessarily, but it often does in the case of longstanding, large overlaid bars. I have trimmed horses down to red in this area, and they were actually more comfortable afterwards.
Many of my horses appear to have it very deep. Any info. answered ASAP would be greatly appreciated, as we're are very concerned we are doing too much cutting. However, the heels are expanding and those smashed-up, rotten frogs are spreading and starting to look healthier. But a few horses are very sore, as more was done with them. They show the most improvement in expansion, however. Deb Singleton dmsingletontos@yahoo.com
Heel expansion can be an ouchy proposition for a while, but is worth it in the long run. Those who are expanding more I would expect to be more ouchy for a while.
I'M PHILLIP. ONE OF MY HORSES IS FOUNDERING. THIS INFO HAS HELPED ME A LOT.
My mare is barefoot, and will stay that way, after reading your studies.
Laura serendipitycj7@yahoo.com
Thanks for the quick response and info. forwarded to me. You will truly be famous in the revolution of horse care as time goes by. We may not be here to see it but I predict it is the wave of the future. I certainly am spreading the word in my home territory and plan on writing to numerous magazine about my successes at the end of my first year going barefoot with my 16 horses and 10 boarder horses. So far since last March when I desperately sought out info. to save a paint pony who was down and not getting up without much physical effort from 6 people and everyone knowing he was going to die, my three ponies who suffered frequent bouts of laminitis ( every 2-3 months ) with the cycle of lameness - pull shoes- soundness -reapply different shoes &/or pads per vet and farrier - laminitis, etc., etc. I visited your site . Called the farrier that night and with much help got Hugg's up and attempted the trim as best I could describe to my farriers. Everyone was amazed at the instant relief Hugg's felt as he actually stood for 2 hours by himself!!! He stood almost all the next day with brief periods of laying down. Granted to say my other 2 problem ponies got trimmed also in the Strasser style. Am pleased to announce that after following the program as described in this site, it has been 14 months without laminitis. After seeing Huggs remarkable recovery I researched and avidly studied all info. on barefoot horses and had Martha's clinic last Sept. All my horses and boarders had their shoes pulled within a week, whether they were experiencing problems or not. People need to know that this site is for all horses. I have seen stumbliness, arthritis, ringbone, clubfeet, short-stridedness vanish over the past six months. It has cost me more money and lots of time to accomplish these results. If you would like to hear more about how individual horses have done I certainly would love to tell all. Even a navicular horse that could barely turn or walk now can gallop thru the fields and play. I believe within the next year he will be sound. Esp. since I understand how to deal with the contraction now. Bless you for all your efforts. Thanks again, Deb Singleton dmsingletontos@yahoo.com
Got so carried away singing your praise so rightfully deserved last night, that I forgot to clarify my question #3 in the may3 comment section. I was not referring to the bars, but that reply was also something my farriers and I have discussed and questioned. In some contractions inside the vertical all the bar from the bulbs of heel and down would have to be removed. Is that acceptable? There would be no sign of bars left. My previous question was referring to the findings of what appears to be hoof wall grown under the frog!!! into the bulbs of heels!!! and up to the hairline toward middle of heel. Is all that to be removed? Some appears to be under the frog to halfway point. Is that possible.? I found all that stuff while Dremelling for opening cuts. Eternally indebted to your website. Deb dmsingletontos@yahoo.com
I found this site very helpful and easy to understand. Having just become a horse owner in my "later" years, I have much to learn and have been warned about founder from more experienced horse owners. I know I will be returning to this site many times. I've also been warned to watch for a humped neck as a sign of impending founder. Betty ronbet@aol.com
My horse recently foundered - not real bad, but still bad enough--we are treating him with trimming. Thanks for you web page
J. Nettles
jnettles@acesag.auburn.edu
I wrote before in 2000 about my foundered horse. She is 100% better and riding now! I also wanted you to know this trim also seems to heal (if you will)....Flat feet....I keep trimming the way you taught and her flat feet are no more!!!.....You certainly are the best! Kristawaite@aol.com
Gretchen,
This is awesome! I'm still a huge neophyte, but your work and effort into this site have me pointed in the correct direction now! Betsy Bailey in TN
Just wanted all to know that I took 5 barefoot horses to a hunter pace last week and put them thru the test. Only one came back with bruise, but is sound despite it. My peers just can't believe it. Soaked their feet in the creek for 10 minutes, just for good measure. It was a great tribute to the Strasser following. I can barely believe it myself!!! Deb Singleton
I am extremely excited about your website. My horse has been written off by my two vets. They say since there have been changes in his navicular bone; there is nothing that can be done. He had x-rays and nerve blocks which showed pain in the outside heel of his left front hoof. I feel very strongly about his problem being sensitive in his sole and his hoof is not functioning to its best ability.
Your problem is likely to be high, contracted heels and overlaid bars. Study Section 14 for this. Overlaid bars in the heel area are so painful that when I have taken them out, and practically drew blood, the horses were actually more comfortable. This is a major issue and easy to fix.
There has been a tremendous amount of down time. I've printed some of your work, especially section 14. I live in Trinidad and Tobago. We are very, very limited in our farriers, but I've had some luck with one chap who seems willing to listen. My name is Sara McCartney and at the present I'm using my husband's computer. You can either email at this address or my work which is smccartney@isps.edu.tt
I think this web site is very informative and want to thank you for it. My only question is how to find a blacksmith that has had your training? My mare has rotated and I am looking for a trained blacksmith in my area of N.H. To my knowledge she has never had shoes on and I would like to keep it that way. Thank you Bonny Bruce bb2_09@yahoo.com
There are several new Strasser-certified hoofcare specialists on the East coast you could work with:
Joan Adams, Lebanon, CT, silverbear@neca.com
Heike Bean, Hampton, CT, heikeb@email.msn.com
Marjorie Smith, Jamestown, RI, marjorie@barefoothorse.com
Lisa Walker, VT, Limawa@aol.com
Ray Shammas, RI, ray-s@gmx.net
This is an absolutely fantastic website. I am a strong advocate for naturaly trimming and hate horseshoes with a vengence. My thoroughbred has benefited immensely going barefoot and I am now on a journey to know more about natural trimming. Is there anyone in Australia that has done the Strasser clinics/course?? My email address is bruce_senta@hotmail.com and am interested in any information, website links, any learning opportunties. Please!!! Thank you, Senta Graney.
Wonderful site...soooo much information! Do you know of any one in the middle TN area practicing these techniques? I want to learn more. Thanks!!
Ann Wild 685 Bass Lane, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
sakcwild@aol.com
Hi, I am just relieved I have no horses on my run with such severe problems. I am humbled to know there are people out there such as yourselves. The worst I have come across has been a laminar wedge, which was the first I had ever seen in my career.
Great website. Regards, Justin Hill (CFP) Hibiscus Coast, NI, New Zealand justin.hill@extra.com
You must be doing something right, to not be seeing this sort of thing! :-) It is depressingly common elsewhere.
I thoroughly enjoyed your website. It's too bad I had to look for this type of information because my mare is having a problem with her foot. Thanks again for the excellent pictures that also accompanied the articles. Pictures are worth a thousand words as the saying goes.
What is throwing me off on my diagnosis, however, is that there is no heat in my mare's foot nor is there a pulsing at the coronary band. Does this happen in founder? I assumed with any type of inflammation there would be heat involved. There is a wider stretch of the white line at the toe as in the photo of Chapter 7 shows and there is some bulging of the sole. I'm waiting to see if an abscess develops and have given her penicillin in case the abscess germs get into her bloodstream. Any comments you may have would be appreciated.
Jo Ann Masula jma2606298@aol.com
You would feel pulsing along the backs of the pasterns, where the major blood vessels are. In horses with weak hearts, you may not get strong pulses even during acute laminitis episodes, though. The heat and pulses are typical of acute laminitis; later this phase can subside, but rotation can proceed because of the damage that was done during the acute phase of inflammation in the laminae. That you have stretched white lines and bulged soles means you have rotation. This means you have founder. X-rays would be valuable to confirm this, and to also guide your trimming efforts.
Penicillin injections to ward off a potential abscess make little sense to me in this case. It is the hoof's only way to carry out dead and damaged tissue, via pus and abscessing, because the dead and damaged tissue particles are too large to be carried out through the tiny blood vessels. The body is protecting itself, anyway, by removing dead and damaged tissue, and infection, through abscesses instead of dumping it into the blood stream. Further, in order for penicillin to work, it needs to be able to get TO an area via the blood stream. If circulation is very poor in the foundered hoof, you will get very little antibiotics where you hope to get them--the feet--but get plenty of antibiotics delivered where you DON'T want them, in the gut. Killing off the benign intestinal bacteria can actually induce laminitis in a roundabout way. Abscesses are a common sequel to laminitis, regardless of how you shoe or trim the feet. Try to clear them as fast as possible with long soaks, and keeping the horse moving. I would resist the temptation to have someone carve up the whole sole looking for abscesses. You can create new avenues for infection to get into the hoof, and the abscess may be ready to come out the coronet band or frog, in which case carving up the sole will do no good, anyway. Sometimes it is pretty obvious where an abscess is on the sole, which is different, but many times it is not obvious. It takes months to grow this sole thickness back as well.
Great info. I wish more people would care for their animals. Bob Jankowski rjankowski92@aol.com Brokenhorn Cattle Company, Texas.
A lot of the horses on these pages were not intentionally neglected. The professionals their owners turned to let them down.
I love the site. My gelding Guntown has been diagnosed with founder and some rotation. I am just in the process of researching treatments - and will discuss this approach with my vet. Guntown is 23 yrs old and sore, but not in extreme pain (not laying down or stretched out) any longer so I feel (so does my vet) that he can still recover. I want to give him any possible chance. Tricia Wynn twynn@oaklandtool.com
Hi! I found your website very informative. My horse is not foundered, but I have recently become interested in adopting the methods of the natural trim. I've had him barefoot for about 3 months now, initially out of frustration with his poor way of moving when shod. The farrier explained that my horse's hooves grow very rapidly and unevenly, hence the uneven movement after only a couple of weeks. Anyway, I also got Sabre Sneakers for him in front, and it was like a miracle! Free moving, even strides...and a happier horse. Then, after his last trimming, he was back to hobbling and bobbling. So, I've decided to do my own trimming (I have a little experience from a previous horse, but am far from knowledgable in this). I just bought Bergeleen's book about natural trimming and will try to get Jackson's book as well. Thank you for including the photos on your site; diagrams are great, but I found it especially helpful to see real hooves. Any pointers you can give me about natural trimming will be greatly appreciated. Aloha, Dawn Tillery heydaydawn@hawaii.com
Hi I have a miniature pony that is foundered and has a very sore front foot. Have had him on bute, but am not having much luck getting him well. I am a first time visitor to your site and have enjoyed it very much. Bevcowan@lisco.com Beverly Cowan Cincinnati, Iowa 52549
I just love your site. We just got a mare that has a slight rotation and this trimming will really help. Each of the steps are very clear and the pictures are great. Keep up the good work Juanita PA basystem@epix.net
Tantissimi complimenti per il tuo lavoro. E' straordinario! Umberto EMAIL umbertomolini@libero.it URL http://www.geocities.com/progettocavallo
Hi! I checked your site out about a week ago, and have been working at giving my horse a natural trim since then. What a difference! I know I don't have it exactly right yet, but I do know that I am headed in the right direction. My horse does not have any severe hoof problems and I'm pretty sure that he spent most of his first 10 years of life barefoot (I've had him for about a year now; previously, he was a working ranch horse). He was moving very short strided on the left diagonal pair, but now he is going just about evenly. And is he feeling great! After I rode him today (45 minutes, mostly of trot and canter), I had him in a paddock near to the arena. When another horse was turned out to run in the arena, my horse started bucking, leaping, and generally playing around. My friend who has seen him since I bought him was amazed. Thank you so much for providing information that has me heading down the right track! Aloha, Dawn heydaydawn@hawaii.com
My horse has had laminitis for about 10 days now. I was instructed to use pads and keep her on bute. It has been expensive, she has 8.9% rotation on her right foot and 10% on her left foot. I have her turned out at least 10 hours a day. Finding this web page has helped a lot to understand how she can be helped without drugs being used for the rest of her life.
Thank you
Lisa Jenkins jjenkins@onearrow.net
Hello! My name is Knut, and I am a barefootman with barefoot horses in Norway. You have made the world to be a better place for us all. I love your homepage, and I send all the Norwegian barefoot readers to it with my link in www.barfot.net. Knut Ove Bjerva bjerva@enitel.no
Thank YOU for making your web site. My daughter's mare just foundered--well, it's been two weeks now. The vet asked how far I wanted to take her treatment. She said that they could get her back to a point were my daughter could ride her for maybe 15 min. a day. The shoes only made her more sore. They took them off and put foam pads on her feet. I am not going to let them put shoes back on her. She has 30% rotation in the front. I have downloaded a lot of info from your web site (I hope that is all right) to give to my shoer. I am going to have him do the bare minimum to her for know until I get everything together for a consultation. When the vet asked how far I wanted to go with this, I pointed at my daughter and I asked the vet how far would you go? My daughter is 6 years old, Cam is a beautiful Arabian, 12 years old. We have only had her for 15 months. I found her standing in mud up to her knees and 8 months pregnant. The dog (that is a kind word) would not sell her to me. She foaled in late Dec. but lost the foal two days later. She was left to foal in the mud. We had snow just before she foaled. She was 250 pounds underweight, too. This poor girl has been through some bad times. I hope I can make her life better. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WEB SITE. Will keep you posted about her. THANK YOU
Where are you located? If by "30%" rotation you actually mean 30 degrees, this is not a beginner project! You need some hands-on trimming help. I question if she rotated this much if she has only foundered for the first time two weeks ago. Rotation of 11-12 degrees is often associated with sole penetration, which many people see as grounds for euthanasia. I do not, as I have seen horses recover from sole penetration. However, as poor as her condition is, etc., you need to do everything right and go whole hog on her care. I also think you need to contact Linsey McLean at www.vitaroyal.com It is possible she has foundered from carbohydrate overload because you were overfeeding her in order to regain weight. You are better off with the high-pro grain mix, grass hay, and Linsey's supplements.
I am a little confused--you say you have had her over a year, but she was left by the former owner to foal in the mud in December? I don't think I quite follow this. Did you breed her when she was so run down, or was she already bred before you got her and she foaled in Dec. of '99? Is she still thin? I just don't have a very clear picture of what happened, now do I know just how bad her feet are without seeing anything. If by 30% rotation you mean 30 degrees....or 30% of enough rotation to get sole penetration....this is a huge difference of about 26 degrees. 30 degree rotation is much more serious, and a slower recovery, than 4 degrees. But again, I am not sure I understand what you mean here.
Sorry about the miss info. The first time I saw Cam was in Aug.99 she was 250 pounds under weight and 8 months pregnant. She foaled in Dec.99. I got her in Feb.2000. I looked at her x-rays again, and I think by my measurement she is 25% right and 15 % left OR her left front, from the tip of the coffin bone to the dorsal hoof wall is 25mm the top is 19mm. The right side is 36mm and the top of the hoof is 20mm or have I only made this more confusing.
Yes, it is confusing. How many degrees of rotation?
Sorry the vet was not in today. Cam was doing really good putting on the weight slow. Then we had a hard winter and I started feeding extra alfalfa, but not extra grain. Then I moved the girls In Feb 2000--the snow got too deep to get to them. Then I stated changing to a oat-alfalfa mix. Moved them back in April. Last two weeks of May I slowly took away the alfalfa--went just oats, but still giving grain. Then in June I started cutting back on grain. From two scoops a day to one a day--a scoop is about 1/2 pound. Then on the 12th of June I got a bag of grain that was moldy. I did not give it to them, but left it in the barn. Came back net day and I seen that the grain had been gotten into. I checked the horses and they were fine. The horses cannot get to the grain. I have a real problem with kids going over to the horses. I took the grain back the next day and got a new one and kept this one at home. The next day Cam was limping right front. Feed that day, and the next day she was limping on both fronts. Called vet--could not get out to me for two days. I had separated her from the others and fed her, but no grain. I don't give grain even to the others now. They have been put on grass hay--the vet said rye grass. I have split the feeding to 4 times a day 1/2 flake. 6am-11am-3pm-8pm. I did this to her, do you think there is hope for her. Thank You Karen karenn@volcano.net
You have not given me enough information, or shown me her feet or x-rays. I cannot give you good answers until I know more. You should get some activated charcoal, like Toxi-Ban from Jeffers (1-800-JEFFERS) or UAA Gel from your vet, which could have turned this around a lot faster if given right away. Have some around for future emergencies.
I found your site most interesting with some sound thinking. Though I do disagree with the application of the trim. Not in whole but in part due to the treatment of the bars and frog. I invite your comments on Dr. Bowker's latest research that would indicate that the hoof contains Golgi Proprioceptors at both the angle of the bars and the area of the sole at the toe. Also, I was lucky enough to speak with Gene Ovineck at Equitana this past month, as his lectures followed mine. He will be publishing some outstanding information on coffin bone movement as a result of the traditional trim. Though I have been slow to update our website because of my schedule, I will be doing so shortly and invite you to visit. It is www.thenaturalequine.com We have completed a video on the HPT Methods and it will be available within six weeks. Thank You: KC La Pierre,C.F.,E.P. Institute of Equine Podiatry
I took a look at some of the trims on your site. You're right, we don't agree on heels and bars. When I take them down more, I see horses moving better.
I have a 2 year old gelding never shod and a 3 year old mare in foal also never shod. Can I use your technique on my two horses. Also I ride someone's horse, she has recently been shod on the front hooves only, her back hooves have no shoes and have not for a very long time. Her frog is very worn down and sees to be painful for her whilst walking, trotting on bridle paths. Is there away that her feet at least on the rear can be improved. She is a 14hh cob and slightly overweight. I look forward to your advice. Thank you for a forward-thinking approach to the horses' hooves at last. My e mail address is Lyd75597@aol.com
Without seeing anything, it is hard for me to answer you.
I have a twenty year old Morgan mare that has been foundered for about two years. Her Founder isn't severe, but I know in time it will be. I have found a farrier that will do the trim. However, He also said that she is very stiff when we pick up her hooves. He said she has quite a bit of arthritis. He said his friends use bute for their horses. I can't use bute with this trim.
I don't object to the temporary use of bute to enable a trim, or whatever. However, a lot of the "stiffness" you are seeing may be really that she is too sore to stand on one foot in order to give you the other. A sling will help considerably.
Another problem she has is that she is over weight, so I don't want to get anything that is going to add to her calorie intake.
What could I use for this problem?
Contact Linsey McLean, www.vitaroyal.com
Janet Burrell shylow@theequestrianconnection.com
Just given the news my magnificent white 17h 14 yr. Percheron gelding has 14 degree rotation w/chronic founder. I thought this was a lost cause 'till I saw your incredibly encouraging and educational site. I feel more armed to deal with this now, whereas before I just felt hopeless. 'Saxon' and I thank you from the bottom of our feet!!!!! Love to hear back from you. Susan VA<sdsmith@usinspect.com
You need hands-on trimming help. The closest Strasser clinic coming up for you is July 17-19--Dr. Strasser and Sabine Kells--Shoemakersville, PA (Reading area)--Cate Stoltzfus, 610-926-9034, maidensprings@msn.com The ideal would be to take your horse there. Also, for more local contacts, although their ability and training levels may vary a lot, Click here
A serious Thank you for the article. My 15 yr. old Paso gelding just foundered, 15% rotation on the left front. The vet put the cause to too much fresh green grass. We have 15 acres and it has just started raining good here in FL. I had already cut their feed back but not soon enough. The vet suggested a farrier that specializes in founder and he will be here Sat. 21st. I will print out some of the information and ask him about barefoot versus shoes. Again, Thank you. Betty flcogs1@prodigy.net
Waiting until the 21st is too long! Get something done sooner!
Enjoyed your comments. I have been a farrier for years. I have a horse that just foundered. I'm trying the square rolled toe shoeing, with pads. So far so good, reset every four weeks. I'm interested in your ideas. If you get to the Ohio area, I will attend your classes. Boyd Finley Bpfinley1@aol.com
I think it's wonderful how you were able to make this big of a difference in the health of this animal. We are trying to purchase a miniature mare. She has good front feet, but her hind feet are very bad; you can't see the frog, as it looks as if the horn has grown over the bottom. Is it safe to trim and remove this? I wonder if we can help her, or if we should avoid this purchase. She is healthy except for this. Any tips or comments would be very much appreciated. linda0099@hotmail.com thank you
You HAVE to remove this. It is actually extremely overgrown and contracted, super-long heels. Hold up a small plastic 30 degree triangle parallel to the hairline, and mark the side walls. You will be trimming parallel to this line. The heels should be lowered to the bottom of the crevice between the frog and heel. If this cannot be seen, mark where the heel height would be at 3 cm. (Heel height is measured up from the ground to near the top of the heel bulob curve, when viewed from the side. This height, plus the 30 degree hairline, should give you enough to go on to draw some guidelines on her hooves. Then lop it off! If you would prefer x-rays to guide your efforts, that is fine, too. The heel height on a mini may be a little less than 3 cm., but this is a safe starting point. That the back feet are the main problem is a plus because horses put more weight on the fores. I hope you give this little girl a chance!
Am enjoying; will be ordering books in near future. Some of the things I see here actually agree with a past experience I had; I intend to attend at least one clinic......interesting.....thanks!!! Elizabeth Wade claywade00@hotmail.com
I am interested in using Strasser's system. Your site is informative. Kat Matrician 936-597-5316 lpkat@cs.com
Then the best thing is to either go to a clinic for hands-on instruction, or to work with one of the hoofcare specialists listed on my home page.
I am so glad that I found your web site, Dr. Strasser. I rescued the most lovable and sweetest 12 yr. old mare about 5 months ago . She was a race horse out in Texas and then was brought to Florida. She then got very sick with colic, I believe, and foundered very badly. The person that had her was going to put her down and I said NO!! I took her and have been trying to get her better. She has been treated with cortisone and we have not seen a big change . I like what you say about not using medicine, and my furrier is already trimming the way that you suggest. He has to do it with her on the ground because she is so sore. But please e-mail me at maineshopaholic@aol my name is Sheila
I am Gretchen Fathauer, and I own and create this web site, not Dr. Strasser. But certainly I have been very influenced by her work; it has helped me and hundreds of other horse owners. There is a clinic going on in Ocala, FL right now. Get over there, preferably with your farrier, whatever it takes! Contact the clinic host: Susan Ross at woodlanddash@msn.com or 352-671-9121.
Cortisone is a bad idea--it can make a case of laminitis worse. It changes blood values to mimic Cushings Disease, which makes horses more likely to have laminitis.
God bless you for trying to help this poor mare! I hope you can get some good hands-on help soon!
Very informative...Question, is it possible that a horse who founders for the first time can be corrected permanently? I've heard two theories on this. Or, once a horse founders, will it always founder? My name is Ellen...email address is vicellen@earthlink.net
If you improve the trim and maintain hoof mechanism enough activity, you may be able to prevent founder.
I'm in northern California. My area has a founder problem. We buy irrigation water here for six months of the dry season (summer). I was told by my farrier that the horses are feeding on green grass all year long and tend to get fat on the rich lush grass, especially in the early Spring. He says that an overweight horse going into the Spring is a recipe for founder. He suggests keeping them 100 pounds underweight before the Spring so that they can afford to gain the extra weight when the grass reaches its peak of toxicity.
This mimics how wild horses lose and gain weight seasonally, and has some merit.
Foundered horses in my area are treated initially with Bute and heartbar shoes to support the frog...along with the least mobility as possible for about the first 3 months. The farriers here love to load the horses on Bute for several weeks.
But it is a vet's job to prescribe and dispense medication, not the farrier's.
My farrier disagrees because a horse on Bute feels no pain. Therefore the horse will exercise at will and do more damage to the coffin bone. He says that if the horse feels pain, it will move about as little as possible, thereby, accelerating the healing process.
Here we part company. I feel that the more they walk--once the trim is correct--the better. But not the faster gaits in the early phases of recovery.
I experimented with this with my horse this past Spring and my farrier was right. The horse gets trimmed every 6 weeks, though, with the heartbar shoes reset. It is working remarkably well. My name is Ellen. E-mail address is vicellen@earthlink.net
If "working" means he is more comfortable, I would agree because of the numbing effect of barshoes, and keg shoes nailed on backwards. If by "working" you mean that the rotation is correcting, I am less convinced. I think a barefoot approach is more likely to give you that. I know people who have kept their horses in heartbars for years becasue they are afraid the feet will "fall apart" if they removed the support. This doesn't sound like progress over the long run to me.
I have a miniature mare with what appears to have laminitis (the local farrier has confirmed). We have been treating with frequent trimmings. However, the farrier is leaving the heels extremely LONG. After reviewing your website I am concerned this may be the opposite of what she actually requires. Your website has given me invaluable information. Thank you for your dedication.
Ali Brown mcgal@uniserve.com
Your site is excellent and reasoned. Sorry to say we found your site only two months after our 5-year old mare (akhalteke/angloarab mix) foundered off spring grass, severe case on all four. Pulse 80 and extreme pain, unable to move. We did some things right, but local vets were not of much help when it came to care issues. We had hooves cut down 3 days after foundering, and she has since remained unshod in spite of eager advice to the contrary, basically because we judged shoeing to be painful. Recovered and moved well within a week (not lame by trot at three and four weeks, not even on concrete) but has since developed problems with the soles, starting with a stone bruise right hind after five weeks, followed by a moon crack a week later on the right front hoof, exactly where you show it, ie, diagonally from the left hind. Ten days later a similar moon crack appears on the left front hoof. These cracks evidently are caused by dead tissue from a lowering or rotation of the pedal bone.
Our farrier has taken off the fore part of the sole right hind and left front - contrary to your advice nearly to the white line, because of the position of the crack. She didn't want a crevice where dirt could gather. She put plaster underneath, to create pressure and support the forming of a new sole. Otherwise I think we have acted close to your prescriptions.
What a huge set-back! You have to leave the sole on in the moonsickle area to provide enough depth of sole under the tip of the coffin bone, and to enable getting the 30 degree hairline slope. It will take a long time to re-grow the sole that was removed in the moonsickle area of the toe. Also, putting plaster, dental impression material or Bondo on the sole to prevent roation will actually prevent hoof mechanism, and with it, healing.
She's now walking in a big box (20 square meters) on soft ground, taken out an hour a day on grass, two feet plastered and bandaged with duct tape to protect, and the two remaining with equiboots for protection. She walks badly, today basically because of pain in the right front hoof, the one with the new crack, even if the others are a bit tender too.
You are creating other problems keeping her in waterproof coverings 24/7. She should be on firm, smooth, non-concussive ground, not soft, squishy footing, and barefoot most of the time. Ideally, rubber mats over a smooth, firm surface.
We dare not cut that sole out because she has troubles supporting herself on the left front leg only. Nobody around has any lifting equipment to take the stress out of the hoof work, we try to ease her by manually lifting her with a blanket.
Then put a couple of straw bales under her chest and see if she will lean into these. Not ideal, but one possibility. And have her feet standing on something soft during trimming, too. Lifting equipment need not be fancy. Here is a photo of Dr. Strasser trimming a lame, foundered horse at the Ontario, Canada clinic last month:
A block and tack was used, connected to a singletree (optional), and just a Western roping girth was used. She is standing on soft ground. All this enabled trimming to be done less painfully for the horse.
To compensate for walking we use a vibrator mattress over her back, 20 minutes three times a day, which take the galls off her legs. They are now dry and cool, except for the right front hoof with the crack. But even that one gets dry from the massage, for an hour or two. Hoof walls are OK, so far, they look fine and there are no cracks or painful spots there yet. She never developed fever. We used phenylbutazol for six weeks, but have now gone off it.
There is no substitute for walking! Hand walk her often once the trim is correct.
We judge present damages to be mechanical, secondary effects of the laminitis.
A lot of it is that thinning the sole in the moonsickle are was a bad idea, which will take at least a couple of months to undo. Don't do this again!
We're walking a thin line working on the hooves. After two weeks the right hind showed some puss on the fringes when plaster was removed, and new put on. We therefore put her on penicillin/sulfa on the strong advice of two vets, the third being against it, as she had no fever or any sign of general infection.
I agree with the third vet. Heavy antibiotic use can actually cause laminitis. She is blowing an abscess. You should be doing long soaks in water and apple cider vinegar to help draw it out. I am also alarmed at the idea of leaving on "plasters" for several weeks without changing them daily. This hoof needs to get air to it, and it needs to have hoof mechanism to heal. You won't have as much hoof mechanism if it is tightly bound up in a cast or heavy bandage of some sort. You won't have hoof mechanism on soft ground, either.
We dare not work on the right front with the crack because of the strain it puts on the left front leg, having no support to lift her.
How about stacking a couple of hay bales under her belly? Surely this is possible! And just leave the moonsickle area of the toes alone, but get the rest of the trim right.
We ease the pain in that leg by putting it in warm water 2 x 30 minutes a day, which takes pulse rate down from about 44 to 34 (normal resting pulse 28-30) and by vibrator massage (the pad). Trying to win time, basically. This hoof's sole is otherwise protected, bandaged with a iodine solution compress and an equiboot, to keep it soft. We have printed out your drawings to show to the farrier (a quite competent woman) for a discussion.
Keeping the hoof damp by being wrapped 24/7 will work against you. I think you may be creating other problems keeping the feet wrapped 24/7. Do you actually have sole penetration and/or an open wound? Also, vibrator blankets are no substitute for walking. Hand walk often--once the trim is correct. You may need boots to make walking more comfortable, but if you are using boots, get her to walk on firm ground. In boots, I would recommend the blacktop road. Very soft ground allows the toes to rotate downwards, resulting in a tipped coffin bone again, even if the trim is right. Massage over her whole body will help with tensed muscles.
Questions: Is this course recommendable or might we be steering into more trouble? What makes that crack cause such pain (the similar crack in the left front hoof did not hide any infection when we cut it up, but the leather skin underneath was swelling a bit through the crack.)
You may have an abscess under the sole. I think you are doing things the hard way, and the less effective way. I suggest you contact Dr. Strasser's clinic directly for the names of hoofcare specialists near you. There are a bunch of them in Europe. Dr. Strasser just got back from giving a number of clinics in N. America, so she is home now. Contact her at: Hufklinik@t-online.de
To be honest with you, I think what has been going on lately is not promising. The ironic part is that what will work is simpler and costs less.
Knut Carlqvist Gotland, Sweden knutc@algonet.se
Fascinating stuff. There is so much to learn. I am looking forward to Dr Strasser's visit to Melb., Aust. in Jan. 2002. Thank you Julie Leitl jleitl@vtown.com.au
Great Web Site Gretchen! I came here to refresh after being at the Niagara Clinic with you. I began trimming 3 days ago and I am having some anxiety about whether I am doing things right or not. At present opening cuts have me a little baffled. My 14 yr old Q horse with dropped suspensories has high heels which I have begun to trim. The problem is the bulbs are now higher than the outside hoof wall and horn seems to be continuous along the back of the hoof. Angles of coronet band and front of hoof are correct but the heels remain high. I rasped the back of the hoof and made him bleed on the pad of his bulbs. He does look better but still not standing upright. He typically stands with all hoofs as far under him as possible. Must get out and try again. Talk soon. Barb Green Parker bbparker@vianet.ca
It sounds to me like you may have taken the heel walls down too far. Sometimes you go for the heel height and the 30 degree hairline slope...and there may not be enough on the bottom of the foot in the toe area. I got the heels down and the hairline slope pretty good on Gem, but the bottoms of her feet in the very front turned up like ski tips. Sometimes it is a waiting game to get enough growth on the bottoms of the toe area. You cannot always level the foot all the way forward.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on slings for horses. I need to make one for my foundered mare. Can you suggest where to look for conveyor belt material? Thanks.
carolb@ipass.net (North Carolina)
A lot of people get them from mining or rock quarry operations. Also check the Yellow Pages for various industrial sources. They are tough to cut! I spoke with David Gorin recently, and he said that he puts a lot of work into cutting them and drilling holes through them and finishing the edges. Many have steel reinforcement, which makes them hard to work with. Considering how much work goes into them, his prices are not too bad!
Your website was very reassuring. My horse is so bad with her sole rotted off after having laminitis and abscess. My vet and farrier do not work together and I feel they have not helped her much. I clean her feet with bleach to kill the germs, and put old socks on to keep dirt out. She is still on medication for pain and thyroid. Its going to be a long haul, but maybe she still has a chance to overcome this episode. thank you Judy Whitmore greenthumb360@hotmail.com
Please stop using bleach! Soaks in water and apple cider vinegar (1-2 cups vinegar to a third of a bucket of water) to clean up, and if you must use disinfectant, try bee propolis. Sole grows in slower than wall, so this is a long haul, but worth trying.
I WAS LOOKING FOR INFO ON FOUNDER. MY HORSE HAS FOUNDERED AT SOME TIME BEFORE I PURCHASED HIM AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING CORRECTIVE TRIMMING ON HIM. IT'S A LONG PROCESS, BUT NOT AS BAD AS SOME OF THE HORSES THAT I'VE SEEN HERE. THE WEB SITE SHOWED ME A LOT OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND TO WATCH OUT FOR. MY HORSE HAD BEEN STANDING IN THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S BACK YARD FOR 3 YEARS, AND VERY POOR SHOEING, IF ANY, WAS DONE. NOW I'M TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MOST OF MY PROBLEM IS THE LEFT LEG. HEAT RINGS ON ALL FOUR, BUT NOO BAD A MILD CASE ON HIM. CONTRACTED HEELS IN FOUR LEGS, SPOONED OUT TOES. NOW WE HAVE THE TOES' SPOONING ALMOST OUT; WORKING ON THE HEELS. YOU WEB SITE WAS GREAT INFO THANKS s61silverwolf@hotmail.com
I have an Arab who foundered in June & has laminitis in all four feet. I very much want to download your information to study it. I think it will help him. I can't seem to find a download button on your site. Is it available? Thanks for your information. Sandy Lane - sflane@richnet.net
I don't have files to download, such as .pdf files, or anything like that. You either have to print the site out, or copy the pages as .html files on disks.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! For giving some of us horse lovers hope for our precious gifts. I have heard so much negativity about treating laminitis. You have given me hope. Again thank you so much. Jo Ann Coats coats@intplsrv.net
My name is: John Davlin, email,jdavlin@n-link.com Outstanding info on your site. I have worked on many laminitic & foundered horses--never heard of the mustang roll? My question is, pain after you trimmed the foot? Where I am it's very rocky; have problems walking with shoes & pads.
Thank you
I am very relieved to find a source of information on this dreadful disease. I am agonizing daily over my mare's recurred founder and the lack of information on the subject and its care and treatment. As well as the information I have been given by four vets, a farrier and several experienced horsewomen.
I have been waiting for over a week for the vet and farrier to come and trim her!
Where do I go from here! I don't want to let her go.
Linda Michael michat8@aol.com
What a wonderful site this is! Two years ago my frind and I bought Jaime Jackson's book, "Guide to Natural Hoofcare," and started trimming our own horses. They are all doing great and wil never wear shoes again (some never have). There are only a few others in the area who are doing as we are, but there are no 'Profesionals' nearby to ask advice from, and most farriers you talk to are a bit sceptical. I have a 21 year old half-Arabian mare who mildly grass foundered last summer. I had seen in a laminitis book how they rasped the toe wall back to make breakover easier and shortened the heels. After a change in her hoof angle (degree was more steep directly below cornet about 5/8," then a sharp change to a 40's degree) I rasped off the toe and heels and she was immediately better. I am, however, doubting the amounts in which to trim off. After going through this site I feel more confident in shortening her heels even more (I don't believe they are low enough, but not as high as "Max's"). I would love to send photos to get a professional's opinion. Thanks for getting the information out there!
Anne Conlon Blind River, Ontario, Canada
e-mail annentom@onlink.net
I just rescued a 23 yr old mare with a severely rotated coffin bone. It looks as if she will slough off her hoof wall. She is extremely lame, and very, very thin. Was out in a pasture with other horses and was unable to fend for herself for food. She has no heel, and is standing on her soles, although we try to keep her trimmed down and padded. She is still in a lot of pain (on bute) and will hardly move. She pivots on her hind legs from her food to her water. Is there more I should do for her? My farrier can't put a shoe on her, as she has nothing to nail to. Right now, she had a pad with a shoe taped to her foot. This was done to help her get off the sole of her foot.
Beth wolfcrk@onemain.com
Thank you for your efforts in adding some new and personal insights into trimming for foundered horses. Your website has more pertinent info than my vet and local farrier combined, which is why I chose to work on a "rescue horse" sent my way (rather than the advised rendering plant) with four-footed founder. Have brought the 9 yr old mare back (over a 6 month period) from "concentration camp victim" status, and have gotten two hind feet into reasonably normal shape with almost daily trimming. Right front is only at 70% normal health and appearance, and left front is doing poorly, slowly getting some shape and function back without pain. She is in great spirits and even a bit of a character at times, compared with being immobile and even refusing to get up when she was offered to us. She had the meanest heart-bar shoes AND pads (?????), which I immediately pulled, and was 120 lbs. underweight. The vet said to put her down was the most realistic course of action, not even considering that the animal had great spirit and personality despite the tragic circumstances. Also, thought I "heard" in between lines said by vet that it was too much effort and cost for a horse that may not make it all, or if it did, probably could not be ridden. She is on intensive massage and stretching therapy, which she enjoys, and carefully calculated program of nutrition. The last and longest, most complex phase of recovery will be the trimming over the next 6-8 months. Your site is of great value to me for the way you covered the subject matter. Thanks again, and other "links" or pertinent info you can share would be appreciated.
Ward Gremore....Las Vegas Valley, Nevada <talkstohorses@nativeweb.net>
Have been looking for a new saddle for nearly a year. I was fairly certain what I wanted was a treeless saddle, but now after reading this site am convinced, these are for me! Will also check out the bitless bridles. Thanks for explaining this difficult subject so well. Carole Kilby, KilbyCircleK@aol.com
Found a lot of information and a lot of answers--thanks so much My concern is for a small donkey we have that has been down for 2 days even with a visit from the local vet, 2 injections and oral meds. Hope this info will help out, thanks again! e-mail address is littledebby1@.netzero.net
I just recently experienced founder from my mare retaining her placenta for 36 hours after giving birth. The vet was not concerned about this, so now I am looking at a huge vet bill from another vet whom my farrier suggested I take her to before I lost her and her baby. Never in the years I have been around horses have I experienced anything this horrible, and for my vet, whom I trusted to let this mare get into this situation is truly awful. I will be doing a lot more home work on this subject and sharing my knowledge with some of the folks I know locally who have not a clue of this either. I appreciate your time & effort to post this information on the web. I just looked for curiosity, really, and I am so glad I did. Marilyn Belding 6991 Kinard Rd. Ravenel, SC 29470 843-766-7060 balsom@aol.com
I first would like to thank you for the great information about foundered horses. I have a 34 year old Paint I got when I was 12. The vet tells us he has foundered, but he never mentioned the problem could be the feet. I received a lot of good information from your web site that I hope will help Comanche, my horse. Thank you again!
Natasha nab711@aol.com
Hi, I am a very strong believer in natural care and cure; do aromatherapy, Reiki and massage. I have a Morgan mare, 8 yrs old, who out of the blue developed a laminitis after a scary slide on a plywood sheet having just been shod...don't ask! This was back in M, and I have had conflicting views and treatments from 2 vets and farrier. At the moment the farier trims her feet 3 weekly and she is out day time and stabled at night on deep shavings bed on a rubber mat (vet's advice). We are now in September and I feel I am not making much progress, I still have a lame horse. X-rays in May showed no rotation of the pedal bone. She has very flat soles and I think thin; she hates stony ground. I found your site on a Laminitic search. It is very interesting--so much information. I am going to have a chat with my farrier. I am running out of energy and funds, so feeling very anxious about being able to treat my horse, but certainly not with farrier twice weekly. I am working my printer to the limits churning out as much of your info as possible. I live in the north of Scotland by the way and my Morgan's dam was American-bred as was her grand-sire. Great site--I will be delving in here a lot. annie.tidmarsh@quista.net
I am new to the computer and finding web sites as well as being new to the horse world. There is so much I need to learn I cannot find the time to take it all in. Our printer has been used a lot, so I can read the info later. Just hope I can find this site again. I do not have horse yet- I need to Learn more first. I am interested in the smooth-gaited breeds. Among these breeds are some more likely to have feet and leg problems than others? I have read that some have hooves more like mules than horses (Example: Spanish Mustang ). Are these hooves stronger? Would they be trimmed like a mule or horse? I feel a horse should go barefoot; my husband is not so sure. Any advice in any area of horse buying and their care is welcome. Thank you, Pam Everett jimeyork@mindspring .com
Hi!! I have a foundered mare (Arab) that foundered in the front feet. She was 25 degrees on the right and 15 degrees on the left. When the shoer got done with her she had gotten far worse. Called Debbie Dutra and she would come all the way from Truckee to help me with Cam. Then Cam's soles started coming out and she had rotated through on both fronts. I am trying to get Dave Fitton out to see her. I was having a very bad time keeping her clean with duck taping her feet and changing her pads. Then I found a web site that was A God Sent. It is called www.oshaproduct.com Please check them out for yourself. The CEO is Tommy Lee. Tommy sent me boots for Cam, pads, an abscess kit and extra pads for her to walk in. She is now up to 2-1/2 miles a day. He sent me all this on faith and trusted me to pay him later. I am doing her trims, but hope to have Dave here soon. Cam ripped one of the boots, and I called Tommy this AM. Tommy said he was sending another pair out right away, and to send the other pair back. They are a wonderful company. Tommy wants all the input I can give him to help make there product even better for foundered horses. I have given your web site to him and told him about Dr. Stasser's books. Please have a look--their products can really help. The most important thing about the boots is that they breathe. Now all I have to do is be able to find mats at a good price; I have a good size area to cover before the rains come, or else I'm in the mud. Thank for listening to me . Karen karenn@volcano.net
I think the story was uplifting, But I don't know if it is something I would be able to give this much attention to. I also have a foundered horse that has had her tendon cut. It so far with all her problems has cost me about $6000.00 in the last 3 months. It has been very sad to know my only horse we can afford is now too lame for a person of my size to ride, ever. I look at her and wonder who am I doing all this for--her or me. I look in her eyes and see pain and I wonder if I'm doing the right thing for her, or only prolonging her life for more of the same because I don't have the heart to do otherwise. She is also having a lot of trouble taking the Bute; she has ulcers. We found this out when she colicked after being stalled while I was treating her for White Line. I was told she rotated 14 degrees. So far I have not read much positive on this problem. Molly Johnson Queenjaws@aol.com
I have a severely foundered 15 year old Arab mare that I just purchased. She abscesses off and on. I'm going to give your advice a try. I'll let you know the results. Linda Hays hootnholler@netonecom.net
Found your site looking up a definition of founder- really interesting information-keep up the good work!
Cindy Lamb lamb@rabbitbrush.com
Found the information very interesting as I have a pony I feel probably has Cushings disease and being a pony breeder, founder is a constant worry. I had a quick recovery with one pony who was "hurried along" constantly by another pony in the paddock so I agree with your thoughts on the turning out with others.
Anne Stephenson, Manilla Australia annecpsau@yahoo.com.au
Hi,
Nice site!
Regards, Andy http://www.1couponcode.com
Excellent Website, Very Informative
Stephanie and Robert Pierce Miracle Horse Rescue, Inc. www.miraclehorse.com rescue@miraclehorse.com
I found your website very informative and thought provoking. One of my older horses was recently diagnosed (after months of misdiagnosis) with chronic low grade founder, low grade pedal osteitis, slight rotation & abscesses. Whew. Vet prescribed EDSS shoes with 2degree pads in two shoeings if the horse was still lame. The farrier found so many small abscesses, he put the pads on the first time with the vet's blessing. The horse started walking better at once. He is not yet sound. (It's been about a month.) He is turned out on the hills with his fellows at least 12 hours a day. I also got magnetic bell boots for him--which he's sharing with my other older horse, who has low ringbone (has calcified). The first horse mentioned has very flat feet & I don't know that he will be able to go barefoot again. He has been barefoot most of the time I've had him (13 years), and has always grown tons of toe and ounces of heel.
I'd appreciate hearing from you if you have the time. I'd like to know if there are any success stories of horses who have ringbone.
Thanks for maintaining this website. I'm Eve Orndoff. My e-mail address is eorndoff@yahoo.com
Betty Brocious BeASheltie@aol.com I have a Morgan mare. She is foundered and I am using the natural hoof trim on her. Her feet are looking better, but I am having trouble with abscesses. I am using vinegar soaks, iodine and icthamol salve. I get one cleared up and in a few wks. she abscesses again. Right now she is sore on both fr. feet. A farrier said to put her on antibiotics? Need Help . Any suggestions? I have your whole website and have read it all.
Just hang in there. More soaking and walking--the abscesses will eventually resolve. I question the value of antibiotics in this case. In the case of abscesses caused by puncture wounds and the like, yes, but not for abscesses that are the body's way of clearing out dead and damaged tissue. These abscesses are not the same as those from puncture wounds, etc. Your farrier should not be prescribing drugs; this is the province of your vet. The homeopathic remedy, silicea can be helpful for resolving abscesses faster, too.
Extremely interesting reading and obviously worth a lot of close study. Owning 10 horses it is not possible for me to get all of them attended to by a farrier, due to the cost involved, so I muddle along trimming the ones I'm not riding. My daughters gelding foundered 2 years ago and had sole pack treatment and was front in front for 18 months. Now I have to trim it myself, so the more information I get the better................... from marti@westnet.com.au
Very interesting and informative. Our pony has had a dorsal wall resection and styrofoam pads - which seemed to work until they put on theraglue shoes. She became crippled again. Styrofoam pads were put back on, but I think left on too long and slipped back, once again crippled. Now has abscess to one foot which we are treating but she has been left without shoes, but not trimmed again. Vet says she needs wall support to relieve sole pressure and suggests circular shoe with metal sole pad. We have read up lots of your articles and feel that a boot may be better. Would be interested to have any comments. Vet has also said that after another month we should give up. We feel that is not enough time. She is stabled on deep bed of shavings and seems quite happy. We feel encouraged by articles on this site which say foot can re-grow and by corrective trimming there is hope. Any comments would be welcome. We are feeding Happy Hoof and supplementing with Farriers Formula plus detox. probiotics and garlic and glucosamine. She is also on bute and acp. gail@gwarrell.fsnet.co.uk
Contact one of the UK hoofcare specialists:
Jane Harbidge, janeharbidge@hotmail.com
Jane Berresford, JaneBerresford@aol.com
Thank you so much for your wonderful and educational website. I have an 18 year old Paint mare who is now barefoot! She has had chronic hoof problems which I had always been told were genetic - just the way her hoof is. Now that I can see the real problem (rigid shoes, high heels), I hope we are on the road to recovery. I would love some assistance with some of her specific problems, if you have the time. Thank you again, Ann Strozier (e-mail address: calypsogold@starband.net
PLEASE CONTACT ME A NULUV@AOL.COM I HAVE A SEVERELY FOUNDERED HORSE AND NOW AT THE END IF I CANNOT FIND SOME ONE TO FURTHER CONSULT WITH. HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH CONSTANT ABSCESSES.
Found your article very interesting. I have a 11 year old quarter horse who I have been struggling with for the last 2 years. He has been looked at by 3 different vets, 2 sets of xrays. no clear diagnosis. One vet says navicular syndrome, another thinks its a problem with tendon down back of leg that attaches to navicular bone. He has had shots in navicular area- did not work. Has had shoes removed, no difference. Has had various angles- After shots in navicular area the vet said to lower heels which we did and the poor horse could hardly walk. Our farrier made a t-bar type of shoe and put him back up on his heels. We thought this would get pressure off navicular area and tendon. He is walking better with this arrangement but is still unsound at the trot. I would appreciate any ideas you might have. I am at the point of giving up on this horse. Thanks- Kim Rountree email addy- kim.rountree@savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us
Just lowering heels without getting the rest of the trim right is not going to work. With navicular, the most common problem is overlaid bars. Please study these photos:
You can see just how much the bars had to come down; the left side of the photos shows this hoof untrimmed. This is such a common problem! You need to get these details right as well. It won't work at all if you don't.
G'day Gretchen
Thank you or the effort you have put in to make a really great site.
I have been doing all my own trimming since I got a severely traumatized "Rescue" horse twelve years ago. I had to use the same approach on her damaged personality ...Listen to the horse...learn... listen again.... you don't know it all yet...listen again!!! Worked on her severely overgrown feet as well. I am now keeping five horses barefoot (I didn't even know there was an argument about it) and have come up with very similar shaped hoofs to your suggestions.
How could people allow things to get so bad with critters that they think they love so much?
Many people do not know how to trim, and have a hard time getting farriers to come out. There is a very real farrier shortage. And some of the farriers are buying into the idea of wedged-up heels and barshoes, etc., which I think are counter-productive over the long haul. It is not a matter of they don't love their horses.
Have our eyes been so blinded by believing experts that we don't listen to our animals pleas for help?
Many people feel more comfortable listening to human experts than in trying to figure out what their horses are trying to tell them. They lack confidence in their ability to "hear" the horse.
I still have plenty to learn, as every critter seems to be different (like snowflakes) and I do have a constant battle with soft ground, no rocks and not enough time.... But I am sure glad that I DON'T have a problem with either vet bills or medicine expenses (our vet says he only has to come if someone needs stitches!). And I DON'T have lame horses...
Thank you again for your excellent work. REAL HORSEPEOPLE don't get lots of ads on their sites... they get lots of friends!!!
Dr. Strasser is giving some clinics in January in Australia. Hope you can make it! For more info, Click HERE
Peter trucktech@eisa.net.au
Thank you for these wonderful articles!!!!! Patti Gallagher horsebabe8@yahoo.com (RN)-concerned horse enthusiast! I will share with friends. i.e. collection, laminitis, pressure points--all so very well illustrated and clearly explained.....
Hi everyone,(sorry,don't know your names) I have two horses. One PB Arab, now 17 years old and shod until he was 13 years, and a pure bred Lusitano stallion who has never been shod. I would just like to say how much the Strasser books have changed my life and that of my horses. Strada, my PB Arab, had a serious laminitis condition of the off fore. I had his shoes removed about five years ago, but did not trust any of the local farriers to trim him. I started to trim his feet myself, but did not have any reference material apart from the usual farrier books. I have to admit to some serious errors in my trimming techniques, so you can imagine my joy when I discovered your site and studied " A Lifetime of Soundness". Some so-called "experts" in the British horsey press are saying that encouraging people to trim their own horses feet is grossly irresponsible and dangerous. I would like to take this opportunity to say that any mistakes one makes in trimming one's own horse's feet pale into insignificance compared to the terrible damage and suffering that is caused by shoeing. Strada's feet are now normal and he is back to his old crazy self. Occasionally he gets the odd abscess, but as time goes on this is becoming less frequent, and is usually sorted out naturally in a couple of days without the need for bute. It is interesting that Luis, my stallion, has never been shod and is never lame. As the director of my own equestrian sport equipment manufacture company, I visit many yards and see many horses who have mobility problems. I always mention the barefoot way whenever I can. Once again thanks for all the valuable info. Yours most sincerely David Bowler www.michelaling.co.uk david@michelaling.co.uk
Have been reassured, enlightened and educated by your very clear advice on laminitis. My horse is currently suffering from laminitis despite carefully monitoring his diet. While treatments are diverse, what really causes the problem in some horses and not in others? I am also interested to hear that your views on exercise correspond with my blacksmith's. He also prescribes exercise, albeit flapping from behind with a suitable scary item to get the horse going. I am yet to be convinced that forced exercise can help in the light of new research which advocates that forced movement exascerbates the rotation of the coffin bone. As a desperate, devoted owner of a much loved horse I would like you to know that your experiences have been of great value. EH Cochrane sacomet@tesco.net
It IS a bad idea to push a horse to move before the trim is correct. If the heels are high and the coffin bone tilted, it can speed sole penetration. However, once you get the trim correct, it will help the horse to keep moving.
HI! I AM LOOKING FOR SOME ADVICE ON MY 21 YR.OLD FOUNDERED PONY. ONE YEAR AGO, SHE WAS BEAT UP BY A HORSE AND ENDED UP WITH A FRACTURED SCAPULA, WHICH OF COURSE DIDN'T HELP HER FOUNDER CONDITION. SHE HAS GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS. PRIOR TO HER ACCIDENT SHE COULD RUN WITH NO PAIN. NOW I AM LUCKY IF SHE CAN USE ALL FOUR LEGS. I HAVE HER ISOLATED FROM OTHER HORSES, AS PER VET REQUEST, AND IS ON A CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT, AS WELL AS GLUCOSAMINE. SHE EATS GRASS HAY AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF OATS DAILY? SHE GETS HOOF TRIMS ON A REGULAR BASIS. ANY ADVICE ON HOW I CAN GET HER BACK TO "NORMAL" WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS CASPERHORSECRAZY@HOTMAIL.COM
THANK YOU!
ANDREA
Supplementing just calcium, and not magnesium with it, is a mistake. I suggest you consult Linsey McLean, of www.vitaroyal.com. Not just any trimming will work. You need to get all the details right....especially check out my Section 14.
Hello, my name is Brett Ingram and I know of a horse that has prolapsed soles and I was wondering if you had any ideas that might help this horse. He is a 5yr.old Quarter Horse who has been like this for about 2 yrs and they have tried everything. They have gotten his coffin bone parallel to the ground, but his soles will not contract back up into his foot. If you could help I would like some information. My e-mail is BrettIngram@vic.edu. I would greatly appreciate any information that you can give me. Thank You ! Brett Ingram
It can be a while before the horse's feet can "hold concavity" between trims. Be certain other aspects of the trim are correct as well, such as getting rid of overlaid bars, and trying for more heel expansion. I have seen some horses whose owners faithfully lowered the heels to get a 30 degree hairline slope, but left the bars and frogs too high, so the horse was still in great pain, and toe-walking, which leads to more rotation. Be certain this is not part of what is going on in your case.
Hello, we're living in southern Austria and are just trying to cure a 10-year old quarter horse mare with severe chronic laminitis using the Strasser method together with Peter Speckmaier. We've started in July, but we've cut out only once a month.
The problem is right now: 1) the local vet says that the pain is too much. The mare has ended its pregnancy last week, 3 days after the hooves have been cut out again. 2) the soil is frozen and very hard right now and we do not have an inside paddock 3) now the horse owner has put on horseshoes again yesterday.
Now I'm looking for pictures to convince him to remove them again, and I've found great material on your homepage. Thanks a lot!
We'll now: 1. put rubber mats to a part of the paddock so that the frozen soil will not hurt and she can move. 2. have the hooves cut out more often as you have recommended. I hope that I'll succeed in convincing the owner.
My e-mail: sonja.appelt@omya.com
If you don't own this mare, you are really in a difficult situation.
I logged on for curiosity - not because any of my horses are foundered - and was greeted with a wealth of information that pointed to considerations for new saddling for 1) a very round withered arab and 2) an exceptionally high withered quarter type - I had already gotten marvelous results by moving them from bits to bosals. The behaviors I have yet to correct seem directly related to their current saddles! Thanks for your great info. Deb in Phoenix
Very Interesting, A lot of information. Just bought a mare for my grandaughter, found out too late she has been foundered. I know nothing a bout it, just hope we can fix it so she can ride.
allen jones aj_pkj@hotmail.com
If you can follow the trimming and care recommendations here, it is entirely possible that you can help this mare. For some local trimming help contacts, CLICK HERE
Wonderful page. Liked the all-in-one, but will take it separated, too. My farrier loved it, too--printed it out for him, as he isn't on line just yet. :) Thank you, and love that mule.
I have found your site to be a very informative one. I have a horse recovering from Colitis with Laminitis following. I now have a better understanding of what my vets have been doing in her treatments. Luckily her Laminitis appears to have been managed well in a hospital environment and her prognosis is good. Still it is good to have a site like this for reference. Thank You. Ann Chase thechases@ozemail.com.au
I am beginning my journey toward taking care of my horse's hooves. Thank you for the information. Kim
wonderful web site. Every horse owner should log in I just recently de-shod my horses. I took a Michael LaGrone clinic. I am on my way. It's all I can do to keep my tools off my horses feet. Jane Whiting jwhiting@centurytel.net
Site is a wonderful resource, I'm always coming back to review. We had Nancy Filbert here to help a group of us learn more and we are now absorbed in working on cadaver feet. Still have a long way to go but am convinced the method is right and am trying to spread the word. Thanks for your efforts in providing such a great resource. Tania Wadzinski Double Diamond Horse Co. Manawa, Wi. trouble@netnet.net
I can't wait to get home and try this on my 20 yr. old mare. hvnnos@aol.com
Hello,
This is a great website! Very informative and makes a lot of sense! Keep it up!
-Teresa
tessa1977_1@yahoo.com
Thank you for providing this very informative website! Don't know what we would have done had we not found it!
Thank you, MaryLou Walrath
Frostbit2002@aol.com
Since I first signed on to the Natural Horse Trim group less than a year ago, this is my first-choice site for MORE... more information, more instruction, more insight into how my horse's feet work, how they affect his body and mind, and how I can help him be the healthiest, happiest horse around. After finally finding a farrier who would at least start lowering Free's heels, and do a "four-point" trim on him, I'm beginning to fine-tune the farrier's trim, and have him scheduled to come out every month to double-check my angles, etc. (He's still young and teachable, so maybe we'll get another convinced farrier to change their thinking about how the foot ought to function.) Thanks so much, Gretchen, for your willingness to keep this site updated, and all your work on the group's discussion page!
Shea in Colorado (and Free, who is also very grateful!) e-mail me at: gorton01@ris.net
Back to home page--Table of Contents
Article in sections with "thumbnail" photos for fastest downloads:
1 9 17
2 10 18
3 11 19
4 12 20
5 13 21
6 14 22
7 15 23
8 16 24
NAVICULAR
Article in sections with full-sized photos for print-outs:
1 9 17
2 10 18
3 11 19
4 12 20
5 13 21
6 14 22
7 15 23
8 16 24
NAVICULAR
To Strasser case studies--thumbnail photos for faster downloads
To Strasser case studies--large photos
Please sign my guest book! Photos of my pets My farm
Share Barefoot success stories on this page
Buy or sell used HORSE BOOTS Natural board Barn Listings
Click here to subscribe to naturalhorsetrim
(I moderate this listserv to weed out "fluff.")
Send Email to Gretchen Fathauer, or call (740) 674-4492
Copyright by Gretchen Fathauer, 2015. All rights reserved.