JULY 2018 × VOLUME 1 ISSUE 6
ON THE COVER:
CUSTOM EQUESTRIAN PRODUCTS ARE CHANGING AND SAUCY PIAFFE IS LEADING THE WAY PG. 10 SHOEING TO PROVIDE TR ACTION FOR YOUR HORSE’S NEEDS PG. 32
By Doug Buck
GO GREEN, SWITCH TO HYGREEN BEDDING PELLETS PG. 44
T h e u ltim a t e s um m e r d e fe n s e ! THE NEW AMIGOÂŽ EVOLUTION Bringing together our new light weight Disc-Front closure and the latest in colour research for your horses ultimate comfort.
Great protection
New color technology
Integrated neck cover for full coverage when grazing.
Extensive research has shown that most insects can’t perceive the colors aqua & orange making this rug a natural insect deterrant itself.
Improved fit Horseware Disc-Front closure with Surefit neck design.
Complete belly coverage Belly flap with velcro closures and three surcingles for full belly coverage.
OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES (TM) TRYON 2018
BUTET SADDLES CANADA ALAN LE LOUEDEC alan.lelouedec@butet.fr (1) 519 215 1474 www.butet.fr
EQU ES TRIAN O NTARIO
CONTENTS J U LY 2018
EO FEATURE 10 Saucy Piaffe’s Personalized Products Saucy Piaffe EO EVENTS 8
July August
EO ARTICLES 16 The Nine Points of Saddle Fit (Part 2) Saddlefit4life 20 Tackling Confidence (Part 1) Lindsey Partridge 32 Shoeing to Provide Traction for Your Horse’s Needs Doug Buck 42 Arena Maintenance and Grooming System Fencing
14 The Best of Show Season Noble Outfitters 18 Professional Grooming The Galloping Goop Way Stonehedge Farms Canada 26 The Nibble Net & The TACK-N-GO Professional Edge Equine 30 Editors Review Mega-Flx® + HA Spectra Equine 40 Who Are We? Schleese Saddlery Service 44 Hygreen Bedding Pellets Hygreen Industries Limited EO SERVICES 28 Competition Withdrawal Insurance BFL CANADA
46 How I Think About the Foot Dr. Dieter Oberbichler DVM EO PRODUC TS 12 5 More Reasons to Love Equus Integral Equus Integral
COVER Elizabeth Rhodes, President and Creative Director of Saucy Piaffe Group of Companies. saucypiaffe.com
“Let a horse whisper in your ear and breathe on your heart. You will never regret it.” - AUTHOR UNKNOWN
EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLISHER
Samantha Fawcett
Doug Buck
Horseback Media Inc.
SALES
Saddlefit4life ®
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Lindsey Partridge
equestrianontario.com
Tyler Saik tyler@equestrianontario.com 289-270-0906
Dieter Oberbichler (Dr.O)
Job Posting GLOBAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR
SADDLEFIT 4 LIFE®
Saddlefit 4 Life is a leader in equestrian education with accreditation all over the world. We offer courses that will take equine enthusiasts and equine professionals alike to expertise above and beyond what is presently offered in saddle fitting from other organizations. We are looking for an individual who is interested in working with established equine professionals to spread the awareness of necessary proper saddle fitting procedures. With occasional travel, you will be managing a team of international education directors from our head office in the GTA North. In this position you will be working with the company marketing arm to develop a comprehensive global marketing strategy and assist in establishing the brand more securely in digital and social media. Our perfect candidate is an accomplished equestrian with a passion for horse welfare and has extensive experience in the industry. Is organized and has leadership skills that will support your ability to manage a team. For more information on this position contact Sabine at sabine@saddlefit4life.com
4 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
I
t’s hard for me to believe that summer is approaching the half way mark, and with it show season, summer trail rides, and lounging around in the sun! Although, I don’t seem to have much time for the latter as of lately! I hope that you on the other hand have some time to spend lounging around in the sun, and that you of course choose to spend it reading this issue!
Take a look at this issue’s main feature, Doug Buck’s article on providing your horse with the traction required to meet their every day turnout needs, and perform their designated jobs! Doug has been shoeing horses for over 40 years and has represented Canada numerous times on the Canadian Farriers Team! His specialty in shoeing sport horses at the highest levels provides excellent insight on how to best manage traction for show horses! If you follow Lindsey Partridge and her wonderful team of well-trained Thoroughbreds, you will be pleased to see another great article in this edition on how to tackle confidence issues when handling or riding your horse! Although she has become famously known as Canada’s Horse Whisperer, not many people know 6 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
that she is a full time public health nurse, with her area of research on mental health. Find out how she uses this knowledge to help her when training horses and building their confidence! see page 22 We also have yet another great article from Dr. Dieter Oberbichler about his perspective as a vet when he thinks about a horse’s hoof! Summertime often brings a myriad of foot issues for all horses, this edition touches on laminitis, and abscesses. see page 46 Both Lindsey and Dr. Dieter’s articles are multi-part series so stay tuned for the following parts in the upcoming issues of Equestrian Ontario! I hope that you all enjoy and make the most of the next few months of summer!
Samantha
EVENT LISTINGS JULY SCHOOLING SHOWS JUL 2
TRILLIUM HUNTER/JUMPER CONT. JUL 28-29
Meadowlark North Summer Hunter/Jumper Show
Endless Journey Farms Trillium (SE)
Old Orchard Farm Hunter/ Jumper Show
JUL 8 JUL 14
Railside View Equestrian Centre Trillium (SW)
Teen Ranch Hunter/Jumper Show CEC Hunter/Jumper Schooling Show 2 Lord Simcoe Hunter/ Jumper Series @ Essa Agriplex Twinholm Hunter/ Jumper Show @ Ancaster Fairgrounds
JUL 18
Eglinton Caledon Hounds Jumper Jackpot @ Caledon Riding Club
JUL 22
Teen Ranch Hunter/Jumper Show
Butler Show Horses Trillium (GB)
A CIRCUIT JUL 4-8 JUL 11-15
Caledon Premier I @ Caledon Equestrian Park Ottawa National @ Wesley Clover Parks
JUL 18-22
Ottawa International @ Wesley Clover Parks
JUL 25-29
Equestrian Festival @ Caledon Equestrian Park
DRESSAGE JUL 29
Conestoga Cadora Dressage Show @ CEC
TRILLIUM HUNTER/JUMPER JUL 6-8
Joker’s Hill Summer Trillium @RCRA (CE) Camberwell Stables Trillium (CW)
JUL 7-8
JUL 27-29
Dreamcrest Horse Trials (OHTA) Will O’ Wind Summer Horse Trials (OHTA)
JUL 11
Sprucehaven Farm CT & XC School (SOCTA)
JUL 15
Bronte Creek Horse Trials (OHTA)
Foothills Farm Trillium (NE)
JUL 18
Warwick Equestrian Trillium (SE)
Bronte Creek CT & XC School (SOCTA)
JUL 21
Warwick Equestrian CT & XC School (SOCTA)
JUL 22
Stevens Creek Horse Trials (OHTA)
London Hunt Trillium (SW)
JUL 20-22
JUL 1 JUL 7-8
Jack Pine Equestrian Trillium (GB) Mane Event @ Burbrook Equestrian (SE)
JUL 14-15
EVENTING
Summerfest Trillium @ Pickering Horse Centre (CE) Red Ribbon Stables Trillium (CW)
Warwick Equestrian HT (SOCTA)
Foothills Farm Trillium (NE)
Glen Oro Summer Horse Trials (OHTA)
Parish Ridge Stables Trillium (CW)
JUL 28
Glenarden Farms Horse Trials (OHTA)
JULY
EVENTING CONT. JUL 29
Oakhurst Horse Trials (OHTA)
MISCELLANEOUS. JUL 7-8
Lindsey Partridge Obstacle Clinic @ Horse Country Campground
AUGUST SCHOOLING
TRILLIUM HUNTER/JUMPER CONT. AUG 17-19 AUG 18-19
Northern Legacy Trillium (NE) Jack Pine Trillium (GB)
AUG 29- Trillium Championships @ SEP 2 Caledon Equestrian Park
A CIRCUIT AUG 1-5
Summer Festival @ Caledon Equestrian Park
AUG 8-12
Caledon Premier II CSI2* @ Caledon Equestrian Park
AUG 5
Challenge Series Hunter Show @ Iron Horse
AUG 6
Meadowlark North Summer Hunter/Jumper Show
AUG 15-19
The Champions @ Angelstone Tournaments
Meadowlark North Summer Hunter/Jumper Show
AUG 22-26
The National CSI2* @ Angelstone Tournaments
AUG 12
Teen Ranch Hunter/Jumper Show
AUG 18
Lord Simcoe Hunter/ Jumper Series @ Essa Agriplex
AUG 25
CEC Hunter/Jumper Schooling Show 3
AUG 26
Challenge Series Hunter Show @ Vector Equestrian
EVENTING
AUG 5
Grandview Summer Horse Trials (OHTA)
RCRA Trillium 1 (CE)
AUG 8
Highland Green CT & XC School (SOCTA)
AUG 12
Lane’s End Horse Trials (OHTA)
AUG 18
Sprucehaven CT & XC School (SOCTA)
AUG 19
Sprucehaven Farm HT (SOCTA)
AUG 25
Cherry Lane Horse Trials (OHTA)
RCRA Trillium 2 (CE)
Butler Show Horses Trillium (GB) Mane Event @ Burbrook Equestrian Trillium (SE) High Street Horse Shows Trillium @ Ilderton Fairgrounds (SW)
AUG 17-19
Conestoga Cadora Dressage Show @ CEC
F & M (Millside Stables) Trillium (SW)
Vanbrook Equestrian Trillium (CW)
AUG 11-12
AUG 26
Warwick Equestrian HT (SOCTA)
Thoren Creek Equestrian Trillium (NE)
AUG 10-12
DRESSAGE
AUG 1
TRILLIUM HUNTER/JUMPER AUG 3-4
AUG 29- The International @ SEP 2 Angelstone Tournaments
Zone Classic @ Palgrave (CE)
MISCELLANEOUS AUG 18
Jason Irwin Clinic @ West Ridge Equestrian
EO FEATURE
SAUCY PIAFFE’S PERSONALIZED PRODUCTS
ELIZ ABETH-ANNE RHODES PRESIDENT & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
If you are looking for personalized equestrian products for yourself, your business or your horse show, Saucy Piaffe has become the trusted industry name for all things custom equestrian.
A
deep focus on innovation and scrupulous levels of customization means that riders, equestrian business owners and horse shows can personally sculpt any one of Saucy’s products and services into useful, beautiful, custom equestrian products. “We were the first company in North America to scale this concept into a tangible business”, says Elizabeth Rhodes, Creative Director. Leading edge technology and a furious commitment to our craft is what sets us apart. “Innovative ideas come to life through useful, thoughtful, quality customizable equestrian products. I often find myself popping into the back studio to clip threads on some of the items being prepared for boxing. It’s the details that really matter to me. If something 10 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
isn’t right, it needs to be made right and there are no compromises. When you are creating products that are intended to reflect the image, personal style or core value set of a customer or business, you are sending out a message about who they are and what they like; that’s a big responsibility. In many cases, we are being trusted with their reputation and that’s not something we take lightly”, says Elizabeth.
Saucy Piaffe has focused their attention on taking product personalization a big step forward into mass customization. They have been lucky to work behind the scenes with many larger companies to help elevate customer loyalty and engagement, creating a customer base as an engine of advocacy for meeting new customers. “Many of the business owners we work with take their CEO hats off on the weekends and head to the horse shows - they are horse people at their core. More recently we have seen international growth based on referrals from this group. It’s a good feeling when people you admire recognize you are doing something special”, says Elizabeth. “We don’t ask for referral, we hope our product speaks for itself and that is the most authentic way of growing the business”.
“Equestrians are at some point going to purchase all of the products we sell anyway; most items are a necessity, so why not give them the opportunity to purchase exceptional quality product, exactly the way they’d like it”, says Elizabeth. What makes Saucy most unique is their furious passion for
WWW.SAUCYPIAFFE.COM saucypiaffe@ saucypiaffe.com
core design principles. “Having been immersed in the inner workings of some of the best design agencies outside of the horse world has given us the opportunity to merge good design sense with product innovation. We focus very seriously on developing our knowledge of what’s trending strong within the creative community at large. By infusing current trends and graphics techniques into our equestrian logo design, farm signage and other creative mediums, we are able to bring new, fresh and exciting designs to the equestrian community”.
Saucy Piaffe will continue to bring us lots of eye candy, both on their website and their social media outlets. “Ascendance is never in a straight line, you will face adversity along the way of building a business”, says Elizabeth. “Luckily, we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and part of that means surrounding ourselves with a strong, positive team who has integrity. Together, we have created something very special and we hope to share that with every equestrian enthusiast, either through a product or service!”
EO PRODUCTS
5 MORE REASONS TO LOVE EQUUS INTEGRAL EQUUS INTEGRAL HAS ADDED 5 NEW LINES TO IT’S ALREADY DECORATED LINE UP. EQUIFIT EquiFit is an American company which designs and manufactures products for top riders and horses throughout the world. From the T-Boot Series to the D-Teq Boot line, the T-Sport Wraps to the GelCompression Therapy line, EquiFit continues to raise expectations by pairing innovative designs with highly advanced materials. KASK Based in Italy, KASK specializes in the developing, designing, and manufacturing of safety helmets of the highest quality. KASK’s perfectly ergonomic helmets are developed to fit the needs of world’s top athletes, and ensure the wearer unparalleled comfort even in the most rigorous circumstances. KINGSLAND Kingsland is a Norwegian company which has grown to become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of equestrian wear and horse gear. With a reputation for its subtle blend of classic equestrian fashion and contemporary design, this brand is musthave in any collection. MANDTIS Innovation at its best, Mandtis offers a superior line of interchangeable spur sets and quality studs. Made in France using magnetic technology and cutting-edge materials, spur sets are available for each discipline. OGILVY Proudly Canadian, Ogilvy specializes in quality saddle pads. Ogilvy products are designed and produced to ensure maximum comfort and equilibrium for both horse and rider.
EQUUSINTEGRAL.COM
ONLINE | IN BARN | AT SHOW
Photo: Š Mackenzie Clark
1-888-370-4006 | service@equusintegral.com | equusintergral.com
With quality standards unparalleled anywhere in the world, we are proud to offer the following equestrian brands.
EO PRODUCTS
NOBLE OUTFITTERS BRINGS
THE BEST OF SHOW SEASON Can we say Functional Fashionable? The Noble Outfitters Victoria Show Shirt is the perfect tie with eye-catching detailed decorative mesh which doubles as ventilation and is eye catching, making this a top choice. The collar and cuffs boast uniquely chosen prints to add the right touch of detail. When going to show, wear with the Signature Full Seat Breech to finish off your outfit. Your complete outfit will keep you cool and dry with Opti-Dry Technology while fully protected from the sun’s rays being UPF 50+. The Show Ready Helmet Bag is the first thing you will grab out the door to the Show. No need to worry, your helmet will stay protected in this durable bag. You can be confident you will be show ready, head-to-toe. Noble BONUS! Your bag will come with a FREE Gift with Purchase – Personalize your bag with your choice of Discipline Patch {mail-in gift offer with purchase} HA IS A JOINT NECESSITY!
Lubrisyn HA is your #1 choice for joint health. How does LybrisynHA keep your horse show ready? Hyaluronan (HA) is a naturally occurring high-molecular-mass glycosaminoglycan found in connective, epithelial and neural tissue. Noted for its viscous and elastic properties, hyaluronan acts in joint spaces as both a lubricant and a shock absorber. It is one of the major components of synovial fluid, contributing to its overall viscosity and serving as one of the fluid’s essential lubricants. LubriSynHA is a liquid, oral form of HA designed to help restore joint fluid as it degrades through aging and exercise. VISIT NOBLE-CANADA.CA TO FIND THESE QUALITY PRODUCTS AT A DEALER NEAR YOU.
EO ARTICLE
PART 2 OF 3
THE NINE POINTS OF SADDLE FIT BY JOCHEN SCHLEESE, CMS, CSFT, CSE ©2018 SADDLEFIT 4 LIFE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
4 FULL PANEL CONTACT
Ensure that your saddle’s panels make even contact with your horse’s back all the way down to distribute the rider’s weight over an area that equals approximately 220 square inches and ends at the last rib. Test for even contact by sliding a pen or pencil (or your hand) in between the panel and their horse’s back.
THIS THERMOGRAPHIC IMAGE SHOWS A SADDLE WITH PANELS THAT BRIDGE FRONT TO BACK, RESULTING IN GREATER PRESSURE AT THE POMMEL AND CANTLE AREAS.
When rocking occurs, the panels at the front and/or back of the saddle do not make even contact with the horse’s back. Note that sometimes your saddle may be made with panels that deliberately flare up at the very back, so the last inch or so of the panels don’t make contact with your horse’s back. This is done for instance, when there is a need to accommodate a tall or large rider on a horse with a short saddle-support area. If fitted correctly, this saddle will not rock. This extra room is also important for the back to come up when the horse engages during movement. Sometimes we hear that slight bridging is a good thing, because when the horse lifts his back as he is being ridden, his back will come up into and fill in the space left by the bridge. While this may seem logical at first, it doesn’t work. Even when your horse lifts his back while being ridden, his saddle will still bridge. The goal of saddle fitting is to have the saddle distribute the riders’ weight evenly over the saddle support area, and it is important that the saddle neither bridge nor rock. 16 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO MAY ‘18
5 BILLET ALIGNMENT
Have you ever had to stop in the middle of your ride and reset your saddle because it has moved forward onto your horse’s shoulders? This is a common problem, and it is often caused by improper billet alignment. Unless the billets on your saddle are positioned correctly, your saddle will not stay in its proper place on your horse’s back.
THIS SADDLE IS POSITIONED BEHIND THE SHOULDER BUT A) IS TOO LONG FOR THE HORSE’S BACK AS IT EXTENDS PAST THE 18TH THORACIC VERTEBRA AND B) THE BILLETS ARE TOO FAR BACK AND WILL PULL THE SADDLE ONTO THE SHOULDER IN MOTION.
Billets should hang perpendicular to the ground in the girth area. If the billets hang too far back, gravity will pull the billets (and the saddle) forward into the girth area. The girth will always find its position at the narrowest point of the rib cage, driving the saddle forward onto your horse’s shoulders. If the billets hang too far forward into your horse’s elbow area, they may make him sore in the elbows. Gravity will drag them (and the girth and saddle along with them) back into the girth area. There will now be too much pressure on the panels at the rear of the saddle. 6 SADDLE STRAIGHTNESS
Straightness means that the center of the saddle is in alignment with your horse’s spine. Sometimes, a saddle that appears straight when the horse is standing in the crossties will shift to the right or left when the horse is being ridden, leading to problems with your horse’s SI (sacroiliac) joint. THIS RIDER IS SITTING ON A SADDLE WHICH HAS SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT - PRESUMABLY HAVING BEEN MOVED BY THE LARGER LEFT SHOULDER DURING MOVEMENT.
Horses are by nature uneven. Most horses have a left shoulder that is larger and more developed than their right shoulder. The larger shoulder kicks the saddle over to the other side during motion. A rider who sits unevenly can compress the stuffing more on one side of the saddle, and drag it over to that side. THE FINAL THREE POINTS OF SADDLE FIT TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO! SADDLEFIT4LIFE.COM
EO PRODUCTS
PROFESSIONAL GROOMING
THE GALLOPING GOOP WAY! THE BEST PART IS THEY SMELL GREAT AND REQUIRE NO SCRUBBING! Is your horse’s coat starting to show the signs of too much sunbathing while out in the paddock? Perhaps your grey (or other light coloured horse) is covered in dirt and grass stains - or worse!! Galloping Goop will help take your friend from being dirty, muddy, and stained to beautifully soft, clean, and free of stains in a very short amount of time!
STEP 1 DEGREASER - The Degreaser is the professional’s choice for deep down spot cleaning. Used on a dry coat and left on for about 10-15 minutes before washing out. Removes stains easily and without stripping the natural oils from the coat, mane, and tail. STEP 2 SHAMPOO – Galloping Goop Shampoo is perfect to use after the Degreaser as it is specially formulated to remove dirt build-up and debris from the coat, mane, and tail. STEP 3 CONDITIONER – Galloping Goop Conditioner is the perfect end to your horse’s spa treatment, and will deeply condition and moisturize your horse leaving behind a healthy, shiny, soft coat, mane and tail.
GO FROM THIS TO THAT WITH EASE! THANKS TO GALLOPING GOOP DEGREASER, SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER! FOR BEST RESULTS USE ALL THREE PRODUCTS TOGETHER!
All products are biodegradable and non-toxic. Recommended for all horse breeds, ages, and colours; can also be used on puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, cows, sheep, rabbits, goats and chickens!
GALLOPING GOOP has raised the bar when it comes to removing tough stains, dirt and grease. With low foaming action it does not strip the coat’s natural oils and is enriched with natural Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to nourish the hair and skin in less time. If you have a white or grey horse — no more scrubbing out the nasty stains — they will sparkle!
GALLOPINGGOOP.CA
A Stonehedgefarm Canada Product
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EO ARTICLES
TACKLING CONFIDENCE PART 1
STAY GREEN BY LINDSEY PARTRIDGE Photos courtesy of Michael Brown
C
onfidence can be a tricky thing for both you and your horse. It can take a long time to develop, but so easy for it to disappear in the blink of an eye. But why is confidence so hard to achieve? And when we have a knock to our confidence how can we overcome it? The interesting thing is that building confidence for ourselves and our horse is similar. A lot of the same principles apply to both horses and humans.
a lot of people do not know is that I am also a public health nurse, with a bachelor in Health Sciences and my area of research is in mental health. Specifically, I look a lot at resiliency. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from stress and life’s challenges. Because I work in public health the research I do is upstream and preventative work, so when you hear mental health you might be thinking mental illness but that is not actually the case. We all have mental health.
A lot of people know me as the Thoroughbred Makeover trainer or Canada’s Horse Whisperer. But what
What I discovered during my research is the techniques and strategies I use with horses, were the evidence-based
22 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
recommendations being promoted for humans. This perhaps shouldn’t be surprising because animals, whether it be horses, dogs, etc. have emotions similar to our own like fear, joy, sadness, frustration, and more. Over the years I have become a master at building confidence in horses by applying the psychology I’ve learned through my public health nursing. I think it is a big part of what led to my success and having my horses win the Trail division at the International Thoroughbred Makeover run by the Retired Racehorse Project over the last three years. What was really interesting for me when I teamed up with a therapist and a veteran of equine-assisted therapy, Ãsa Woodman, I realized that it is not just the confidence of the horse that we need to consider when training, we also need to consider the rider. You may have heard the saying that you can fake it until you make it. But I don’t think this is true with horses. Horses are so in tune with our energy and body language, that they can sense your fear from a mile away. Perhaps not literally, but if you are in an anxious state, it will definitely affect your horse. GOING GREEN When we talk about self-regulation, which is the ability to recognize and control your emotions, we often refer to the colors of red, yellow, and green. Red is a highly anxious or highenergy state, yellow is a low energy or
depressive state, and green is the calm alert state. It is important to know that we can only learn when we are in a green state. Therefore, it is really important when we’re with a scared or stubborn horse that we be careful not to push them into a red state from being too assertive or demanding. Training becomes a bit of a juggling act of pushing the horse to thresholds and asking them to learn and grow. However we need to be being careful to recognize when they’re starting to go red and not push them to the point of fight or flight. I knew this about horses, but Ãsa shared with me the importance of recognizing this in ourselves too. Because of this, I think it is really important that coaches be careful not to overwhelm their students, and that we ourselves as riders be kind to ourselves when we are scared or feeling anxious and allow ourselves the time to get back to green in that calm alert state before continuing. It reminds me of a memory I have when I was learning to jump. My horse refused a barrel jump and my coach instructed me to hit the horse. I half-heartedly hit the horse with the crop. Repeatedly he refused the jump and I continued to smack the horse as instructed. On the outside I probably just looked stoic, but on the inside I was scared. I never ended up jumping the barrels during the lesson. In the end I lost confidence in my coach and stopped taking lessons from her. I continued to be terrified of JULY ‘18 EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO | 23
barrel jumps for an entire year before I found a different coach that approached the situation with encouragement and positive thinking. Looking back, I can see the big difference so clearly. The first time I was learning to jump barrels, I had been pushed into a red zone - with too much force. The horse probably was reading that energy and even though physically he was capable of doing the jump, he was responding to my body and therefore we were not successful. Whereas the second coach that was able to help me get over the barrels was able to keep me in a calm-alert state. Although I was being asked to step outside of my comfort zone, I was not pushed beyond my limits. I was allowed the time to breathe, think, and work my way through the situation. BE A SOURCE OF TRUST NOT FEAR Imagine yourself scared of something. Now imagine somebody dragging you towards it. You aren’t ready so you are kicking and screaming because you’re terrified. Can you see how you would become scared of the person dragging you towards the scary thing? You would begin to not to trust their intentions and you may even try to avoid them. Being around that person in new or scary situations may cause you to get anxious right away simply because you do not trust being around them.
This is why it is so important to respect fears and limitations. You can carefully nudge a horse or human to continue trying and thinking about it, but we really need to respect what causes a horse or human to go red. Because when they go red, they cannot learn and process information. Often we can help prevent our horse or ourselves from going red by simply giving ourselves more time to breathe and process information. This is why the method of ask, tell, demand can be really harmful to certain types of horses that are genuinely scared. It can be useful to start and finish sessions with the calm connection exercises from the Harmony Training Continuum. Anytime you or your horse start to feel like you are going red, you can do the calm connection exercises to help you get back to green. PUSH LIMITS Sometimes we can avoid thresholds (something that pushes our comfort zone) because we don’t want to upset the horse. However, our comfort zones can then become smaller and smaller. It is healthy to grow our boundaries and to challenge our thresholds. I love the saying that you cannot have courage and comfort at the same time. The challenge for you is to have courage but not push yourself or your horse so far to experience fear.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.HARMONYHORSEMANSHIP.CA OR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LINDSEY PARTRIDGE VISIT WWW.LINDSEYPARTRIDGE.COM
THE NIBBLENET ®
The Original NibbleNet NOT SOLD IN CATALOGS Healthy and Safe Slow-Feeding System These are excellent for horses and feed related health issues like laminitis and obesity. Perfect for horses that don’t have a lot of turn out time like show and race horses. Ideal for travelling and trailering. The quality of construction and heavy duty outdoor materials make THE NIBBLENET ® far superior to similar bags on the market. We are so confident in the quality of this hay bag that we offer a limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship.
“Horses are designed to eat constantly and they produce stomach acid constantly. Because hay and saliva together are alkaline, they counteract the stomach acid. Horses are most content when they can nibble almost all the time.” NIBBLENET.CA
PROFESSIONALED
THE TACK-N-GO® Portable Folding Saddle
The TACK- N - GO portable folding saddle rack is the professional’s choice for keeping saddles and equipment handy in any location. The ultimate accessory for the arena, barn, round pen, trailer, stall area, or horse show. This simple, heavy- duty, folding saddle rack will stand up to hard use and heavy saddles anywhere you use it! For work or play, the uniquely durable design will hold both English and Western saddles with a convenient hanging hook that keeps bridles, halters, and leads in an easy to see, easy to reach location. Set up is swift and easy with the option of portable hanging brackets for panels, fences, or stalls, or use the heavy wood screws provided for permanent wall mounting. The TACK-N-GO folds down in seconds, making it ideal for travel!
The TACK-N-GO portable saddle rack is powder coated for lasting durability, and is available in Black or Pink! For more information, or to purchase your very own TACK-N-GO portable folding saddle rack, please contact Professional Edge Equine! TACKNGO.CA
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EO SERVICES
COMPETITION WITHDRAWAL INSURANCE DON’T BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD! BFL CANADA Nobody wants to learn the hard way that not all competitions refund you for your entry and stall fee if you’re forced to scratch; BFL’s Competition Withdrawal Insurance can help ensure you’re not stuck paying out of pocket for your non-refundable expenses! This coverage protects against unexpected costs resulting from scratching your horse from competition prior to leaving for the showground. If your horse incurs a sickness or comes up lame and you are forced to scratch, you can claim under this insurance. Be sure to check your policy to ensure you have this useful coverage, as it is not offered by all insurance providers! Should you find yourself in a position to make a claim, it’s extremely important to notify your insurance broker as soon as possible. First, attend to your horse and call the vet. Once your horse is tended to, find your emergency claim number to contact the company you are insured with. In the event that you cannot reach the insurer, follow the veterinarian’s recommendation and continue calling the emergency number until you reach someone. 28 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
Through BFL, so long as your withdrawal is supported by a Veterinary Certificate deeming your horse unfit to compete, simply provide your receipts for expenses, as well as confirmation from the biller that the stated expenses are non-refundable. It is important to note that the following exclusions apply to this coverage:
• •
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EDITOR’S REVIEW
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EO ARTICLE
SHOEING TO PROVIDE TRACTION FOR YOUR HORSE’S NEEDS
BY DOUG BUCK blacksmith and owner of buck farrier and forge
increase for the horse doing the same job. For example, at the gallop, a horse’s hoof loads up to 2500lbs per square inch, so adding 40% more can be very problematic. Actually, some racetracks are removing the new artificial footing, and going back to more traditional turf and dirt. The incidences of soft tissue injury skyrocket largely due in part to the hoof landing and not having any slide or shear. EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT CORKS, FROM KEEPERS TO GRASS AND MUD CORKS.
G
ood traction is paramount to maintain soundness, proper hoof flight, and to maximize performance for the equine athlete, whether it is a backyard weekend pasture bunny, school horse, or an elite show horse. One of the most common and simplest reason for strains/sprains is directly related to the horse slipping, whether it be at turnout, walking on a slippery surface or competing with insufficient grab. A horse’s hoof has an inherent ability to give good traction on most natural surfaces. But when we ask them to do more than they do on their own ie: jumping courses, racing, or repetitive turning, then shoeing comes into play. The type of shoe will have a huge influence on the interaction of the shoe/ground. Another factor that has come into play in recent years is the new synthetic artificial footings that are becoming commonplace in home arenas and show grounds. Recent studies have shown the impact level on some synthetic footings increases by up to 40%. That is a huge
34 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
Because artificial footing is “stickier”, and has less movement when the foot lands, having a little “give” is more natural for a horse. A shoe with a wider flat web might be a better choice. Some farriers that I know in the USA have actually gone back to making and using flat fore punched shoes with no crease to give that shoe a little slip. hoof loads up to 2500lbs per square inch so adding 40% more can be very problematic. Actually, some racetracks are removing the new artificial footing, and going back to more traditional turf and dirt. The incidences of soft tissue injury skyrocket largely due in part to the hoof landing and not having any slide or shear. HAND FORGED FLAT FORE PUNCHED SHOE
BASIC SHOEING PROTOCOL I have had the privilege to shoe some of the best horses in the country, and have also shod some horses throughout their entire lives. I think the most common denominator for the horse to be his best, is to be comfortable, sound, and confident.
As a professional farrier, what I try to accomplish is the best shoeing protocol for each individual, keeping in mind their job and the type of footing they are most active on. A basic horseshoe is primarily for hoof wear and support. Shoeing at its most basic format is “when wear exceeds hoof wall growth,” then a shoe is necessary. Another reason for shoeing is to give necessary support, traction, conformation, therapy, and orthotics. A basic regular steel shoe on it’s own doesn’t really give much more traction than a barefoot. In fact it can be more slippery on cement, interlocking stone floors, and pavement. The easiest fix to a plain shoe is to add tungsten carbide pins to both heels and possibly the toes as well to allow the shoe to get traction without changing or raising the hoof angle that happens if you put corks in. However, a small cork/keeper in my opinion usually never causes any problems since horses are in the barn aisles briefly and spend the majority of the day in an arena or field. The soft ground absorbs most corks as far as height and gives the horse security so that he will be less likely to slip or fall while performing his job or bombing around during turnout.
A SHOE WITH DRIVE IN CARBIDE PINS TO PROVIDE TRACTION WITH A LOW PROFILE.
WINTER SHOEING When it comes to shoeing in the winter conditions, turning horses out with no corks or traction is in my opinion cruel. The horse needs something to keep them from slipping and falling in icy conditions. Plus with snow, a shoe will ball up, and even with corks the snowball makes the corks ineffective. So a type of anti-snow pad, whether it is a rim type or a full bubble pad with corks is the ideal protocol. Other options as well as drive-in corks or screw in corks, would be borium or drill tech that is essentially a gritty chunky carbide material that is welded or braised to the shoe. This can be applied to both toes and heels of the shoe to keep a low profile that really grabs. COMMON CORKS The most common corks we use are screw-in corks that allow riders to change the type of cork for different needs; albeit for weather conditions, footing (grass, dirt, or artificial turf). Basically, horses that we shoe get small keepers (¼” high) to give day to day safety, and keep cork holes clean so the rider is able to change cork type easily. SHOE NAILED ON WITH COPPER NAILS, KEEPERS INSTALLED AND LATERAL HEEL CREASED TO PROVIDE TRACTION
]
JULY ‘18 EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO | 35
However, some prefer the shoes drilled and tapped, and keep the holes empty until corks are needed for a specific purpose. I personally think the small keeper is a better strategy based on knowing many incidences of horses that have had problems and injuries by slipping or falling with empty flat shoes.
corks in. But I think when they are done showing, a small keeper should be installed for turnout. Ironically, studies and my own experience recognize most injuries and shoe pulls happen not when they are being ridden, but when they are turned out. So I think keeping that in mind is good.
Generally screw-in corks come in different styles and profiles. Corks for grass have a sharper point and come in different heights. Corks for dirt and mud tend to be blunt and blocky. As a general rule of thumb, the worse the weather or the deeper the footing - the bigger the cork. Horses have an innate self-preservation instinct and if they don’t feel confident coming up to a jump or they may slip on a corner they will probably refuse, duck out, and/or switch out leads; all undesirable things.
Horses usually only get worked for an hour a day, that leaves 23 hours for other stuff to happen! Coincidently shoeing studies also recognize that shoeing strategies should be based not only on that hour, but on the stress load of either standing in stalls or turnout habits. We have all seen “fluffy” getting turned out and galloping off like a mad man. Maybe getting into a fight (play or otherwise) or sometimes wanting in and pacing back and forth, sometimes sliding into the fence or gate.
Drive-in corks are commonly used on riding horses as they are simple, cost effective, and usually good for the life of the shoe. Again, different heights usually proportionate to the size of shoe/ horse. However, they are not able to be changed or replaced until the shoe is pulled off.
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRACTION FOR THE HIND END Horses that compete in dressage or jumping tend to work mostly off their hind end, and so there are different strategies that can be employed to provide additional traction. When a horse pushes off his hind hooves, his heels are no longer on the ground. The hoof and pastern lock for the push and do not break over until the toes leaves the ground. So the usual cork placement on the heel is not really helping with propulsion. They do help on the landing and loading up, but it’s the toe that needs to grab when pushing off. So, the toe shape and shoe type can really make the difference.
AN EXAMPLE OF DRIVE IN CORKS.]
Usually, horses that are showing on artificial footing can get by with no 36 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
Some upper level jumpers will have extra cork holes drilled and tapped between
the number 1 and 2 toe nails. Those toe corks really help when jumping big fences, but should be removed right after the class before they are turned out or put away in a stall.
FOOTING AND CORKS IN SUMMARY All footings have their pros and cons. Despite having traction as a downside, artificial footing is consistent, while natural footing can be greatly affected by extreme weather leading to injuries and/or show cancellations. With some of the suggestions we have made, you should now have a variety of options to be successful.
CONCAVE SHOE WITH AN EXTRA CORKHOLE AND MUD CORKS INSTALLED.
Concave shoes are preferred on good sport horses as they give good grip even without corks, and are self cleaning due to the beveled edge that allows the foot to shed dirt balling up. The ground surface is narrower, which again gives less slip. Additional creasing segments can also provide width, support, and traction to either the toe or heels. WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE NOT SURE It is important not to over cork horses as well. My suggestion if you are not sure, is to talk to your farrier, or watch or talk to other riders/trainers that are successful in your field. They usually have it figured out, but don’t be afraid to experiment for what your horse might prefer. Remember a sound, confident horse is your goal in order to get the best out of your horse.
CREASED HEEL FOR EXTRA WIDTH AND TRACTION. KEEPERS INSTALLED.]
In summary, here are the different traction options available: 1. Borium (welded to the shoe) 2. Tungsten carbide (can be installed anywhere low profile) 3. Drive-in Corks (permanent, available in various heights) 4. Screw in corks (keepers, grass corks (pointy tip), mud corks (blocky) 5. Types of shoes - Wid Web Flat (slippery), Concave (natural grab throughout the heel), Forging Fore Punch (flat) 6. Pads and pour in pads to the level of the shoe can also negate traction. This covers many options but it is always best to talk to your professional farrier and trainer for feed back!
BUCK FARRIER AND FORGE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975. DOUG WAS THE TOP STUDENT GRADUATE FOR OLDS COLLEGE, AND HAS ALSO SERVED AS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ONTARIO FARRIERS ASSOCIATION. MY EXPERIENCE AS A PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOY GIVES ME GOOD INSIGHT ON HORSES AND THE HORSEMANSHIP THAT IS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OUR TRADE. WE SPECIALIZE IN SHOEING SPORT HORSES AND DOING THERAPEUTIC SHOEING, INCORPORATING HAND CRAFTED SHOES AND THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES. BOTH TRAVIS BUCK AND MYSELF HAVE REPRESENTED CANADA MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE CANADIAN FARRIERS TEAM. TRAVIS IS CURRENTLY THE FIRST CANADIAN TO BE ON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM FOR 2018. WE VALUE AND WORK WITH MANY GREAT VETS AND TRAINERS IN OUR AREA, AND OUR MISSION IS TO BE THE BEST FARRIERS WE CAN BE THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION CLINICS AND COMPETITIONS!
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EO ARTICLES
ARENA MAINTENANCE AND GROOMING BY SYSTEM FENCING systemfence.com
As we head into spring and start using our outdoor riding rings again we need to make sure that they’re prepared along with the equipment used to prepare them. Arenas take a beating from snow, ice, rain, and wind, so it’s important to create an optimal riding surface by harrowing and conditioning the arena before anyone uses it.
serpentines. You want to fill in the areas where the footing is low with footing from areas where it is high. If you’re using a three-point hitch mounted machine, lift it up and back into the corners, then lower it and drag the raised footing inwards. When you have some build of sand on the drag try to move that extra material into the lower areas.
Ensure that the teeth on your harrow, drag, or groomer are either replaced or turned around for optimal cutting ability. Then tighten bolts, grease moving parts, and straighten anything that has been bent. When you’re ready to hook up your equipment to your tractor make sure that the lift arms on the tractor are level.
SAND FOOTING A ring with footing made of a hard subbase with sand on top is the easiest to condition. Sand moves and can easily be taken from high spots to fill in low spots. System Equine’s Track and Ring Conditioner works very well for sand applications. It has a spring tooth tine on the front with a blade and a grade bar that floats on the footing instead of the blade being a cutting edge. It’s very
Adjust the tines or teeth so that they are approximately 1” or more lower than the blade or roller depending on the depth of the sand in your arena. Making sure that the tines aren’t set too deep is important to avoid grooming into the sub-base material. If when you’re grooming you start to hear scraping sound (steel on gravel), stop immediately and heighten the tines or teeth. When starting to groom your arena, alternate between driving in small circles, big circles, figure 8s, and 42 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
SAND GROOMER TRACK AND RING CONDITIONER.
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easy to use and comes in both a pullbehind model and a three-point hitch model. The three-point hitch model works better for getting material out of corners and away from wall edges. The pull-behind model is great for people with less grooming experience, as all you have to do to get going is back into it and attach one pin. Lots of adjustments are required at first, but after most people find the adjustment that works for them they find that they never have to adjust it again. FIBRE FOOTING If you’ve invested in fibre footing for your ring then your arena maintenance routine will be very different. Fibre doesn’t tend to move a lot and the equipment used for grooming it will need to fluff and put down the material in the same spot. Rigid cutters or single spring tines with wide spacing between the tines or cutters are typical for groomers designed for this type of
footing. On the back of the machine is a mesh wheel to fluff up the footing. There are some adjustments to be made at first, but fibre tends not to migrate as much as sand, so the goal of the process is more to fluff up and smooth out the depressions created by horses’ weight. Ensuring that the fluffing is consistent across the entire footing surface is one of the main challenges with this type of footing during the grooming process. The length of time you spend conditioning your arena and how frequently you will need to condition it will depend on a number of factors, including how often the arena is used, the quality of the footing and sub-base, the type of riding or training the arena is used for, and whether or not horses are turned out in the arena. Taking a little extra time to groom your ring and doing it a little more frequently will benefit your arena, the horses, and the people riding in it. JULY ‘18 EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO | 43
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HyGreen’s manufacturing facility is located in the beautiful township of Melanchton (the “Roof of Ontario”) in Dufferin County at the highest elevation in southern Ontario and the source of five headwaters that provides clean water to over 1 million Ontarians. We take pride in recycling bio-products into our premium wood pellets and lessening our footprint on the local ecosystem at every step in our processes. Our company goal is to provide a consistent premium product while meeting or exceeding our customers’ expectations. All wood pellets are biomass materials, that is, byproducts of trees that are commonly grown for other manufacturing processes such as furniture or building supplies. Before bedding pellets were produced, this scrap material may have been thrown away in a landfill. And now it is repurposed into animal bedding! By dehydrating and compressing the wood into small pellets, it can be packed into smaller bags that take up less space and are easier to store than straw or shavings. When soaked with water, the pellets expand 3-5 times in size to produce a light and fluffy bedding for your horse. Stalls are incredibly easy to clean using bedding pellets! Pellets absorb moisture by expanding and clumping, so pee spots are easy to remove without wasting perfectly good bedding! By mixing together some of the damp and dry bedding together until you cannot tell which part was which, you will help to keep dust down in the stalls and make the bedding last longer. Clean bedding easily shakes through the fork due
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EO ARTICLES
HOW I THINK ABOUT THE FOOT FOOT HEALTH FROM A VET’S PERSPECTIVE BY DR. DIETER OBERBICHLER, DVM
T
he (probably) century old British saying “No Foot – No Horse” has been so widely used and cited over and over again, that I hardly dare to recycle it. However, these 4 simple words should be a constant reminder to us, how important proper foot care, trims and shoeing are for any horse that we expect some kind of performance from.
46 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
So why don’t we say NO LUNG – NO HORSE, or NO GUTS - NO HORSE? Well, we know that the number one performance issue and reason for missed shows or rides is related to lameness. If you have ever witnessed a lameness work up, you might have noticed that the veterinarian started the exam at the bottom and
then worked their way up. If I am asked by a student or owner why, my usual answer is: “I have to start somewhere” immediately followed by the statement: and because more than 70% of the lamenesses are caused by foot problems. Remember the 2008 winner of the 134th Kentucky Derby “Big Brown”? This gifted horse won the race from position 20, last time that happened was in 1929! He then won the Preakness Stakes a few weeks later and was on the path to the Triple Crown! However, after the race, a crack in the hoof wall in his left front hoof had occurred. It was treated and patched up and he was declared ready to race the Belmont Stakes. At this race, when he was urged in midstretch, he failed to respond, stopping as he came around the final turn. The horse “Da’ Tara” won the race by 5¼ lengths while Big Brown was eased, becoming the first Triple Crown hopeful to fail to finish the Belmont Stakes. His jockey pulled the horse up in the homestretch, later saying something was amiss and stating immediately after the race, “I had no horse.”
was also dealing with foot issues after the Kentucky Derby. Thanks to careful shoeing and care from his dedicated team, he was able to persevere and claim the coveted Triple Crown! I can’t even remember how often I looked at a lame horse shortly before an important show or before the long planned horse-camping trip only to determine that it is a foot issue and the chances for a quick fix are poor. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS WE SEE? The winner in this category is without a doubt, the hoof abscess. In the veterinary world we define a hoof abscess like this: “A hoof abscess can be defined as a localized accumulation of purulent exudates located between the germinal and keratinized layers of the epithelium, most commonly subsolar or submural.”
While we will never know the true reason for his sudden drop in performance, it is not unreasonable to assume that his feet have something to do with it. Big Brown won 2 more high profile races this year and was retired in October 2008 due to, guess what: A FOOT injury!
This definition comes from Dr. Steve O’Grady, one of North America’s best and brightest farriers and veterinarians. It is worthwhile checking out his website (www. equipodiatry.com) for a plethora of information about various foot conditions and problems. I borrowed this section from his website: “Much debate still abounds between the veterinary and farrier professions as to who should treat a hoof abscess and the best method in which to resolve the abscess.
The most recent Thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown on June 9th, Justify,
Remember the origin of the organisms that are responsible for a hoof abscess JULY ‘18 EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO | 47
of an old abscess that is “growing out” or it can be a sign of another hoof condition: WDZ- White Line Disease – which sometimes can lead to sub-solar abscesses.
SOLAR VIEW - VIEW FROM ABOVE LOOKING DOWN - SHOWING THE FLUID/GAS ACCUMULATION AT THE HOOF WALL/SOLE JUNCTION.
gain entry through the hoof capsule (epidermis) into the inner subsolar/ submural tissue (dermis) where the organisms initiate an abscess. Foreign matter (such as gravel, dirt, sand and manure, coupled with infectious agents such as bacteria or fungal elements) generally gains entry into the hoof in one of three ways: • •
•
Through a break or fissure in the sole wall junction (white line). A misplaced nail or a puncture wound somewhere in the solar surface of the foot. By way of a full thickness hoof wall crack or multiple old nail holes.”
And because the headline is “How I think about….” here is my take on it. When you talk to your farrier about abscesses, he might understand it sometimes differently than we do. When the farrier trims the hoof, he might find black areas of decayed horn, especially along the hoof wall – sole junction and point that out to you. These areas are either the remnant 48 | EQUESTRIAN ONTARIO JULY ‘18
Another quite frequent and very frustrating disease for veterinarians and horse owners, seen frequently at this time of the year (spring/ early summer) is LAMINITIS. This very painful condition defined as inflammation of the sensitive laminate of the hoof capsule can have a variety of causes. When your horse appears to walk on eggshells, stands with the front feet placed forward and the hind feet forwarded under the belly, it is high time to call your vet. Stay tuned for Dr O.’s take on laminitis in one of the following editions! A laminitic hoof is also prone to hoof abscesses, which brings us back to the number one cause for hoof-related lameness. Quite often we are able to guess the diagnosis over the phone, especially when we talk to an (understandably) upset owner who calls because the horse suddenly cannot bear weight on one foot. Sometimes the horse was slightly off a few days before, then got better and now it looks like it has a broken leg. Imagine the relief when the broken leg turns out to be a massive subsolar abscess. This can be extremely painful due to the pressure build up inside the hoof capsule. The diagnosis is made with a hoof tester, feeling for increased heat of the hoof wall and pulsation and distended veins of the lower leg. Careful examination and paring out
of the hoof horn will often show dark tracks and fissures that go deeper into the sole and by following it with a special hoof knife, we often hit the pocket of pus and the immediate relief for the horse. Despite the putrid smell of the abscess, both owner and vet are also tremendously relieved! At this point, I might take radiographs, either if I am not sure about the location or if I want to rule out a possible fracture. If an abscess is suspected, but it is not mature enough to drain yet, we will poultice the foot. There are countless different ways to do that and because it is my article I will describe my way: 1. ANIMALINTEX pad – use the big pad, not the small foot shaped one – don’t be cheap and use the knock off’s ! There is a big difference, in my opinion, between the original and the copycats. The reason for the FULL pad: I want the whole foot including the coronet wrapped. The goal is to heat everything up, soften the horn and help to mature and draw the fluid out. The more working surface the better! The coronet will forgive you even if it looks a bit “mushy” after a few days. 2. Next layer: CERAN WRAP/CLING WARP/PLASTIC BAG/WHATEVER keep the moisture in… 3. 3M™ VETRAP ™ – again, I have tried the copycats – stick to the original 4. DUCTTAPE boot – or rubber boot 5. Change every 24 hours, usually after 2-3 days something will happen!
Because the pus can travel along the laminae, the abscess might burst at the coronet. This can undermine a big part of the dorsal hoof wall and interrupt horn growth at the coronet, therefore this should be avoided. While it will heal eventually, the damage to the hoof capsule and integrity is more substantial than when the abscess drains at the sole/hoof wall junction. The foot should be wrapped until the drain hole has cornified enough, otherwise there is the risk that dirt travels upwards and a few weeks later the abscess will be back.
LATERAL/SIDE VIEW OF HOOF- DARK “SWOOSH” SHAPED AREA SHOWS LOCATION OF PUS POCKET - AND PUS FOUND ITS WAY UP TO THE CORONET (SECOND ARROW).
Unfortunately, I have already exceeded my word count for this edition drastically, and we barely touched the topic of foot related lamenesses, so stay tuned for more!
Dieter Oberbichler (Dr. O) DVM, GRADCERT Equine Sports Medicine
See more at oberbichler-equine.ca
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ACROSS
1. Another word for grass racehorses run on. 6. The second of three races that make up 1DOWN. 7. This rider won individual gold in the 1967 Pan Am Games riding legendary Thoroughbred, Canadian Club. James ___. 10. Licensed practitioner tasked with ensuring that all racehorses at a track are healthy and sound for competition, Track ___. 11. Canada’s oldest, and longest continuously run Thoroughbred horse race. 14. This is used to check racehorses for illegal drugs. 16. Winner of the 2018 Triple Crown. 18. This colour is not accepted in the Jockey Club registry. 20. A young, uncastrated male horse. 21. What horses race on. 23. This may be put on a horse’s leg after it races. 24. A racehorse given this type of ride is not whipped by the jockey. 25. This expression originated from horse racing, “Down to the ____” 26. Another word for starting gate. 27. One eighth of a mile in horse racing terms.
DOWN
1. This coveted award is given to the Thoroughbred that wins three prominent races. 2. This yearly event promotes the retraining of OTTBS. 3. The first of three races that make up 1DOWN. 4. Wager. 5. What Standardbreds race with. 8. This horse races only a quarter mile - _______ horse. 9. The third of three races that make up 1DOWN. 12. Standardbreds may be able to perform this gait. 13. A program created to encourage the retraining of OTTBs. 15. A bowed appearance may develop after this part of the body is injured racing. 16. Rider of racehorses. 17. Jockeys wear these during races. 19. A short walk in front of the grandstand, and a brief warm up before the race begins, “Post ______” 22. When a race is very close, it requires a _____ finish. 25. The 4th horse to win 1DOWN. ___ Admiral
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