We Cater to the Sole of Your Horse
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We Cater to the Sole of Your Horse
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What is "Hoofmanship" - The application of the skills and knowledge to care for the equine hoof in a way that results in optimal form and function. This knowledge is based on the physiology, locomotion, and other factors that impact hoof quality, including lifestyle, diet, and use of the animal. What is "Natural Hoofmanship" - The application of natural horse care theories to the basic knowledge and skills of Hoofmanship. What is "Genuine Texas Hoofmanship" - A style of natural hoofmanship developed in Texas by Gates Billette and Susanne Elmer.
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Frank Lessiter, editor of the American Farriers Journal, in November 2000, quotes Walt Taylor of the World Farriers Association, as saying about the estimated 122,000,000 shod equines, "No more than 10% are clinically sound, exhibiting no sign or effect of trauma or disease that diminishes their utility....Some 10% are clinically, completely unusably lame. They are kept for various reasons, but are used little, if at all, by their owners. The remaining 80% of these equines are somewhat lame, but still usable." Hoof care has never been the focus of traditional veterinary medicine. The average veterinary school dedicates only 2 weeks to the study of the equine hoof in the overall total curriculum, and many curriculums treat the study of the hoof and teeth as electives and have the student choose between the two. So, often many veterinary students never study the hoof at all in school. According to Gene Ovnicek, leading therapeutic shoer in the nation, in a 2002 Western Horseman interview, "I have been shoeing horses for over 40 years. I realized that the horses I rode barefoot seemed to do better than the constantly shod ones. The horses that were shod all the time were harder to keep sound." There are three basic ingredients for a healthy and sound horse:
Research is mounting up that shows us the horse's hoof is a much more complex and integral component in the overall health of our beloved friend's lives. The Hoof - an Organ - a completely necessary part of the functioning body. As more and more research comes to light, it's impossible to ignore the link between hoof and health. The overall health of the circulatory and lymphatic system is intricately intertwined with the hoof mechanics. "The Barometer Of Health" - What better way to gauge how healthy a horse is than the simple, sometimes daily process, of handling their feet. What if you could be completely confident about your knowledge of your horses health just by studying their feet? Lisa Carter of Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage in Hico, Texas, has done a case study of one of my clients, which gives good evidence to the idea that you can learn much about the overall physical condition of your horse by studying its feet. This particular horse, as a youngster, had a very bad shoulder injury which significantly limited his movement of the affected limb and subsequently the hoof growth of that foot. While this is an extreme case, the theory applies to even very subtle changes in movement and weight bearing. I have provided a link to the case study below. Heavenly Gaits Equine Massage case study - evaluating asymmetrical equine hoof growth patterns A truly healthy horse will always have a healthy hoof. Benefits of Natural Hoof Care
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For more information on Natural Hoofmanship and Gates Billette, call 940-867-5208 or e-mail gatesbillette@hotmail.com This website designed and maintained by Carter Equine Productions. For technical assistance regarding this website, please contact my Webmaster, Lisa Carter at lisacarter@hughes.net |