There is a saying most people who own horses have heard: “No hoof, no horse”. What this is intended to mean is that if a horse is ‘lame’, hurting enough to limp or favor a leg or foot, then you really don’t have a horse, or at least a horse that is sound or comfortable enough to ride.
A lame horse in the wild would be slowed down enough to become an easy catch for a predator. While our beloved horses don’t necessarily have to endure this grim situation to survive, those that become sore or worsen to an expressed lameness often can require a significant effort on the owner and their veterinarian’s part to diagnose and find a possible treatment to try. Treatments and pain relief may include: injections, feed additives and therapeutic shoeing or trimming. Some procedures are very effective with a sound horse being the result; sometimes, sadly enough, some lameness’s may result in an adverse outcome with a grave prognosis. Even worse is a horse that is so debilitated that it is suffering and the kindest thing to offer them is to not let them continue to live a life of pain and deep discomfort.
We are very fortunate this day in age when enough research, pharmaceuticals and skilled farriers can offer horses with a variety of hoof ailments options which not only save their lives but make them comfortable enough to continue the life they knew under saddle. Sometimes horses get along with a change in jobs. Perhaps they are not comfortable cutting, reining or barrel racing anymore but they can offer great relationships with people and maybe a casual ride for the beginner or people who are also in need of assistance in feeling comfortable in their way of life. Most professional athletes, at some point, have to leave their sport and continue their life after their passion in a different capacity. To help these 4- legged equine athletes stay in the game as long as they can, owners should be faithful about regular hoof care. In addition, owners should learn how to take care of their horses’ hooves in between trims such as picking/cleaning their feet, recognizing changes in the hoof and how to see an obvious lameness.
To help in this regard, East Point Horspice has many educational opportunities to learn about the many hoof trimming and shoeing techniques available in today’s equine industry. Additionally, Butler Professional Farrier School brings students down from their school in the Crawford area to learn and trim hooves. This offers practical application of what these students are learning to assist them to graduate the program with additional experience and expertise. If this is a science which raises your eyebrows, contact East Point Horspice or Butler Professional Farrier School for more information. It is never too late to learn how you can improve the lives of our equine partners. For further information about the EPH programs, call (308) 762-3848 or email eph@bbc.net. The Butler Professional Farrier School can be contacted (800) 728-3826.