Maintenance, Movement and Management!

So you want healthy, strong hooves connected to the legs of a sound & happy horse... Well you need the 3m's Maintenance, Movement and Management.

So my job is the Maintenance - this means regular hoof care, I am needed to Trim/Shoe the horse allowing the horse to do its job. I need to "read" the horses movement and bio-mechanics to determine the best care method to use.  Then I need to monitor the horses hoof growth and schedule my visits according to this growth.

Movement - well this may be the most important "M"  and it is the owners job!  Regular exercise/movement is absolutely critical to hoof growth. The hoof is very dynamic and the more the horse moves the more the hooves will grow & support themselves telling me how to maintain them.

Finally we have Management - this is also the job of the owner.  This job is also critical to the entire system working.  Management is the regular handling of the horses hooves, picking them cleaning and checking for bacteria & thrush.  Daily cleaning, weekly treating for thrush and dressing the hoof wall's lets you stay in front of any issues and be able to get me out quickly if something is needed to keep the horse "moving."  Also this regular management will make the Farrier very happy because your horse will be used to the regular handling and will stand patiently for its regular "Maintenance" visit.

J-PDR

The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.

- voltaire

www.painteddranch.com

Using the Hoof-It Natural Flex Horseshoes.

So I have been using and stocking the Hoof-It Natural Flex Horseshoes for my unique & theraputic pathological issues.

These shoes can be glued on or nailed, I have done both at different times and for different reason but they do work very well in either fashion.  In this particular case I glued them on...

Here you can see that my helper is applying the HOOF-IT 3-in-1 Hoof Glue to the bottom of the shoe. Before I applied this glue I had pre-shaped the Natural Flex shoe to the hoof. this was an easy process of trimming the foot and then outlining the shoe to desired shape and then nipping/grinding the shape to provide he support/protection needed.

Using the "cradle" of my Hoof-It 2-n-1 Hoof Stand I support the hoof and apply my shaped shoe and apply pressure for about 60 secs to allow the glue to cure.

Here is the finished product...  This horse really appreciated the heel support these Natural Flex Horseshoes provided!  I will continue to use these shoes and hoepefully will update you on cases that I've used them on.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com

Massage for better hoof growth!!!

Equine Massage | Horse Massage Therapy | Equine Massage Therapy | Equine Products

equineproductsllc.com

A complete physiotherapy system that maintains the health and wellbeing of your horse. Niagara Equissage promotes healing and shortens recovery time from injuries such as pulled muscles, ligaments and tendons; laminitis and foot problems caused by poor circulation.

I have had great experience with this product on a variety of horses!  Contact me if you have any questions or would like to see a demonstration of this product.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com

HOOF-IT 3-in-1 Hoof Glue™

Here is another product I use regularly. Any Farrier, Trainer, Vet or Horse owner will find this very useful to have in the tack room or trailer.

3-in-1 Hoof Glue™ is a polyurethane (PU) based, semi-transparent adhesive designed for hooves. 3-in-1 Hoof Glue™ has the following unique features:

• Easy to Use
• Dries Quickly
• Great Adhesion
• Ideal for all types of Hooves
• Can be used with Mixing Tips
• Can also be Mixed by Hand in Small Amounts 

  

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com

Using the HOOF-IT Stand

So I have partnered up with a great company Hoof-It and I have been using lots of the products and especially the Hoof-It  2-in-1 Stand!

The hoof stand is a vital piece of equipment for any Farrier/Trainer/Owner/Vet!  This tool allows the user to have a sturdy stable cradle to place a hoof into for cleaning/trimming/treating all while not having to carry or support the weight yourself.  Also with the flip of a quick release lever you can drop the cradle and move to a cushioned post for finishing your trim or just a bit of stretching and patience. 

There are 3 different sizes available, I have been using the jr. and love it.  I rarely shoe draft breeds but the jr. has fit my needs for all types of horses I encounter in my Farrier route.  Please contact me via email at jason@painteddranch.com or visit the Hoof-It website for more information or to purchase one.

Also be on the look out for a video tutorial of me using this tool and showing its many benefits.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com

Hoofcare Schedules...

So I wanted to do bring up the topic of "The Hoofcare Schedule"  Generically a lot of farriers say see you in 6-8 weeks... and the barefooters are adamant about every 4wks. But where does this time frame come from, they are just arbitrary schedules. I do use these same figures to generalize but in reality your Farrier (me...)  should be working with your horse and the horse should dictate the schedule based on the hoof and there needs in and out of the show pen!

So the next time your farrier says I need to work on this guy again in 2 or 10 wks know that it is because the horse and hoof are saying so.  If you do not trust your farrier or think he/she is just trying to make extra money ask for the explanation or find a farrier that you do trust.  As farriers we don't want to look for new clients and we do not want to get under any more horses than we have to so work and communicate with us and please understand we are looking out for your horses well being the same as you are.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com/

Not Anti-Shoes Just Pro Barefoot

Hey all,

I wanted to give you a little glimpse into the philosophy of  PDR Professional Hoofcare... whether I’m setting full shoes, leaving the horse bare, or recomending hoof boots the horse's physiological health and bio mechanical efficiency is what matters.  Educating customers and offering option's for them and there horses situation is actually the toughest part of my job.

In my barn and on my route I provide service for a lot of highly competitive Cutting horses and I try to start them all barefoot, this gives us a place to go if we need to!  But from time to time they need some steel to keep them going down the road and at the top of the leader boards.
Do I believe all horses can go barefoot?  Yes I do but sometimes the transition time or the environment just doesn't allow the horse/owner to stay competitive and good shoeing may get that horse/owner to a few more shows.  This really opens up a big can of "whats best for the horse" and the uber "Natural Horsemanship"  followers will have a lot to say but it is what it is and it is unlikely the equine community will change that dramatically that we stop showing horses after all they are equine athletes.

I will always offer you my best service and advice and whether we are shoeing, trimming or booting it will be based on the needs of you and your horse.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com/

Running Bare with - PDR Professional Hoofcare

The horse’s hoof is an amazing structure. The amount of research and information available about “Natural Hoofcare” and the “Wild Horse Hoof” is tremendous, but Running Bare is about more than just a trimming method, being “Natural,” or jerking steel. It is a complete and thorough approach to hoof care which takes into account all aspects of the Horse & Owner relationship, the horses “Job/Event,” living conditions and terrain in which the horse works. The trimming method is a tool used to promote a strong, healthy hoof, growing in a physiologically and biomechanically effective shape.

My hope is to bring you along on my journey hoof to hoof.

J-PDR

www.painteddranch.com/