Philosophy
Performance Barefoot Trimming
All my horses are barefoot and trimmed using the Equinextion performance barefoot trimming method. I have had much success with regards to shoe removal and transitioning to barefoot following the advice and suggestions of Equinextion. Please click on hoof trimming for more information.
Diet & Feeding
An abundance of natural sugars are found in the common foodstuffs we feed our horses. Mealies, molasses, bran, lucerne (all present in most concentrates), oat hay, rich grass, carrots and apples are other examples of foods high in sugars. These sugars weaken the laminae of the hoof, causing white line separation, hoof sensitivity, laminitis, etc. You may find your horse has become addicted to the “high” that these foods might give it which can also cause a number of behavioural problems and stable vices.
I generally feed my horses a diet consisting of ad lib teff, beet pulp, oil, herbs, magnesium oxide and himalayan rock salt. They also have access to small amounts of grazing. Sticking to this diet, I have been able to keep my horses sound and barefoot with optimum hoof quality.
Teff is spread in small piles around the field to encourage maximum movement. I do not use haynets as the horse is designed to graze at floor level and problems in the neck and back can be caused by the horse constantly straining, twisting and pulling at the net.
Kikuyu grass is not an ideal grazing grass as it contains a high amount of oxalates which inhibits the absorption of calcium which could in turn cause problems such as “bighead” or bran disease as well as brittle bones susceptible to fractures and breaks.
The Immune System
The horse’s best defense against illness is a strong immune system. A good indication of how healthy your horse is to note how many flies are attracted to it. Flies feast on dead flesh, therefore they will be attracted to weaker animals. Weak immune systems can be boosted by feeding a number of herbs and homeopathic remedies as well ask by keeping chemicals and toxins to a low level in the horse's diet and environment. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies should also be addressed.
Twice a year my horses are vaccinated with a homeopathic remedy sold by Dr. Niven, this covers a number of diseases/illnesses and I can happily say that my horses have not experienced African Horse Sickness, Equine flu or any other viruses since I have used this product. Once a year my horses are detoxed with Royalynne's herbal detox blend. Detoxing is a very important part of keeping a horse's immune system strong as chemicals can build up in the organs which damage and weaken them, predisposing the horse to illness.
Blankets
The hairs of the horse’s skin are incredibly well adapted to temperature change, they can raise and flatten to cool down or warm up the body as necessary. Horses have been blessed with the ability to grow and shed their coats. In winter, the horse will grow a thick coat which seals out moisture, preventing it from leaking through to the skin. Extra hay should be offered in winter/cold weather as horses keep warm by eating 16-20 hours of the day. The fibre ferments in the gut and creates warmth during the digestive process. The horse will also be more active in cold weather which is another way for him to keep warm. The horse should also be offered a dry, sheltered area in its paddock in which to shelter from the wind, sun, driving rain and bugs. You may have to train your horse to use the shelter as horses naturally do not go into enclosed areas like this, their instinct tells them that predators would shelter in caves so it would be considered a "danger zone". I only recommend using a light waterproof rain sheet when a horse is transitioning to the natural lifestyle during a harsh winter, if the horse is ill, or if the horse has no wind/rain break such as a wall, trees or field shelter.
Exercise
Depending on the age and level of schooling, my horses usually receive one rest day off following every 3-4 days of work. For younger horses I do not school for more than 20-30 minutes and I usually ride one day on, one day off. Exercise includes flatwork, hacking, jumping and lunging/long-reining or in-hand work. I always begin my rides by walking for 5 mins before trotting and end my rides by trotting for 5 mins before walking for 5 mins. The horses are hosed off after each ride if they have sweated. Over time they have learned to come to me to be rinsed off when the hose is switched on. This way they are allowed to decide if they feel the weather is too cold to get wet, particularly in winter.
Stabling
Stabling might be convenient but this only prevents the horse from living and developing how it was designed to. After experiencing many issues with stabling such as respiratory conditions, numerous stable vices, stocking up and stiffness, I made the decision to allow my horses the opportunity to live outdoors. All of these previously experienced issues are no longer present. Constant movement is essential for development of hooves, bones, muscles and tendons, particularly for the young horse. Horses are designed to run, play, interact with one another and graze 16-20 hours of the day, all of which cannot be achieved living in a stable. Stabling can also corrode the hoof structures as the horse stands in its faeces and urine.
Stress
Stress is kept to a minimum – anticipation of food and not enough of it, loud noises, mishandling, prolonged herd separation, stress of training and disease are all factors which can lead to stomach ulcers in the horse. This in turn causes a loss of condition and an unhappy, unhealthy horse which will be predisposed to disease/illness due to a lowered immune system.
Body Maintenance
Teeth are examined by a qualified dentist every 6 months up to the age of 15 years, thereafter the horse is examined yearly. Sharp edges, wolf teeth etc. can cause discomfort in the mouth as well as loss of condition as the horse will not be able to chew and digest its food correctly.
Massage, electromagnetic therapy treatments, micro-current therapy and acupuncture are all very beneficial to the horse’s body. Stretching exercises are performed after each ride in order to keep the horse supple, prevent lactic acid build-up which causes cramps, as well as to release spasms. Apart from regular massage, my horses are seen to by a chiropractor every 4-6 weeks. Ill-fitting saddles, accidents in the paddock and as well as general wear and tear from riding can easily put a horse’s spine out of alignment.
A qualified saddle-fitter is vital when it comes to the healthy back equation. Educating oneself is equally important. The saddle should not apply pressure to any part of the spine, nor should it be tight over the shoulder. If you cannot run your hand smoothly down from the pommel to the end of the knee flap of the saddle, it will hurt your horse’s shoulders and/or wither pocket. The seat of the saddle should be close to ground parallel. Panels should be re-flocked periodically to prevent lumps which can also cause discomfort to the horse’s back.
Resources:
www.swedishhoofschool.com
www.barefoothorse.com
Books:
All my horses are barefoot and trimmed using the Equinextion performance barefoot trimming method. I have had much success with regards to shoe removal and transitioning to barefoot following the advice and suggestions of Equinextion. Please click on hoof trimming for more information.
Diet & Feeding
An abundance of natural sugars are found in the common foodstuffs we feed our horses. Mealies, molasses, bran, lucerne (all present in most concentrates), oat hay, rich grass, carrots and apples are other examples of foods high in sugars. These sugars weaken the laminae of the hoof, causing white line separation, hoof sensitivity, laminitis, etc. You may find your horse has become addicted to the “high” that these foods might give it which can also cause a number of behavioural problems and stable vices.
I generally feed my horses a diet consisting of ad lib teff, beet pulp, oil, herbs, magnesium oxide and himalayan rock salt. They also have access to small amounts of grazing. Sticking to this diet, I have been able to keep my horses sound and barefoot with optimum hoof quality.
Teff is spread in small piles around the field to encourage maximum movement. I do not use haynets as the horse is designed to graze at floor level and problems in the neck and back can be caused by the horse constantly straining, twisting and pulling at the net.
Kikuyu grass is not an ideal grazing grass as it contains a high amount of oxalates which inhibits the absorption of calcium which could in turn cause problems such as “bighead” or bran disease as well as brittle bones susceptible to fractures and breaks.
The Immune System
The horse’s best defense against illness is a strong immune system. A good indication of how healthy your horse is to note how many flies are attracted to it. Flies feast on dead flesh, therefore they will be attracted to weaker animals. Weak immune systems can be boosted by feeding a number of herbs and homeopathic remedies as well ask by keeping chemicals and toxins to a low level in the horse's diet and environment. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies should also be addressed.
Twice a year my horses are vaccinated with a homeopathic remedy sold by Dr. Niven, this covers a number of diseases/illnesses and I can happily say that my horses have not experienced African Horse Sickness, Equine flu or any other viruses since I have used this product. Once a year my horses are detoxed with Royalynne's herbal detox blend. Detoxing is a very important part of keeping a horse's immune system strong as chemicals can build up in the organs which damage and weaken them, predisposing the horse to illness.
Blankets
The hairs of the horse’s skin are incredibly well adapted to temperature change, they can raise and flatten to cool down or warm up the body as necessary. Horses have been blessed with the ability to grow and shed their coats. In winter, the horse will grow a thick coat which seals out moisture, preventing it from leaking through to the skin. Extra hay should be offered in winter/cold weather as horses keep warm by eating 16-20 hours of the day. The fibre ferments in the gut and creates warmth during the digestive process. The horse will also be more active in cold weather which is another way for him to keep warm. The horse should also be offered a dry, sheltered area in its paddock in which to shelter from the wind, sun, driving rain and bugs. You may have to train your horse to use the shelter as horses naturally do not go into enclosed areas like this, their instinct tells them that predators would shelter in caves so it would be considered a "danger zone". I only recommend using a light waterproof rain sheet when a horse is transitioning to the natural lifestyle during a harsh winter, if the horse is ill, or if the horse has no wind/rain break such as a wall, trees or field shelter.
Exercise
Depending on the age and level of schooling, my horses usually receive one rest day off following every 3-4 days of work. For younger horses I do not school for more than 20-30 minutes and I usually ride one day on, one day off. Exercise includes flatwork, hacking, jumping and lunging/long-reining or in-hand work. I always begin my rides by walking for 5 mins before trotting and end my rides by trotting for 5 mins before walking for 5 mins. The horses are hosed off after each ride if they have sweated. Over time they have learned to come to me to be rinsed off when the hose is switched on. This way they are allowed to decide if they feel the weather is too cold to get wet, particularly in winter.
Stabling
Stabling might be convenient but this only prevents the horse from living and developing how it was designed to. After experiencing many issues with stabling such as respiratory conditions, numerous stable vices, stocking up and stiffness, I made the decision to allow my horses the opportunity to live outdoors. All of these previously experienced issues are no longer present. Constant movement is essential for development of hooves, bones, muscles and tendons, particularly for the young horse. Horses are designed to run, play, interact with one another and graze 16-20 hours of the day, all of which cannot be achieved living in a stable. Stabling can also corrode the hoof structures as the horse stands in its faeces and urine.
Stress
Stress is kept to a minimum – anticipation of food and not enough of it, loud noises, mishandling, prolonged herd separation, stress of training and disease are all factors which can lead to stomach ulcers in the horse. This in turn causes a loss of condition and an unhappy, unhealthy horse which will be predisposed to disease/illness due to a lowered immune system.
Body Maintenance
Teeth are examined by a qualified dentist every 6 months up to the age of 15 years, thereafter the horse is examined yearly. Sharp edges, wolf teeth etc. can cause discomfort in the mouth as well as loss of condition as the horse will not be able to chew and digest its food correctly.
Massage, electromagnetic therapy treatments, micro-current therapy and acupuncture are all very beneficial to the horse’s body. Stretching exercises are performed after each ride in order to keep the horse supple, prevent lactic acid build-up which causes cramps, as well as to release spasms. Apart from regular massage, my horses are seen to by a chiropractor every 4-6 weeks. Ill-fitting saddles, accidents in the paddock and as well as general wear and tear from riding can easily put a horse’s spine out of alignment.
A qualified saddle-fitter is vital when it comes to the healthy back equation. Educating oneself is equally important. The saddle should not apply pressure to any part of the spine, nor should it be tight over the shoulder. If you cannot run your hand smoothly down from the pommel to the end of the knee flap of the saddle, it will hurt your horse’s shoulders and/or wither pocket. The seat of the saddle should be close to ground parallel. Panels should be re-flocked periodically to prevent lumps which can also cause discomfort to the horse’s back.
Resources:
- Chiropractor: Neville Dugmore 041 581 1177
- Equine Body Worker: Caballo Equine Body Work
- Performance Barefoot trimming: Caballo Equine Body Work
- Dentist: Donovan Lamerton 072 545 7854
- Saddle fitter: Paula Bryant (contact me for more information)
- Herbs and Homeopathics: Royalynne Herbs - www.retreat2eden.co.za or contact Caballo Equine Body Work. Geoff Morley - 082 801 7796 - www.equinehealth.co.za Dr. Alex Niven - 083 653 5910/011 705 3113 - www.ecovet.co.za
- Equilibrate vitamin and mineral supplement: www.equilibrate.co.za
- Diatomaceous Earth: sales@biogrow.co.za
- Beet pulp: Your local feed merchant
- Websites: www.equinextion.com
www.swedishhoofschool.com
www.barefoothorse.com
Books:
- Paddock Paradise by Jaime Jackson
- The Horse’s Pain-free Back and Saddle-Fit Book by Joyce Harman
