What’s the difference is between a farrier’s ‘pasture trim’ and a barefoot trimmer’s ‘natural trim’?

As a retailer of horse boots for barefoot horses, many people ask us here at The Saddlery Shop what the difference is between a farrier’s ‘pasture trim’, and a barefoot trimmer’s ‘natural trim’. This can be contentious, as opinions differ. In summary, a pasture trim generally just removes excess length, and tidies chips. Not all farriers performing a pasture trim will ‘dress’ the hoof’s outer edge, eg. bevel with a mustang roll, which strengthens the hoof capsule and helps prevent cracks. A farrier’s pasture trim may also not deal with compacted (dead) sole, or major hoof imbalances, such as under-run heels. The natural trim a barefoot trimmer performs ensures the foot is properly balanced, flare is addressed, hoof wall trimmed to hard sole level, dead or compacted sole removed, and mustang roll applied. Barefoot practitioners also discuss diet and environment at each visit. The farrier’s view Mike Chawke is an RF(BngC), MF(IMFA), CE-F qualified farrier, currently based in Ireland. Mike believes there should be no difference between the two trims. “A farrier giving a so-called pasture trim should address all the relevant hoof balances, just the same as if the animal was being shod, with the exception of leaving a fraction more extended wall for wearing purposes, if the pasture is hard,” Mike explains. “I believe that only the flaky, non-essential equine sole should be removed when trimming, in most cases. Bevelling the bottom edge of the wall to prevent chipping of the bare foot should be normal farriery practise. “I’d like to add that in my opinion, any animal not requiring shoes should not be shod. Shoeing is necessary for the simple reason we wish to use these animal for purposes for which they were never intended i.e. regular enforced work on hard surfaces,” Mike added. Opinion does differ regarding trimming techniques, so seek recommendations from several hoofcare professionals before choosing one to trim your horse’s feet. Check out the range of hoofboots on our website by visiting www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk

Barefoot Hoof Care and the Trail Boot

If your horse is barefoot, it is important to be vigilant where his management is concerned in winter - this is because wet conditions can allow bacteria to thrive, leading to unhealthy feet. In addition, extensive stabling can cause problems if the horse is not on a well-draining bed. To maximise your horse’s welfare, maintain a clean stable environment, ask your farrier or trimmer to perform regular trims or checks, provide a natural, low sugar, high fibre diet, and provide the horse with as much natural movement as possible. If you are transitioning from shod to barefoot, hoof boots will allow you to continue riding on all surfaces during the transition; meanwhile, some barefooted horses may always need boots on rough, stony ground when ridden, especially if the owner’s circumstances don’t allow for optimum diet and environment. The EasyCare Trail is a popular hoof boot, and appeals to those that enjoy pleasure riding up to 25 miles. Priced from £57.99 - £69.99. Key features - • Sold in singles • Easy to apply – simple closure • Available in 11 sizes • Comfortable and lightweight • Drainage holes in sole Comfort pads are advised for use in any hoof boot, for the most natural and beneficial experience for your horse.) To quote RF(BngC), MF(IMFA), CE-F qualified farrier, Mike Chawke of Ireland’s Little Farm Stud: “Why not try leaving your animal in its natural state, and simply fit hoof boots when you want to train or exercise your barefoot horse?”

Equine Rugging Advice from The Saddlery Shop

Horses acclimatise gradually and naturally to colder and wetter weather conditions, however it is our intervention that includes clipping and grooming coat oils away that leads them to feel the cold. Some horses may not need rugging up, providing they have three key things - 1. Ad lib hay, as this forage acts as an internal heating system to provide warmth via digestion. 2. Turn out that encourages movement. 3. Suitable shelter, not just a hedge. However, if you do feel it necessary to rug, use the rug weight that you deem necessary for your horse’s breed, health status, including the animal’s age, and its environment. Choosing a size Rugs come in feet and inches, e.g. 5' 9" or 6’ 3". To check the size, using a tape measure, measure your horse from the centre of his chest, horizontally along his side, finishing at the point of his tail. If the measurement is between sizes, go up a size rather than down, to avoid rubbing. Advice • Provide ad lib hay in sheltered areas • Don’t rug too early in the year, the coat may not to develop enough, so you need to rug more • Rug your horse or pony ‘as and when’ you need to • Rug progressively - e.g. light, then medium, then heavy Rug weights • Lightweight -up to around 150g • Mediumweight - a filling of between150 - 250g. • Heavyweight rug - a filling of 250g-400g. Visit The Saddlery Shop’s rug pages for inspiration! Click here for further advice on horse care.

Horse enthusiasts - are you chomping at the bit to find out more about the fashion trends for autumn?

Horse enthusiasts - are you chomping at the bit to find out more about the fashion trends for autumn? Colours High street fashion is set to continue to look to the countryside for its inspiration to be top of the style stakes this Autumn. The hues to be seen in are lichen greens, rich blues, bright reds and for ladies, hot pink. Keep your footwear simple in classic blacks and browns, and traditional leather. Footwear Many of us are moving away from rubber boots in search for a country boot which is smarter and more multipurpose. Look out for - 1. Podiatry designed footbed systems. 2. Cosy fleece linings for added comfort. 3. Rubber outer-soles. 4. Specially-designed traction grips on the sole. Pony-loving children’s’ fashion Girls: pinks and purples are still very popular Boys: boys are getting in on the ‘brights’ trend; primary colours like blues, reds, yellows and greens are very much ‘in’ Look out for cosy kids’ fleeces with pockets in which to keep little treasures, phones or hoof picks. We like details like adjustable neck-lines, as they make a product more functional. For Christmas gifts, look out for scarves and accessory sets. They are are something you can’t have too much of – especially around horses, when everything can easily become dirty. Click here for advice on horse matters.

Going Barefoot with your Horse or Pony- Advice on Equine Barefoot Hoof Care from Lucy Nicholas

Lucy Nicholas proprietor of The Saddlery Shop and barefoot hoof care expert is the author of the JA Allen book: ‘The Barefoot Horse - an Introductory Guide to Barefoot & Booting’ in our latest blog we take a look at some helpful advice and insights into barefoot care for those horse owners interested in making the transition. Lucy says... " Many owners make the decision not to shoe their horse or pony. Going barefoot does require specific management and care; and as we know, some horses’ feet may be harder to maintain in good condition than others - often based on the owner’s available time and resources! Hence, making the transition from shoes to bare feet on a horse with less than perfect hooves may take time, patience and some investment. In order to keep your horse’s bare feet well maintained, you should consider three key points: 1.) Regular trimming. 2.) A good balanced diet containing all the essential vitamins and minerals that he needs. 3.) Exercise – this is very important in encouraging natural movement and restricting confinement. How to choose hoof boots A set of hoof boots provides adequate support and protection to the hoof when you are making the transition from shoes to bare foot - often known as ‘transitioning’ There are very many brands and types of hoof boots available, to fit very small ponies right up to large heavy horses, such as shire horses. So there is something available for almost all horses. Sizing Once you have chosen a suitable boot for your horse or pony, it needs to be correctly fitted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. There are a couple of points you should consider with regard to sizing: 1.) Does the boot go on easily? 2.) Does your horse’s hoof fill the inside of the boot in a snug fashion, without any bulging or gapping? 3.) Check that the fastenings are not too tight. You should not be able to twist the boot from side to side by anymore than 5 degrees (unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer), as this could indicate that the boot is too big or the wrong shape for your horse’s hoof. Likewise, if you are finding it difficult to get the boot on, it could well be too small, so try the next size up. This also applies if you are finding that you can only just do the fixings up. Rubbing If the boot is too small it will rub, making your horse’s foot very sore. Check the measurements again and try the next size up to see if this fits any better. Read more about hoof care here >

What is Peripheral Loading; Easing the load

There’s an increasing amount of information available in magazines and online on ‘peripheral loading’, a negative situation that occurs when the horse’s hoof wall bears excess body weight, at the expense of areas of the hoof including the sole, frog and heels. Peripheral loading occurs by degrees; there is more peripheral loading in a shod hoof standing on a flat surface, versus a bare hoof on a flat surface. There is also more peripheral loading in a bare hoof standing on a flat surface, versus a bare hoof standing on turf. Essentially, peripheral loading forms part of a wider discussion about how the horse ‘loads’, or carries bodyweight. Many elements, such as the horse’s conformation, the terrain it is ridden on, and the speed of the horse, affect the loading. Jaime Jackson, pioneer of the Association for the Advancement of Natural Horse Care Practices (AANHCP) trimming method, states that in the natural state, the equine hoof wall (including the bars) endures the primary weight-bearing responsibility of supporting the hoof, followed by the sole and frog respectively. In the natural state, the animal’s heel-bulbs also descend to aid in the weight-bearing mechanism, according to Jaime. The wild horse’s hoof wall, sole and frog are all meant to bear weight; however, shoeing a horse is believed by barefoot advocates to lift the sole and frog off the ground too much, resulting in a weak hoof wall, thin soles and small frogs. Horseshoes focus the ‘loading’ entirely upon the hoof wall, a situation that is said to reduce blood flow throughout the hoof capsule. Add a concussive surface into the mix, and you have a problem, in terms of maintaining long-term equine soundness. How do we reduce peripheral loading? We can relieve the ‘peripheral load’ by maintaining a barefoot management regime (which includes diet and professional trimming), and transferring some of the load to the sole of the horse’s foot. Solar loading appears to promote blood flow through the hoof, according to experts. It is important to remember that if you are a barefoot horse owner, your animal does not escape peripheral loading, however, – remember, it occurs by degrees, according to the surface that the hooves are load-bearing upon. However, a foam pad inside a barefoot boot drastically improves blood flow to the hooves, and offers solar support and shock absorption, providing less peripheral loading than if you were to ride the barefooted horse on a hard surface without boots. If you have a barefoot horse and plan to ride it on a surface that will increase peripheral loading (i.e., hard and concussive ground), you would be advised to use hoof boots and pads during that ride, to help reduce concussion. Check out The Saddlery Shop’s range of hoof boots and comfort pads at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk

Falabella jewellery - perfect for Christmas and beyond

Online retailer The Saddlery Shop offers a beautiful range of beautiful sterling silver jewellery that makes the ideal gift for friends or loved ones. Falabella jewellery is cast in 925 sterling silver and has a brilliant no-tarnish, rhodium finish. The range includes a variety of rings, necklaces, earrings and a selection of stock pins perfect for competing and hunting in style. Why not check out The Falabella Sterling Silver Horse Shoe Earrings (Price £19.99)? The set comes with a presentation box and the earrings are crystal set, with a large crystal drop and stem and butterfly fastenings. Or consider The Falabella Sterling Silver Horse Shoe Stock Pin (Price £42.99) pictured above as featured in Horse Magazine is set with graduated crystals and boasts a roller safety clasp. It comes complete with presentation box and is the perfect way to add a subtle touch of ‘bling’ to your show outfit. To see the full range of beautiful jewellery that any horse lover or fashionista will treasure, visit our website today at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk