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Duplicitous hooves

15/7/2015

 
Picture¡¡LOAD - EFFORT!!
My attention was bought to an article regarding hooves with certain issues.  Be those issues flares, asymmetry, or deviations, as the writer referred to them.  It is not the first time I have seen recommendations for leaving flares completely alone.
 
Using the analogy of a toddling child learning to walk, who relies on the two hands of their parent to support them, and an older child who will take the hand of their parent but it provides no physical means of support to them (My personal addition being that they take the hand for comfort, security or love - sometimes a support that a horse needs during rehabilitation or transition), they explained this to be the difference between a flare and a deviation.  But continued saying the difference doesn´t matter, because flare, though ugly, is weak and therefore benign, therefore wont affect the soundness of the horse.  

Presuming elements like a previously poor diet or poor shoeing, the writer states that as a healthier hoof grows down the ugly will go away, saying stretched white line is no match for healthy well-attached laminae.  By contrast, they state deviation is an essential support. “If you trim it away it will rapidly re-appear unless and until its no longer needed to assist in the limb's movement and load-bearing - and while the horse is without it, he will be less comfortable and less capable, especially on tougher surfaces.”

Now a toddler only needs pointing in the right direction, until he develops the muscle memory to walk (skip, run) on his own.  Having no preconceived muscle memory (good or bad), no previous imbalances (!) and hopefully enjoying a balanced healthy diet.  Can we say the same about those flared or deviated hooves?  

As barefoot trimmers it is not uncommon to come across hooves that have been damaged due to poor shoeing, poor hoof balancing at trimming, injury or bad diet.  It is not unusual, but also not common, to find an issue that will benefit from being left alone, having put in place other corrective factors like a correct diet and freedom of movement; So are we really leaving it alone?

I find articles like this can be very misleading, implying that many issues will resolve themselves,
across the board, without human intervention.  Does that mean no dietary changes?  Does that mean no imported beaches to make dynamic circuits for them to move on?  Or is this another case of re-writing soundness?

One to many videos of horses that are either dishing or knitting or stepping short as they have adapted to the abandoned flares in their hooves is circulating the ethernet.   To my mind those are the deviations that the whole horse has had to adapt to, not just the hooves - a timely reminder that you should never just look at the feet, why each horse is assessed for the individual it is, and why we keep records
!

Picture
If you keep putting the load on the hand, the bicep/tricep will be constantly under strain.

Life´s learning curve; could be a downward trajectory 

15/7/2015

 
Picture
The definition of a learning curve is the time and study that it takes to develop knowledge or skills relating to a particular subject or task.  And that time and study can often be indefinite.

Starting at the bottom, in any field,can be cause for frustration, when you feel like you´re not getting anywhere for quite some time.  Those who want instant learning results will either give up, or cut corners.  Then there are those who´s curve, no matter how hard they study, will take a wrong turn, because of how or with whom they are learning.

If a teacher is bored, has become staid about their subject matter, or has only been dealing with a certain aspect of their subject for some time, they may very well omit important information. not demand quality work from their students and only give half-truths or facts, in fact, the learning becomes like Chinese whispers.  Inaccurately transmitted gossip, or in this case information.  The learning matter may well be incorrectly explained or demonstrated, and as the student mimics the teacher, a person who has yet to perfect their chosen subject, their interpretation will be even more discrepant.  Thus, as the topic is passed down the line, the knowledge becomes weaker and more erroneous.

If the teacher has become dulled by their topic, the likelihood of them having kept up-to-date with innovations in their field will be very slim.  Therefore their students will also be very much behind the times, along with the poor initial education they have received from this teacher they will not benefit from the new discoveries that are out there.

So when you want to learn something, or are in need of a knowledgeable service, be sure to find a teacher or professional who is excited and passionate about their subject.  Someone who knows the learning never stops and has never stopped discovering for themselves.


Show us your pearly whites

1/7/2015

 
Teeth make a difference, a world of difference, to the muscle balance and movement of your horse, along with their level of comfort of course.  A pretty long subject that I will expand upon at a later date.  Today I leave you with this.....
..... food for thought?
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