August, 2004
(Please note that only the articles from the Newsletter are presented here.)
This months Hoof Care article comes to us from our President Steve Muir.
Stall Conditions and Hoof Soundness
Hoof Care is one of the key elements in the soundness of the horse. Regularly scheduled farrier visits make up one aspect to hoof maintenance. The environment is a second key aspect to hoof soundness. By environment, I mean stall and pasture conditions. A urine damp stall may weaken the hoof wall, and that can lead to thrush, or white line disease. Urine contains enzymes and ammonia that can break down the proteins that make up the hoof wall. While some moisture may be beneficial, the chemical makeup of urine is very damaging to the structure. The frequency of stall cleaning is not as important as the bedding conditions. Deep (minimum 6" compressed) and absorbent bedding is most critical to maintaining a sound hoof structure. A good indication of adequate bedding is never starting with a truly wet stall. At its worst, it should be damp. If you start with a wet stall, add more bedding. You do not have to remove a significant amount of bedding during stall cleaning. Just remove saturated areas and move the damp bedding to the sides of the stall where the horse does not stand. This bedding will then dry and can be rotated back in during subsequent cleanings. This approach means that bedding deep will benefit your horse without adding much expense to the care. I view this as storing the bedding in the stall where it does the most good instead of storing it outside in a pile. I hope these suggestions can lead to more sound and healthy hoofs.
Steve Muir CJF, AFA
Johnstown, OH
ATTENTION FARRIERS AND BLACKSMITHS
To anyone who burns coal: We have arranged a source of very good West
Virginia coal. Thanks to the diligence of several people we have found
a source and made arrangements for Thompson Bros. Mining Co. to carry
it for us. This is POCAHONTAS #2, the best blacksmiths
coal in Ohio right now! Believe me I've looked. Thompson Bros. is located
in New Springfield Ohio, to contact call 330-549-3979 and let them know
you heard it through the farriers association.
MEFA would like to welcome Chris Kirk to the Unites States. Chris is the exchange farrier from Whales, and will be spending time with several members of the association over the summer.
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