and HOOFCARE and

It appears that total daily “ mileage is the missing link between domestic and their wild cousins... Movement stimulates the hooves, and being always ‘on the job’, means stallions are naturally inclined to move more The stallion advantage than other horses. The effect of excessive movement is amplified if body Not only can this lead to extremely low heels with a” soreness prevents correct biomechanical action. A classic correspondingly overworn and tender frog, but it also sets by Andrew Bowe, B.App.Sc, Master Farrier example of this would be a stallion that raced up ‘reversed angles’ whereby the hind hooves are less steep www.barehoofcare.com young (and hard) and sustained permanent sacro-iliac than the front hooves which means the hind quarters are less Photos courtesy of The Mayfield Barehoof Rehabilitation Centre damage for his efforts. He may be unable to move his hind capable of driving the forwards. legs with full action, but instead will be inclined to slide Fortunately, if a stallion is ridden, he will usually hold his hooves across the ground, thus wearing the heels away Stallions usually have first class hooves. and carry himself quite well, even in spite of old injuries. excessively. They are not often the subject of insightful hoofcare articles. Just feed Excessive, incorrect wear is mostly a paddock problem. them like a horse and they will grow good hooves... Actually, it’s a combination of constant movement and being an ‘entire’ horse that produces the hooves nature designed.

Being ‘entire’ means that stallions have Hoof management a biological purpose to their existence and they generally enjoy great health and Management of stallion hooves is predictable and have magnificent coats that shine like no usually straight forward. Constant movement over other equines. Hooves are made of keratin paddocks has the effect of wearing hooves flat, just like hair, so in reality are simply an which if left untrimmed, tend to develop flares. extension of their coat. Healthy coat equals Bare-hoof care is not so much about lowering healthy hooves. the heels and toes, but is mostly concerned with trimming the quarters down to the level of the sole On the move plane and rasping the outer wall away from ground Stallions are naturally inclined to move contact at 45º to remove flares and maximise hoof more than other horses. It appears that capsule integrity. the total daily mileage is the missing link See photos 3 and 4 between domestic horses and their wild cousins. Movement stimulates the hooves. These photos show a typically flat stallion hoof before trimming and a trimmed hoof that is Stallions are always on the job; keeping sculptured through the quarters and outer wall to their mob moving and fighting off any facilitate function. competition. In a perfect world all stallions would get Excessive wear to live with their mob. But in the confines The issue most likely to arise with the hooves of of domestication this happens very rarely, stallions is not growing enough new hoof to cope and stallions are instead nearly always with excessive movement, especially if they are kept separate from their mob and kept in living on abrasive ground. solitary. There will still be plenty of movement, A whole of body approach even if only around the perimeter of their To counteract excessive wearing, new hoof growth Management of stallion hooves is predictable and Assuming that the stallion is an old fashion kind of guy paddock or straight up and down a fence can be maximised by supplementation with a usually straight forward. Constant movement over line. When the mob of will be who still gets to meet his date in ‘person’, during the ‘complete’ hoof food. There are several products on paddocks has the effect of wearing hooves flat, which sleeping in the sun, the stallion will still be breeding season his front hooves should be and the market that contain essential amino acids as if left untrimmed, tend to develop flares. at work. well as a broad spectrum of minerals and vitamins. well rounded with no sharp edges that could cut a .

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It’s a simple “equation: when hooves wear faster than they grow, they need protection. ” In a perfect world all stallions would get to live with their mob Handling stallion feet No matter who is down under with What about handling stallions for With experienced farriers, stallions close to or the area where they the trimming gear, caution should be trimming? are usually quite easy and well are bred. Stallions are probably best behaved to trim. Trouble only seems exercised and a stallion should be held trimmed in their own living quarters. In terms of handling legs for to arise through complacency (the by a competent and attentive handler If a stallion is familiar with either a trimming, stallions are mostly author is speaking from repeated when his hooves are being trimmed. chain or a rearing bit for handling, well trained and yield lightly to experience), such as absent Mobile phones should be kept out of then use it for trimming. But use it pressure. But if they get annoyed mindedly going straight from a mare reach of the handler. respectfully. One of the pet peeves with proceedings and push comes heavily in season to up close and Common sense should also prevail and of farriers is when a horse holder to shove, they can bite or kick personal with a hot blooded stallion. stallions should not be brought into a jerks a chain or a rearing bit without better than any mare (or ). Not a good move! place where they may have other things They should be trimmed by warning or finesse when the farrier is foremost on their minds; places such as experienced operators. somewhere underneath the horse! and However, there seems to be Although shoes may seem the only practical solution for stallion hoof protection, an increasing number of horse barefoot tips are a good compromise if they are mostly wearing away the toes owners who are doing their own hoof trimming, which means that a lot of stallions are getting Protection options If a stallion is wearing shoes in the trimmed by inexperienced paddock, they probably should be removed operators. This is not so much It’s a simple equation: when hooves immediately before breeding commences of a technical problem because wear faster than they grow, they need and not go back on until he has served his stallions usually have such healthy protection. last mare (unless there are several weeks in hooves. It’s just that they don’t respond well having their legs Shoes may be the only practical solution between ‘appointments’). handled by indecisive, nervous for hoof protection in the paddock If he has had a good diet and been well or slow trimmers. Stallions are (although barefoot tips are a good supplemented with ‘hoof food’ prior to the busy people who don’t have time compromise if the hooves are mostly breeding season, his hooves should be strong to stand around all day while wearing away at the toes). enough and growing fast enough to last the someone takes forever to trim Hoof boots may not be an option for hoof distance. their hooves. They just want the protection in the paddock. Stallions are Hopefully the extra curricular activity of job finished right now so they can notorious for trashing boots, especially if breeding season will reduce the amount of get on with their important work they are pacing a fence and turning hard paddock pacing! of pacing that fence or giving that at either end. mob of geldings over there the evil eye. But what about the breeding season? Passing on their genes What about when a stallion is serving As an aside, if you are assessing a stallion Stallions can sense insecurity from mares? (assuming of course that he is an for conformation as a breeding prospect, way off in the distance. If you are old fashion kind of guy who still gets to be aware that a number of conformational an inexperienced owner trimmer, meet his date in ‘person’). defects can be disguised by corrective get in and get the job done and shoeing. When checking, be sure to pick don’t worry too much about The front hooves should be barefoot and each hoof up and see that the shoe has polishing the hooves to perfection. well rounded with no sharp edges that been centred around the frog. It is the frog That way you won’t push the could cut a mare. that points the true direction of a limb. In boundaries of a stallion’s patience A stallion simply can’t be wearing shoes addition, the presence of any ringbone or and when you are busy with the when serving mares. Back shoes are okay, unilateral sidebone may indicate long term trimming gear you won’t have time but definitely no front shoes allowed. imbalance that may be conformation related. to be insecure.

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