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Supporting Your Horse's Immune System

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Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia: Rethinking Treatment to Fight Resistance
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Rehabilitating the Neurologic EPM Horse
Building a Balanced Diet for Your Mare and Foal
Joint Health Matters: Top Therapies for a Successful Season
The Abscess Ruptured, But My Horse is Still Lame. Now What?
Understanding Horse Aggression
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Hoof Balance

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Study: Barefoot Trimming Can Impact Hoof Conformation

Natalie DeFee Mendik, MA January 3, 2013

A specific trimming technique increased the hoof’s weight-bearing area and increased the heel angle.

Saturday's Top Tweets from the 2015 AAEP Convention

Look, Ma–No Shoes!

Natalie Voss December 13, 2012

Study examines changes in toe angle and proximal hoof circumference without shoes.

Does Equine Hoof Shape Have an Effect on Soundness?

Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc January 10, 2012

Certain hoof characteristics can be associated with chronic lameness, while others point to a sound horse.

2012 International Hoof Care Summit Set for Jan. 31-Feb. 3

Edited Press Release December 31, 2011

The summit will offer 68 hours of hoof care education focused around the theme “Zeroing in on Soundness.”

Healthy hooves are paramount to a horse’s soundness. This fact sheet lists some common hoof problems, such as hoof abscesses, quarter cracks, bruises, navicular syndrome, underrun heels, and thrush, and how to identify, manage and prevent them.

The Bare Foot

Robert Bowker, VMD, PhD October 1, 2011

A horse’s genetics, trimming, and diet have a great impact on bare foot health.

Equine Foot Lameness Discussed by AAEP Veterinarians

Multiple Authors March 5, 2010

Foot lameness in horses was the topic of two separate Table Topics during the 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., in early December. About 100 veterinarians attended each session.

Horse Hoof Anatomy: A Guided Tour

Christy M. West January 1, 2010

Knowing how the hoof is built and what it is capable of can help you understand what it needs to stay healthy and recover if compromised.

Farriery and the Coffin Joint: Breakover Techniques, AAEP 2008

Christy M. West May 22, 2009

“Breakover (defined as the moment the heels lift off the ground) is very much affected by the surface the horse works on,” began Hans Castelijns, DVM, Certified Farrier, of Cortona, Italy, during the “Putting Science into Farriery” session at th

Tendon Angle and Navicular Lameness (AAEP 2008)

Christy M. West March 15, 2009

Why might one horse suffer from injury to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in the navicular area while another doesn’t? A recent study suggests that the angle of the DDFT as it passes over the navicular bone might have a lot to do with it.

Readers Respond: Tip Toes

Scarlett Springate, Editorial Intern June 26, 2008

Almost 1,500 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “What management methods does your hoof care professional use?”

Healthy Hooves, Inside and Out

Multiple Authors March 1, 2008

Horse hooves aren’t created equal, which can make it hard to understand the healthy foot’s form and function.

Healing Hooves With Self-Adjusting Palmar Angles (Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium)

Christy M. West May 1, 2007

When they are compromised due to disease processes such as laminitis, or poor internal hoof balance that leads to poor blood flow and overstressing of internal structures, putting the feet in comfortable alignment and applying massage helps them heal

The Quest to Conquer Laminitis

Christy M. West May 1, 2007

“Owners and trainers worldwide have the feeling that every veterinarian and every farrier have years of experience and vast knowledge about laminitis and podiatry (foot care). Unfortunately, this is not the case,” said Ric Redden, DVM, founder of

Equine Podiatry: Underrun Heels and Egg Bar Shoes

Stephen E. O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS April 14, 2007

One veterinarian describes the causes of and a traditional treatment method for underrun heels.

Feet First: Farriery Topics from the 2006 AAEP Convention

Christy M. West April 1, 2007

The annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, held in San Antonio, Texas, in early December 2006, had three sessions devoted to foot care that were open to farriers. Following are synopses of some of those presentations