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Buckaroo Leather December 2016 Newsletter |
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM BUCKAROO LEATHER Did you get what you wanted for you and your horse at Christmas? If not, now you can!
NEW YEAR'S SALE: 25% OFF ALL ITEMS!
(Excluding Saddles and Sale Items)
Friday, December 30th - Friday, January 6th, 2017
Go to buckarooleather.com and enter SAVE25 at checkout
Managing Wet Weather Hoof Woes
Many of us deal with muddy pastures, run in shelters and wet stalls in the winter. These conditions can cause a variety of problems for our equine friends.
A horse is more likely to bruise the soles of their hoof,
lose their horse shoes, develop thrush, get bacterial infections, and become infected with White Line Disease. It is impossible to remove all the mud from your horses’ surroundings, so learning how to deal with it will put your muddy worries at ease.
Lets review some of the most common wet weather issues and keep our horses safe and healthy!
1.
Softening Hoofs – When horses have their hooves in wet and muddy conditions, their soles begin to soften. Soft hooves mean horses can receive bruises from stepping on rocks, executing a hard landing, or experiencing sudden change of surfaces. If your horse starts favoring a certain foot or showing lameness, it is possible bruising has occurred. It can be hard to diagnose a bruising issue, however, because a
bruise may not appear for a few days, if it shows at all. A horse who has recently had its hoof trimmed too short may be at risk for bruising. If a horse does contract a bruise, put the injured foot in a bucket of ice water. This will help the swelling go down and start the healing process. Picking the horse’s hooves daily and keeping them dry is the best preventive measure for bruises. In addition, cleaning out their stall regularly helps limit the mud they come in contact with.
Solid, consistent footing is also key to ensure less injuries for both you and your horse. Bell boots and horse shoes can give the horse more traction so they will be able to control their strides through the mud.
2. Lost Shoes - It may be that your horse comes in missing a shoe, and even
more so when that shoe is sinking deeper and deeper into the mud. The chances of finding and rescuing the shoe can be slim to none. Many horse owners may wonder how this can happen. Occasionally, the farrier could hold part of the blame for this mishap, but the true culprit is more often the slippery mud or other bad terrain conditions. Contrary to what many horse riders assume, the mud does not suck off the shoe.
Instead, it causes the horse to pull it off on its own. When a horse slips in the mud, it keeps its front foot on the ground to attempt to reestablish its footing. The horse’s back hoof steps on the heel of the front one and then pulls off the shoe, once the front foot is picked up. This unfortunate accident causes the horse shoe to vanish beneath the pile of mud in which it was stuck. To avoid this situation, you can
let your horse go barefoot during the muddy times of the year. Another option is to fit your horse with rim shoes to increase their traction, so they do not slip in the mud as easily. Avoiding slips and falls is as important as avoiding the bacteria that thrive in the mud.
3. Abscesses - Abscesses are a prime example of horse hoof problems caused by
bacterial infections found in wet or muddy areas. Bacteria thrives in moist conditions, allowing it to invade your horse’s hoof and work its way towards the sensitive parts of the hoof. It then gets trapped inside the hoof, where it continues to multiply. Sudden limping or showing other signs of lameness should be watched for. There may be some swelling on the horse’s leg that has an infected hoof. To properly deal with a bacterial infection
in the hoof, the abscess will need to release the built-up pus that is trapped. Some abscesses may burst on their own. If they do not, then your veterinarian will need to drain by making a small hole in the hoof. After the abscess has been properly emptied, it is advised to use a poultice-pad bandage to protect the foot until it is fully recovered. If you cannot get a vet out to take care of the abscess, you can create your own bandage using Epsom salts and an appropriately sized pad and
wrap. To prevent abscesses from occurring, schedule a regular farrier to come and care for your horse’s feet. Using hoof hardeners will make your horse have stronger feet which will protect against abscesses. Try using shavings in the stalls to give your horse a dry area to stand in. Abscesses may seem scary but can be easily treated if caught soon enough.
4. White Line Disease – Haven’t heard of
it? There is a reason why. The name White Line Disease was first coined in 1990, and the disorder is also known as seedy toe, hoof or stall rot, hollow foot, yeast infection, Candida, wall thrush, and (incorrectly) onychomycosis. White Line Disease is a fungal infection which happens when the inner hoof wall separates, creating a hole or crack on the sole. The bacteria will invade through the crevice and begin to eat away at the foot’s The specific bacteria associated with this
disease is anaerobic, meaning it lives without oxygen. White line disease can come from a previous foot injury that has not healed completely or, if a horse is left with a long toe, it will be at risk since the hoof wall is weaker. This condition, which appears white and crumbly around the outer area of the horse’s hoof, can also lead to lameness if left untreated for a significant amount of time. If a horse is infected with this disease, have a well-trained farrier or vet trim the infected
hoof wall to expose the bacteria to oxygen. It is important to also clean the hoof thoroughly after completing this action. It may be beneficial to issue your horse a supportive shoe while the infected area restores itself. This disease can be kept at bay if the horse’s stall and feet are well maintained. Our next bacterial condition, known as thrush, can also be avoided by these clean habits.
5. Thrush – Thriving in wet, mucky conditions, thrush is a common hoof problem seen this time of year. When mud gets packed into a horse’s foot, bacteria from the mud begins to establish itself there. While it eats away at the hoof’s tissue, the bacteria also creates an infection with visible discharge. While White Line Disease appears white and dry, thrush in horses shows itself as a dark, gooey substance with a rancid
odor. It resides in the grooves within a horse’s frog and in cracks of the hoof. While cleaning out their hooves, take notice of the condition of the hooves and any changes of their color that may occur. Horses with high set, deep heels are more likely to contract this infection because the mud can get lodged deeper in their hooves. To treat thrush in horses, apply your preferred commercial medication to the infected area. Moving the horse to a
dry, clean environment will help with the healing process as well. To prevent this from happening to your horses, pick their feet daily, before and after riding. However, be careful while cleaning around the frog and do not be too aggressive with the pick.
With these careful tips we can be confident that the muddy ground doesn’t have to ruin our horses health or our winter riding. The slippery mud can bring up concerning
hoof problems for our horses. Thankfully, with regular hoof care, these issues can be kept under control. Picking out your horse’s hooves is a must to maintain a healthy foot. Cleaning the horse’s stall is also needed to give the horse a nice and dry area. Although risks are higher during muddy circumstances, they can be minimized with a little extra effort and knowledge. The little extra effort is certainly worth it to keep our horses strong and
healthy!!
Patrick Dorinson says:
"My horse Andy with his new tack from Buckaroo Leather.
The fantastic Double M All Around saddle is lightweight well built and comfortable as all get out!
The breast collar and wither strap are also
terrific.
And the Diamond M wool pad with a hole for wither relief is exceptional.
Andy loves it and so do I.
And the best part is meeting Buckaroo John who will fit your horse with a keen eye and years of experience.
I can see I will be a regular customer!!!"
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Diamond M Wade Saddle Click below to go to Buckaroo Leather for more pictures. |
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Lauri Steinhauer Cates says:
"My daughters first time using her new sidepull with the upgraded noseband and jowl strap! One of the many well made Buckaroo items we own!
Thanks John!"
More Fine Buckaroo Leather Products! Find these beauties and more quality tack at buckarooleather.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Buckaroo John will be at:
Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale, Red Bluff CA
January 24th - 28th, 2017
http://www.redbluffbullsale.com/
Western States Horse Expo - Pomona, CA February 3rd - 5th,
2017
https://horseexpoevents.com/
DO YOU LOVE GOOD, QUALITY TACK AND LEATHER GOODS?
If the answer is YES, then, COME JOIN THE PARTY!
Buckaroo John, from Buckaroo Leather invites you to host a Holiday Tackaroo Party. You find a location, invite all your friends and family, and John will bring his beautiful,
high quality tack. He will also bring food and beverages. He can offer saddle and tack fittings as well as demos.
Do you have a just so so, breast collar or headstall? Let Buckaroo John dress it up with classy conchos. Always wanted a horse hair bosal and mecate? This is the place to get them. curious about saddle fitting? Come talk with Buckaroo John.
Don't miss this opportunity!
Special discounts for host and guests.
To book your date somerwhere in the western United States, call
530-545-0139 or email at john@buckarooleather.com
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