Sound Performance Farrier Services

06/15/2025

03/07/2025

Rasping the hoof wall in laminitis.

I was chatting to Prof Pollitt last week about the laminar wedge.

He commented that rasping the hoof wall to reduce its thickness is like unlocking the prison that is containing the laminar wedge. By releasing that pressure the wedge will not have such devastating internal effects as when encapsulated by the wall prison it has nowhere to go but inwards.

My lightbulbs went off in my head!

I understand that the inward pressure and growth of the laminar wedge is catastrophic to the coffin bone.

The laminar wedge is a chaotic tissue formed from epidermal lamellae and white line and is an uncontrolled growth of cells without the correct instructions for cell division and growth.

The wall will diverge due to the lever forces on it as the horse walks- per Prof Pollitt. If the horse was in outer space the laminitis would still occur but there would not be any wall divergence or bone divergence as that’s all due to biomechanically forces.

Wow!

Interesting thoughts.

01/17/2025

For anyone who has some fitness goals for 2025. This will be a super fun way to mix things up a little and get a sweat going with minimum comitment.

Onoway Champion TKD has a super facility right in Onoway. No need to go to the city for high level training. Come join us this Saturday January 18th at 10am.

11/06/2024

Save the Date!!!!!!
Our Mega Clinic is returning! This year we will partner with N49 and are moving the event to Olds!
Clinic will be 2 days this year, and on the 3rd day anyone who wants to go skiing can hit the Slopes with the crew for a mega fun day.
More details to come!

10/27/2024

Piece of old hammer handle, 2 part epoxy and a jig saw blade. Vola, you have the best pumpkin carving tool money can't buy.

04/26/2024

🤓 Word of the Week: Scratches

Chronic scratches, also known as pastern dermatitis or mud fever, is a common skin condition in horses. It primarily affects the lower limbs, particularly the pastern area, but can also extend to the fetlock and heel bulbs.

Scratches will appear as crusty scabs or lesions and may be accompanied by hair loss. In severe cases, there may be swelling and inflammation of the affected area. Some horses with scratches may even exhibit signs of discomfort, lameness and oozing or discharge from the lesions.

It is caused by prolonged exposure to wet or muddy conditions which softens the skin making it more susceptible to irritation and infection. When the skin is compromised, opportunistic bacteria and fungi can invade the softened skin. Horses with a suppressed immune system, poor circulation, feathers, and accumulated mud, dirt, f***s, or urine are more susceptible to developing scratches.

💙 Prevention & Care:
🔹Clean & Dry: Thoroughly clean the affected area with a mild antiseptic solution and gently remove any crusts or scabs. Be careful not to cause further irritation or injury. Keep the affected area clean and dry. Avoid turnout in wet or muddy conditions and consider using waterproof leg wraps or boots.
🔹Topical Treatments: Apply medicated creams or ointments prescribed by a veterinarian to treat any underlying infection. These may contain antibiotics, antifungals, or corticosteroids. In severe cases, bandaging the affected area can help protect it from further trauma and promote healing.
🔹Environmental Management: Improve stable hygiene and minimize exposure to wet or muddy conditions. Ensure that paddocks and turnout areas are well-drained and provide dry bedding in the stable.
🔹Functional nutrition may be also be helpful. Consider a daily supplement like LIFEINE+ Equine to support immune health, and Surge to support circulation to the distal limbs during wet times of the year.

👇🏻 Anyone here dealing with scratches? How do you manage or prevent?

04/17/2024

This is genius. She was grooming when I arrived for our appointment and from across the yard I could see piles of hair flying off the horse. Caution though, right after a stopped recording she warned about her experience of the brush getting tangled in the mane. So avoid the mane and tail.

04/15/2024

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Western Canadian Farrier's Association annual awards. It was a no brainer for me to sponsor one of these awards and help recognize those in our industry that are going above and beyond. It is also likely the only time in my life, my name and Bob Marshal's name are going to be on the same award. Lol

03/25/2024

What a great weekend I had at the Olds Classic 2024. Thank you to North 49 Farriers for putting on another well run contest. These events take a lot of volunteer hours and behind the scenes work. They also don't happen without sponsorship.

Small Bar Smithy
Farrier Product Distribution, Inc.
Hoof & Nail Farrier Supplies Ltd
High Country Horseshoes
The "Official" Shoe Box Farrier Supply
Well-Shod.com
Source For Horse
Delaney Veterinary Services Ltd.

As a competitor I sincerely appreciate all the effort put in to make it happen.

I finished exactly where I belonged in 2nd place. I always tell my kids that the lucky ones are the ones that work the hardest. And while I did my best to be prepare for the weekend, the 1st place finisher had clearly put in more hours and effort than I had and it showed.

I also had the good fortune of winning the Benevolent Fund raffle for a new scott anvil from Source for Horse, mounted on a custom anvil stand built by Spencer Hazelwood and Logan at Outwest Design and Fabrication.

I would finally like to thank Matt Kuechler for opening up his shop to help me iron out some of the wrinkles in my preparation and striking for me all weekend. There are some really great people in this industry and though I don't know Matt very well I have a feeling he is definitely a good guy to have in your corner. Thank you.

02/21/2024

It's always fun getting to try something new. Here we have a three degree plexus frog support pad stacked with a castle plastics rubber snow rim pad. We had taken this horse out of the frog support pads and into rim pads for the winter because they were balling up so bad. However, the owner told me today that he just doesn't move as nice without the support pads. So now we are going to try both.