By Carole Herder
Your horse’s hooves consist of living tissue and need extra care in the summer months. Just as with our own hair, nails, and other cellular structures, nourishment is important. Cellular strength, wholeness, and integrity are affected by environmental factors.
When the hoof becomes dehydrated, it loses the elastic flexibility required to absorb shock and concussion. Essential nutrients in the blood no longer freely flow. This results in a whole host of potential issues.
In these hot summer months, it’s up to us give nature a helping hand. I have yet to see a hoof dressing that can adequately re-establish moisture in the hoof. In fact, most of them contain oil-based, tarry, turpentine, lactates, stearates, acetone, alcohol and other drying agents that are contraindicated. The hooves may appear wet on the outside, but these dressings do not permeate internally. Some other options are to create a soaking area and encourage your horse to stand in it.
A simple and easy way to hydrate your horse’s hooves is to use your Cavallo Hoof Boots. Change your go-anywhere boots into a soaking solution by simply covering the drainage holes and filling them with water. Allow your horse to stand in the soaking boots for an hour at a time. He’ll get moisture to his hooves just like he would if he was standing at a watering hole.
Watch the how-to video here: www.cavallo-inc.com/extreme-weather-patterns-and-the-hoof
Carole Herder has a genuine passion for educating horse owners worldwide, especially on all matters related to natural horse care. Because of her strong belief that allowing horses to go barefoot helps alleviate hoof problems, Carole designed and developed Cavallo Simple, Sport and Trek Boots. In 1993, she also designed and developed Total Comfort System Saddle Pads to address another troublesome area for riding horses– sore backs. Providing comfort for horses is Carole’s passion. In 2010, she won the Royal Bank of Canada western division Trail Blazer Woman Entrepreneur of the year award. Carole is an author of several publications and is currently finalizing her first book. She attends numerous horse events worldwide. www.cavallo-inc.com