Who knew??
Not me. I did say I'd blog about whatever enrages me, too. Uh, oh... I have been blissfully unaware of some common horrific practices out there. How on earth can a practice that removes valuable tissue from the horse's hooves be beneficial, to the horse?
Oh, right, it's PRETTY. When did the pretty start to outweigh the good for the horse? Is it really necessary to make a horses' foot "shine like glass"? There are some basic rules of horse-keeping that should never be broken.
First, do no harm.
To anyone out there thinking an electric-sander is an acceptable grooming product for a horse's hooves, all I can say is, stfu.
The picture above, (again, taken from a reprint by Lee Valley Tools, "How the Farm Pays" - 1884, William Crozier & Peter Henderson) is of a "Cleveland Bay" horse, from that era. What is wrong with this picture? I've altered it. Keep applying an electric power tool to your horses' hooves, and you will slowly destroy that hoof, for a good long time.
Oh, I just want to vomit. "When you are finished showing, you can remove the polish with rubbing alcohol and some heavy duty shop rags. Don't use your good grooming rags, they will turn black from the polish. When the hooves are clean, use some hoof conditioner to replace moisture (alcohol dries the hoof out)."
Ya THINK!!!
This too. Fcik. "Don't take too much of the hoof off while sanding, you won't get every bump gone..and over the course of a show season, they will lose a lot of the wall!"
How long does it take for the wall to grow back??
Yes, and walls help hold up the structure, ya moron... Take away the wall, what happens to the hoof?
It's barbaric. Or maybe it's just the sign of the times. Pretty is more important than useful...
I cringe at the idea of using wood filler. Does NOBODY look at the labels on these products???
The Unaltered, for comparison. What I love about this engraving, is that even though the artist showed feet that weren't "perfect" or "identical", the horse stands over his feet. As he should.
RIP.
Oh, I know, I've read the rationalizations. The moisture is replaced with hoof dressing, some farriers say it's fine, "never had any problems". Funny, though, the "for the sanding" camp didn't post any pictures of their horse's feet.
Here's a quote from a hoof care site..
"Avoid:
• Rasping the hoof wall to remove ridges and make it “look pretty.” Some rasping is necessary, but it removes the natural waxy covering on the hoof, so you want to minimize it. Over-rasping makes a hoof more susceptible to drying, cracking and chipping.
• Routine use of any type of hoof dressing, except for a specific purpose for a limited amount of time."
Dust, in the wind.
44 comments:
GoLightly ,so glad you took this on ! that and running your horse on asphalt have been giving me nightmares since I read about them !! No Hoof= no horse simple as that.I amazes me the lengths that people will go to for a little strip of satin ribbon!
Oh and first!!
GAAAHHH You beat me to the hoof post!!
Hoof care is even worse than nutrition. Did you ever read Hilda Strasser's "A Lifetime of Soundness"?
And then, the rebuttals to "A Lifetime of Soundness"?
I know more about the inside of a horse's hoof than I care to, thanks to Wicket. I am not convinced that even shoes are a good idea... but a sander?!
What other awful things have you seen put into a horse's living hoof? Besides wood putty, that is.
How about used motor oil? That was big at my hunter barn when I was a kid. My mother had a fit. I mean, rubbing that stuff right into the coronary band.
US, no worries.
Blog away, I just couldn't keep quiet.
I was hoping another more widely read blog might cover it.
You know, I rode hunter/jumpers for years. Not once, EVER, did we sand hooves.
Ever, ever.
The confo/hunter/eq. horses got hooflex. That was it.
Do people ride their horses on concrete? THAT's the only place where you could actually see the HOOF!
And WHO CARES if it's SHINY?
gah....
The Hoof Bling makes me want to puke, too.
To Happy Hooves.
NO HOOF, NO HORSE.
jeeeeeez.
I may be horseless, but I ain't stupid.
Oh man that is just pukin' SICK! And why I quit showing, except in little bitty fun shows. The self righteous upper level folks who deliberately sore horses are much worse than the BYB who doesn't know any better. Sadly, the public tends to follow the big winners...and accepts the abuse as normal. Gives me the creeps.
This bothers me very much. No matter how careful, it is altering the integrity of the hoof.
GL:
I have shown in hunters for many years as well, we just use hoof oil. I always liked fiebrings.
Go lightly- Thank you. I get so fed up with customers who do these things to their horses and then blame me when the foot falls apart. I do all I can, but I'm not God. When I was an apprentice, we always put a sealant onto the foot when we were done. For the record, we used wood putty to fill in the nail holes. It wasn't for pretty, but to keep dirt and bacteria out of the foot. Large cracks and chips are filled in with acrylics.
Oh, and a cheap and effective hoof moisturizer? Clean mud, deep enough to pack the bottom of the foot.
Hey, Joanna. Thank you!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but for the record, don't the wood fillers contain VOC's?
I am extraordinarily anti-VOC's. The paint industry hates me;)
It makes sense, and as you understand, I'm just saying, this practice really shouldn't be done at every opportunity.
If ever. jmo.
I'd much rather spend my time rubbing on their coat.
If I had that time, and I could spend it.
sigh....
So... I'm somewhat hypocritical.
Last night, I threw away a salad tray that I could have schlepped back to the cafeteria and thrown into a recycling bin.
And today, I remembered the little bottle of voodoo witch potion for racehorse hooves that I always have gathering cobwebs in my feed rooms.
It has all the good stuff, wormwood and turpentine and iodine and absinthe and kerosene for all I know. And yes... I use it on the really tough cases!
Our problem here, of course, being wet hooves that grow sideways instead of down, from a lack of pressure and resistance on the wet soft ground. We have to kill bacteria, not moisturize. And that can take somewhat yuckier potions.
Oh and... Happy Civic Holiday! You Canadians know how to name your holidays!
some ppl use sanders on dogs' nails. but only to shorten a nail that's too long instead of clipping it. maybe someone got the idea form that, not knowing the huge difference between a claw and a hoof?
Hey, Little Gator!
The nail of a dog has a totally different purpose from the hoof of a horse, as you know..
But, yes, I betcha that's where the idea came from.
That or someone who was a carpenter?
I do sanding/finishing as part of my work. Heat and friction are very hard on living tissue. Just touch your finger-nail to a belt-sander sometime!
So are the freely applied solvents used to remove the polishes...
Ridiculous in humans, too.
US, you know I'm not against any sort of beneficial treatments. Heck they make lots of sense.
We've been using these concoctions on horse's hooves for centuries.
This power-sanding crap just appalls me.
Let the farrier do his job.
Stop sanding the periople!
OH, a danged miracle occurred. We had a sunny hot day yesterday!
Not ONE drop of rain.
First one since um, April, I think..
Would working the horses on a harder surface help, US?
Just turn them out on the highway;)
I'm KIDDING!!!
Joanna, any tips for overly soft hooves?
Yeah, I know, move to the dry.
Nope, never read Hilda.
Sounds fascinating...
I shudder to think of a "hoof sanding" apparatus, where you could stick the foot in, and out comes a freshly buffed/sanded/polished hoof.
Tell me that does NOT exist.
Please? Pretty please?
Yeah, Happy Civic Holiday.
The garbage strike is ALMOST over.
Now City Council of Toronto is imploding.
Idiot sticks.. They are arguing amongst themselves.
whoah, I gotta eat.
14th
You KNOW why:)
I am new to the world of Saddlebred showing, but the other day, right after a post about sanding, I watched a show saddlebred get prepped for the ring.
His hoofs were sanded, with a four sided nail buffer. The same kind that is used on my nails when I need a manicure. With about the same results, a nice soft glow.
I asked about removing the periople. I was told the buffing did not remove the periople just smoothed out the ridges.
I kept wondering if UV nails were next, or perhaps a nice French manicure.
Hey, Kaede!
I've never had a manicure.
My nails have a nice soft glow.
It's our perception of beauty, not theirs.
overly long short story...
When I started in the sign biz, I felt like shite for the first three months.
Partly city air, mostly the paint fumes. We silkscreen, and used spray paints.
I don't, anymore, they do make me sick. I initiated the idea of proper ventilation in my shop, and watched in horror, as other paint shops in the area, left ALL THEIR PAINT CANS OPEN, to the air. Not good. Many workers have gotten seriously ill with this stuff.
I requested the Material Safety Data Sheets for all our paint and related products, (yes, even that rub'n buff stuff can make you sick), required for all volatile organic compounds, VOC's.
They would curl your toes in horror. Toluene, benzene..
The paint industry.. I did some research on it.
There is a vast range of reactions amongst animals, us included, to these VOC's.
Ranging from nothing until much later in life, mild tosevere headaches, mild to permanent brain damage, to cancers, to nervous breakdowns, very common in painters, don't ya know..
I do not think one application of this kind of bling, maybe once a year, will do lasting harm. For a HUGE show.
I do not think a light hand buff with a gentle abrasive is the end of the world. I don't think it's necessary, and does nothing for the horse, except for our eyes pleasure.
Every show? Using hoof polish and solvents right afterward?
Horses have enough foot problems, without exacerbating wall problems.
I use a wheelbarrow, rather than my husband's lawn tractor & wagon, for garden work. Just so you know my train of thought.
The idea of power tools being used for so-called routine grooming practices?
Totally rubs me the wrong way.
Pardon the pun.
Especially with beginners!
As kestrel said.
Polish his coat, keep the horse healthy. His feet will glow.
All by themselves.
That's kind of what I thought. I only get manicures when I have a big presentations where I am to be perfectly turned out.(no artificial nails! If you ever remove them you nails a "rotten" so soft that the tiniest bump HURTS)
I was told the buffing (that's what it was called) only happened before major shows where "points"(?) mattered and then only to the major money winners. It seems the big time Saddlebred stars have more in common with race horses than I thought. It isn't the ribbon that matters, it is how much money the horse brings home. Slack jawed again. I have so much to learn.
thank you for addressing this. And I thought I was the only one who thought it was too severe.
Good Basic Horse Info Site
Seems pretty accurate, short and to the point.
You guys have probably already seen it.
If not, enjoy, feel free to comment/critique/question it!
In the Morgan show world, the horses all have their hooves shined up to a patent leather glow. Every class, every time, every show. It's not enough to just put on hoof polish, oh no, it has to be mirror shiny. Folks used to use hand held sand paper, then discovered power sanders.
Only one of the things I hate about showing.
agh, and I meant to add, I think this is one of the reasons behind the great divide as I call it. the lack of a "basic standard care manual" for all horses... That everyone can agree on!
You have your (for want of better words) Hippies and Blingers. Okay, and Cowboys. Anything else?
Dressage is Hippie, so is Endurance:)
I think H/J/Big Eq are Blingers, but they bling their horses, more than their horses' feet.
And of course everything in between.
The horse world spins on it's own axis.
Yeah, I've said that before, sorry:(
<")
Wish we could bling everyone together.
:)
Keratex works pretty well for wet feet. For soft feet, ie tender soles, a couple of applications of Venice turpentine to the sole only. I use it and a special cotton padding under pads. The foot looks great at the next shoeing.
I understand about the VOCs, but we were putting such a tiny amount in that the effect would of been nil. We would use Tuff Stuff after as a polish/sealant.
Gotcha, Joanna.
Agreed.
It is the amount, and the net effect that counts.
Can we see Butch with some hoof bling?
MSDS sheets are scary things, GL! Ever seen the ones for dry-erase markers? You'll never write on your hand just to remember something really quick ever again..
You might not already, it might just be me and college students, dunno...
Keratex is good, Venice turpentine might be better. I have better luck doing a beveled edge "wild horse trim" to get rid of the soft wall that's been touching the ground and then applying the turpentine, than I have had with Keratex. Amazing considering the $30 price difference there, right? Sometimes all horse people need to see is "Made in England" and we go crazy.
My horses are all barefoot and Bonnie in particular is sloooowly toughening up. But it's been difficult for her. Soft Valid Appeal feet.
Re: buffing off the ridges.. why do these horses have ridges on their walls? I think that's a valid question. My horses show every feeding change on their hoof walls. I hate that. Of course, you know the solution: rub the coronary band with a little Reducine to encourage growth ;) Chemicals, fixing the problems of chemicals.
Strasser's good, if completely off the beaten track. I think it's healthy-hoof.com. I'll look it up.
I write on my hand all the time.
"Dog Food" & "Taxes" (oops) was my latest missive.
No kiddin'. The grafitti artists? Doesn't have any idea what they are getting so high on..
It's a very well-kept secret...
Mostly because our economy is so well built on it.
kestrel has mentioned, and I agree, that their health shows in their hoof.
Sort of like a tree.
You start a ridge, with ill-health or a sander, it'll take as long as the hoof takes to grow out. How long is that?
A long time, a long time.
The show is an hour. The hoof is for life.
Little Gator,you are too funny. I am working on it, it's good practice for real work. If I ever see any again...
Butch will not actually be sanded or buffed, in the making of said alteration. Butch would disintegrate..
I cannot find my little wonderful monograph from Equus, the hoof. I'm also missing the lameness monograph.
I lend too much.
I Do have still, the "skin troubles and remedies", AnD "The touch that teaches" from you-know-who-L.T-J.. Yup, copyright 1983.
oldbroad=me.
Where are the Ibis!
CCC will give me Crias.
I demand Ibis.
Please Bling.
I have a feeling the ibis are on their way.. We just had about four inches of rain in the past hour. I am trying to find a snorkel so that I can feed supper.
What is funny is that I am typing this and my husband just keeps telling me about his day and I keep mmhmming...
I know that human nails are a good indicator of health. the bumps and ridges can tell a doctor much about what you are doing that you shouldn't be doing. "for god's sake Kaede wear gloves when you garden. Do you know what is in the local dirt? Lead for one thing."
I can't imagine doing this to the horse in the name of beauty. Then again I'm a pretty 'natural' person... don't even dye my hair. Growing out my own roots scare me. Plus my hair is fine... it would fry in about oh, one dye job and then ew!
Put my horse through some crap like that? Oh hell no. I dont' even clip INSDIE his ears. Those little hairs protect against flies, you know. His feet? Sand them? No hoof, no horse. VERY true. I would never compormise my horses hoof stability in such a manner! Gah.
For a little piece of silk. Maybe some money but ... that just turns my stomach. My horse is my partner, not a tool to be sanding and molded into some ideal in MY head or some judges. Just makes me ill what people will do to critters, I tell ya'.
I'm a hippie according to GL since I want to do endurance? Neat!
Gator seems so happy without his draw reins, out with other horses 12+ hours/day on GRASS NOT getting sanded. I should tell him it's because we're hippies. :) I'm proud to be a hippy if it means my horse isn't getting abused and his health compromised for the sake of pretty! He's pretty enough without perfectly shiny hooves! :p GL will even say so. :)
Hoof sanding. WIth power sanders?
Hello, unnatural?
I have never done such a thing, ever. The dun has nice strong feet, barefoot and all.
I've even shied away from using the black polish, now a little coat of either clean mineral oil, or even hooflex and his feet look top notch.
Not natural, not natural not natural. cant believe there is a market for HOOF SANDERS.
I am SUCH a hippie!! Is that because I am (was) an eventer? Aren't we total hippies? LOL
Today on my to-do list is to stop at Tractor Supply and pick up my FAVE hippie mag, Natural Horse Magazine.
I also need a new hoof rasp to continue doing Wild Horse trims on my Thoroughbreds.
And I'm going to the library to check out some Monty Roberts lit.
Union Square is a hippie!!
Far out, US...
I loved all (three that I own) of his books, but "Horses I have known" or something, made me cry.
alot.
It's just for want of a better word, ya know.
Hippy just seems to fit..
Is the magazine "Equus" still in publication?
My local tack shop doesn't carry it anymore. I learned a TON from that mag.
And of course, I lent them all out to my students.
kestrel said this.
"Sanding hooves with a power sander...WTF?!! Unless you're using a wet sander the heat buildup could really do some damage to the laminae, and unless it's one big assed show I don't sand hooves. After sanding you have GOT to stay on top of using hoof dressing (until the hoof has completely grown all the way out!) or their poor hooves will split like crazy. We go from super wet to bone dry a lot in this area. Without the periople to regulate moisture, cracks develop bacteria in the hoof wall. That is a real PITA to keep under control.
I have seen show horses that have developed some bad contracted heels from having the rear wall of the hoof sanded too thin. I stay away from the heel area as much as possible, and use the water and soap soluble polish. It's thick enough to hide a lot!"
I've deleted SFTS's comment. Perhaps she could re-post it on JR's "the Gloves are Off" blog, where arguments are encouraged.
I'll happily argue about it there.
Oh, kestrel, I just remembered. There are lots of water-soluble clear-coat paints out there now.
They should be less harmful to the periople, yes?
I'll repeat
Arguments in the Pro-Sanding Camp go HERE.
SFTS:
Here is a thought, maybe she deleted your comment because she finds you obnoxious and doesn't want you posting on her blog.
SFTS:
Your return comment does not appear, but I know what it was.
Golightly said to take it to The Gloves Are Off blog and she said she would be happy to argue. You had a comprehension fail, are you ever able to comprehend anything at all, I mean really, ever? Since you apparently can't follow simple direction, your comments were deleted. Really quite simple. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to comprehend that.
Note that she doesn't dispute the negative effects of sanding. Rather, her argument is that you referred to the wrong photograph.
I don't care how many people agree with sanding, science isn't a democracy for Christ's sake! It's concerned with demonstrable facts not vote counting.
You can ride on the roof of your car or engage in any other form of reckless behavior and get away with it. It's the one time when injury results from the reckless behavior that I'm concerned about. Similarly, it's the damage caused by sanding that I'm concerned about.
BHM:
Why how very logical of you!
BHM said
"science isn't a democracy for Christ's sake!"
fcs, bhm...
it's better, trust me, to use acronyms.
Didn't you get the update?
I heart you.
Sadly true.
You hippie, you.
scritch that Trooper, and give his hooves a spit shine!
Alpaca Spit!
YES!
That'll be three zillion dollars, CCC. Your newest and bestest marketing criation.
I'll give Trooper a face rub for you. It reduces him to a puddle of blissed-out, happy Shire. If horses could purr his out board motor would be going full speed. Trooper, no doubt, will be send a big, "I luvz my aunt, GL."
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