Monday, April 24, 2017

When Should You Call Your Farrier?

Good afternoon!

Being a horse owner requires having an open line of communication with your farrier and knowing when it's appropriate to give them a call. Of course, when in doubt it is always better to be safe than sorry but today's featured article courtesy of Chronicle of the Horse helps horse owners to break down a few common hoof issues to know when you may need your farrier to make an impromptu visit to your farm.



Some of the common issues discussed in the article include:

- Scheduling an appointment before your next big show

- A tweaked show (that always seems to happen before a show, on a holiday or weekend!)

- Potential abscess

- Cracked hoof

Read the full article HERE for some great advice!

Drew Morales of Morales Farrier Service offers a variety of services to keep your horse's feet sound and healthy including: Trims, Front Shoes, Full Sets of Shoes, Equi-Pak Pour-in pads, Glue on horseshoes, Therapeutic horseshoes and Corrective horseshoes to name a few. Drew can also create custom horseshoes to suit your horse's individual needs. Located in Richmond, VA, Morales Farrier Service serves the Eastern Virginia area including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Chester, Chesterfield and Powhatan.

To learn more about Drew and his services, please visit his website at www.moralesfarrierservice.com

Monday, April 17, 2017

The Lowdown on Laminitis

Good afternoon!

Today we're bringing you an important article for all horse owners to keep on hand at their barn about laminitis. Laminitis affects many horses year after year, but with proper care from your veterinarian and farrier, this health issue can be at least maintained and even prevented. Be sure to check out today's article for useful tips that can be referenced if you believe your horse is having a laminitic episode and ways to prevent the next one. It's important to note that your veterinarian and your farrier play a very important role is solving your horse's case and should work together to put together a plan that suits your horse best. 

Nicole Kitchener of Horse Canada writes, "Beyond correcting foundational hoof problems, continued therapeutic shoeing and monitoring involves supporting the laminae, promoting more weight bearing on the back of the hoof and moving the break over from back from the toe. To achieve these results, farriers use a number of different trimming techniques to great success as well as various shoes such as reverse and heart bar shoes. Plastic shoes are also used, even plywood clogs."


Read the full article HERE

Drew Morales of Morales Farrier Service offers a variety of services to keep your horse's feet sound and healthy including: Trims, Front Shoes, Full Sets of Shoes, Equi-Pak Pour-in pads, Glue on horseshoes, Therapeutic horseshoes and Corrective horseshoes to name a few. Drew can also create custom horseshoes to suit your horse's individual needs. Located in Richmond, VA, Morales Farrier Service serves the Eastern Virginia area including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Chester, Chesterfield and Powhatan.

To learn more about Drew and his services, please visit his website at www.moralesfarrierservice.com

Monday, April 10, 2017

A Farrier's Role in a Horse's Health

Good afternoon!

Today we're bringing you a very important and useful blog post that features the important role that farriers play in horse's daily lives. Healthy hooves result in a horse that is performance ready.

Jason Maki of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences writes, "Farriers manage and provide protection for horse hooves,” he said. “Protection for the hoof is frequently a steel shoe which is formed and fit to the horse’s trimmed foot. The hoof also grows over time and often does not wear evenly or enough to allow the horse to remain comfortable. Thus, farriers trim excess growth and restore the hoof to a functional form."


It's important to find a farrier that you can trust and rely on. Maki notes that as a horse owner trying to find a reputable farrier, check in with your veterinarian first as they should have a few on their list. It's also important to check in with other horse owners in the area. Although farriers don't need to be licensed or certified, it's important that you know that they are experienced in their craft from multiple recommendations.

To learn more, read the full article HERE

Drew Morales of Morales Farrier Service offers a variety of services to keep your horse's feet sound and healthy including: Trims, Front Shoes, Full Sets of Shoes, Equi-Pak Pour-in pads, Glue on horseshoes, Therapeutic horseshoes and Corrective horseshoes to name a few. Drew can also create custom horseshoes to suit your horse's individual needs. Located in Richmond, VA, Morales Farrier Service serves the Eastern Virginia area including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Chester, Chesterfield and Powhatan.

To learn more about Drew and his services, please visit his website at www.moralesfarrierservice.com





Monday, April 3, 2017

Insect Control Product Comparison

Good afternoon!

With warmer weather fast approaching it's time to start thinking about proper insect control for your horse. Thankfully, there are many products out there today that come in many different forms to keep your horse happy and comfortable. Today we're bringing you an article out of Doctors Foster and Smith that provides a handy insect control comparison chart to find the best product for your horse.


"At their most basic, each prevents your horse from being bothered or bitten. But more importantly, each may also help prevent the spread of dangerous equine diseases, including West Nile Virus, equine encephalitis, Lyme disease, and other diseases communicable via insects."

Find the full article HERE! Find the product comparison chart HERE

Drew Morales of Morales Farrier Service offers a variety of services to keep your horse's feet sound and healthy including: Trims, Front Shoes, Full Sets of Shoes, Equi-Pak Pour-in pads, Glue on horseshoes, Therapeutic horseshoes and Corrective horseshoes to name a few. Drew can also create custom horseshoes to suit your horse's individual needs. Located in Richmond, VA, Morales Farrier Service serves the Eastern Virginia area including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Chester, Chesterfield and Powhatan.

To learn more about Drew and his services, please visit his website at www.moralesfarrierservice.com