Original Horse Farriery & Training

11/07/2025

11/04/2025

5 resets and counting for this pair of Versa Grip Glues! Applied with urethane adhesive, this pair has withstood hundreds of miles and full time turnout.

"This was the 5th time these shoes were applied on this horse - same cuffs. We’ve used the same sets of shoes from May to October. 3 25 mile LD rides and 3 50 mile endurance rides. Lots of road conditioning, full time pasture turnout and a few riding vacations added into the mix."

Thank you for sharing, Chelsea Ashton!

11/03/2025

A horse’s hoof isn’t a block of wood to carve - it’s a living structure full of sensory feedback, circulation, and adaptability.

Underrun heels are one of the most common hoof distortions in domestic horses, and one of the most misunderstood.
They can impact comfort, soundness, and even boot fit.

In our latest blog post, Equine Podiotherapist Lisa Agius-Gilibert explains how to identify underrun heels, what causes them, and what you can do to help your horse develop stronger, healthier heels. 😎

11/02/2025

When the temperature dips below 40°F, it’s not just your fingers that get cold. The grass changes how it metabolizes fuel.
Here’s what’s happening:
During daylight, grass uses sunlight to make sugars through photosynthesis. Normally, those sugars are used for growth or stored in the roots overnight. But when nighttime or daytime temperatures drop below about 40°F, the grass can’t grow, meaning it stores those sugars instead of using them.
This means high sugar levels in the blades of grass, especially on bright sunny days followed by cold nights.
For horses with metabolic syndrome, high insulin, or a history of laminitis, that sugar spike in the grass can be risky. It’s like turning the pasture into dessert.
What to do when it’s cold out:
Avoid turnout on frosty mornings. This is when sugar levels are at their highest.
If possible, wait until late afternoon for grazing because sugar levels tend to drop as the day warms up.
Use a grazing muzzle or limit turnout time to control intake.
Rely more on tested, low-NSC hay when temperatures are consistently cold.
Keep tabs on your horse’s insulin and body condition. Early management prevents flare-ups. Ask us about insulin testing. It's quick and easy.

Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to lock your horse away from the pasture forever. It just means being strategic. Knowing how grass changes with the weather can help you keep your metabolic horse safe and comfortable all winter long.

10/28/2025

10/21/2025

10/18/2025

Hobble Breaking: Why It’s Not Cruel (and Why I Still Do It)

Hobble breaking gets people fired up faster than politics. Most folks who’ve never been around a hobbled horse swear it’s cruel—like you’re stealing their freedom.

But here’s the thing: if you’re against hobbles, you might as well be against halters, lead ropes, or tying your horse to a fence. It’s all about control. Hobbles just teach it in a different way.

So why do I hobble break every horse that comes through my program—even if their owner never plans to use them?

🐴 1. Safety first.
Horses are masters of disaster. Hobble training teaches them not to panic when something traps their leg.
I once had a horse wedge his foot in a cinder block (don’t ask how). Instead of losing his mind, he just stood there like, “Well, this is awkward.” Training works.

🌾 2. Grazing breaks.
During rest stops, they can graze without wandering to the next county.

💉 3. Vet work made easy.
Some horses would rather die than get a shot. Hobbles help them stand quietly for the vet—or when I have to play ranch nurse and stitch a cut.

🧘 4. Teaches patience.
For the chronic pawers: nothing teaches “stand still and chill out” better than a soft pair of hobbles.

🌵 5. No tie posts, no problem.
I never tie by the reins, and out here in the sagebrush, there’s nothing to tie to anyway.

Now, there’s a right way to introduce hobbles—and it’s not the “slap ’em on and let ’em figure it out” approach I see online. That’s like tossing a kid on a bike at the top of a hill and calling it a learning experience. It works… until it doesn’t.

Preparation matters. Just like we don’t saddle a horse cold, we shouldn’t hobble one cold either. Here’s how I build up to it:

1️⃣ Teach them to lead by each foot. All four. They should move that foot when asked and relax with the pressure.
2️⃣ Lunge them with a soft cotton rope on the inside leg. Apply gentle pressure—reward the stop. They learn that pressure on the leg means “pause,” not “panic.”
3️⃣ Then, and only then, introduce the hobbles. If you’ve done your homework, there’s no flailing, falling, or drama—just calm understanding.

When people skip this prep, they end up with horses who learn to run in hobbles. I’ve seen it—full-on gallop. Looks impressive until you realize you just trained your horse to escape… slowly.

Ever since I started this system, I haven’t had swollen legs, sore muscles, or chaos. Just thinking, calm horses who trust the process.

Prepare your horse for success—not a viral blooper reel.

10/11/2025

The hoof can change dramatically when given a compact trim. This horse has a foot infection in the lateral toe pillar we're working on resolving. It doesn't mean we can't positively impact the health of the hoof capsule congruently!