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RE: [RC] to shoe or not... - Linda Cowles

I don't have any objection to using pea gravel, just be 
vigilant in causing ouchiness until the feet do have a chance 
to toughen up.  And, I probably wouldn't advise using it in 
laminitic horses until well past the acute stage.

Yep... Good advice. I heard that there have been recent studies that prove
that the best thing for laminitic horses is a sandy surface - not deep sand,
just enough to support the sole.

The bottom line is that movement and stimulation encourages the sole to
toughen and develop, and that's why I only put pea gravel one area - a
favorite area. The horse will be drawn to it, but won't stay there if it's
uncomfortable.

Linda Cowles
Certified Hoof Care Provider
707-869-8270 - Home
707-621-0240 - Cell
HealthyHoof@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.HealthyHoof.com









-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Susan 
E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 5:23 PM
To: healthyhoof@xxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: 'Ridecamp'
Subject: RE: [RC] to shoe or not... 


The one thing that's really making a big difference with some of my 
horses is an idea that Pete Ramey suggested, a loose pea 
gravel loafing 
area to toughen feet, particularly feet that are soft 
because of seasonal moisture.
One of my clients hopped on the idea and I'm seeing great 
feet in just 
a few weeks. The pea gravel really massages and toughens the sole.

However, I would be careful with pea gravel in horses with 
*really* soft soles.  After the wet winter, I'm treating a 
lot more solar abscesses, and even a small rock seems to be 
sufficient to cause a bruise and subsequent abscess in *some* 
horses.  I have one horse in my practice with very thin soles 
on pea gravel that was just miserable until we put him onto shavings.



JMO.

Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS



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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
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Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

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Replies
RE: [RC] to shoe or not..., Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.