Sunday, August 10, 2014

Bigfoot on Course: Is Gatcombe's Best Shod Horse the Biggest Shod, Too?

Gatcombe Park best shod horse Mulrys Error
This horse is making a big splash in the eventing world. British event rider Ben Hobday's big-footed advanced horse is headed to the 4* Land Rover Burghley International Horse Trials in September next, with new shoes that measure seven inches across. Does Mulrys Error OBE have the biggest advanced section feet in the eventing world? (Smudge9000 photo)

Congratulations to British farrier Paul Conway, whose shoes were on Mulrys Error OBE, winner of the 2014 "Best Shod Horse" award at the British Festival of Eventing at Gatcombe Park last weekend. The judge couldn't miss this horse's feet.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Navicular Syndrome: Does FDA Approval of Tildren and Osphos Change Anything?

equine distal limb hoof
From bone to zone: Focus on navicular-type lameness has evolved from concentrating on identifying bone defects visible in radiography to a more dynamic approach to also detect possible soft tissue injury, deteriorating hoof condition and age- or sport-related stress factors. The navicular bone is circled in this distal limb bone model at the University of Nottingham Vet School.

The landscape of treatment options for equine navicular syndrome is set to change this year, as the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) recently approved two drugs for use in the treatment of this complex lameness problem in the horse's foot. "Tildren" and "Osphos" are two specific medications that cleared the difficult hurdles of the FDA approval process in May 2014.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Scotland's David Varini Wins European Farrier Championship for United Kingdom



David Varini Calgary Stampede World Champion farrier
Scottish farrier David Varini was World Champion in 2013 and has won the European title previously. (Hoof Blog file photo)

Congratulations to Scottish farrier David Varini, who has just been declared the winner of the European Farriery Championship, held this weekend in England.

Euro Farrier Champions: Top Ten Finalists and Meet Dutch Champion Gert-Jan Salm

The European Farriery Championship is in full swing this week in England; here's a list of the farriers and nations who made it through to the "Top Ten", and are competing today, Sunday.

european farriery championships hoof blog


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Whose Horseshoes Did CHIO Aachen Add to the Walk of Fame?



If you were a horseshoe, where would you like to spend eternity?

If you'd been on a sport horse, the answer is the hallowed Walk of Fame, a plaza at the showgrounds of CHIO Aachen, the national horse sport championships of Germany and international showcase of the competition horse.