Natural Balance Hoof Care: A practical guide to hoof care science and foot function for pleasure and performance horses [Print Replica] Kindle Edition

Natural Balance Hoof Care - A Practical Guide to Hoof Care Science and Foot Function for Pleasure and Performance Horses is a comprehensive textbook for both the hoof care novice and professional. It is unlike most educational sources in the fact that we have provided information both in a literary and audio/video format. The set of videos that come with this textbook, along with the available "Natural Balance Shoeing" and "Natural Balance Hoof Trimming" videos, offer an extensive informational and instructional basis for the hoof care science of Natural Balance.Within the pages of this textbook, we will take you through the history of Natural Balance, and how these principles and guidelines have evolved over the years. From there you will be given a basic, general education on whole horse and equine limb anatomy, as well as a more in-depth coverage of the anatomy and function of the lower limb. There is some coverage on the birth and development of foals, as well as the development of the foot from newborn to yearling age. After that, we take you through the many tools and hoof care supplies that are used by farriers and professional trimmers on a daily basis, as well as the basic techniques used to operate some of the most common tools. The chapter on horsemanship and horse handling covers general information and addresses some concerns that pertain directly to you as a hoof care provider. Chapters 6 and 7 are extremely important for understanding what the needs of the foot are, and how you will be able to service those needs for optimum horse health. These chapters cover conformational issues of the limb and the foot, as well as how distortion and leverage affect the natural biomechanics of the foot and the locomotion of the horse. The next 3 chapters are the instructional portions that cover basic hoof trimming and shoeing, as well as forge work and shoe shaping. The instructional chapters are laid out in easy-to-follow outline form with pictures and detailed descriptions. The videos that come with this book, as well as the other instructional Natural Balance videos compliment these sections and should be relied on heavily for further details and examples. The "Lameness & Pathology" chapter is a great source for descriptions, causes, and possible treatments for some of the most common pathologies like laminitis and Navicular syndrome. The last chapter offers some general information about starting and operating a farrier or barefoot trimming business, as well as offering some advice on being a successful, professional hoof care provider.We hope you enjoy your adventure into the science of equine foot care, and in your quest for knowledge and skill development, you will find useful information and inspiration within this text. Read more