Horses don't have so good in all places

Greetings from Romania!
I was on a business trip in Romania this week, and had to, or, had a chance to spend couple of days on countryside.
We made a round tour, started from Bucharest and the most far city was close 400 km from the capital of Romania.
In these 2 days I had the possibility to see how things really are in the countryside. It is very big gap between the city life and country life. The countryside is very poor. Houses and barns are very old and in very bad shape.

As you can see in my photos, people are still using very much horses to transport some things or just for going somewhere.

What really made me sad was the condition of horses. Most of them looked like they don't get enough food, hair looking like they are not taking care of properly.

People are just using their horses, not treating and taking care of them like they should.
But, there were also horses which were in very good shape. And that you could see about how the horses were acting. These poor horses did not pay any attention what was happening around them, but horses in good condition looking like they are "alive".

One romanian guy was my driver during these days, and he told me something what shocked me.
When the winter comes, gypsy people let their horses go free, because they don't need their horses on winter. And because they don't need them, they don't want to feed them!
Some horses survives over the winter on their own, some are not...
Actually I saw one dead horse stomach open, just left there on the roadside! Terrible!
I think I never can forget that view.
I just can't understand how people can act like this.

Purchased Horse Products online?

Have you ever purchased horse products through internet? I never have my self and that´s why I am curious to know which company or companies you have used.
What are their advantages and disadvantages, as delivery, quality, service, price...
Can you recommend the store you used or not?
What products you can recommend and what not?

Tell what ever you want, it might help many people to use or avoid certain stores.

Everyone of these Net stores telling how good prices, delivery, etc, but who really is good?
Let's give credit to good ones!

Horse Care or the lack of Horse Care

I really get pissed when I see horses suffering because of they have been neglected by their owner/care taker. I think people with common sense must see when some problems starts to occur, and not just see but act, try to do something. And if they don't have skills, knowledge to help the horse themselves, they must ask for help.

To tell have no money is no excuse. If somebody says that, I think that person is not wise enough to have the right to keep a horse.

If can afford to buy a horse, must afford to take care of it too. A horse is not a bike which you can put to garage and forget it there because you are not in the mood to ride it.
No, the horse needs care every day, and people can´t just wait that problems go away without doing anything.

What you think about these hooves? Didn't they need care more early?




And this poor horse then. Isn't it terrible a horse can be in that kind of condition?
Don't people realize horses are depending on us? Or is it with horses the same as with so many other things in this crazy world nowadays?

People just don't care...

Photos about Injuries available?

Hi,

Do you have own photos about horse tendon, horse ligament, fetlock, hoof injuries?
Or about something else?
Do you want to share them with other people?

The thing is, I want to put some photos about injuries on my website.
I can put them anonymous or with names, it is your decision.
I would be very grateful if you could send some photos to me.

You can send them to my email account:
hannu@horsehoofandfootproblems.com

Thanks,

Long break! (Is here any brave people around?)

Hello,

It has been a long break of my writing. The reason is I wanted just test my skills if I can create a blog. Some how I managed to do something...:)
Once I got it this far, why should I delete it?

Now it is time to start to use it regularly. I want you to write about your own experiences with horses or/and about their problems you have faced.

Was something difficult to heal, was something easy to do, what you used to fix this problem, etc.

I think I am not the only one who is curious to know how other people have handled certain problems.
Personally I always listen what other people have to say, because you never can now who can teach you something new, useful things, skills, to help my horse(s).

If there is not right subject available for you to write to, please make a suggestion, send me an email.

So, I am asking, who is the first one?

Don't be shy:)

Horse Suspensory Ligament

Horse ligament problems are an area I had only minor problems. And I am now talking about suspensory ligament as the title tells.
Never had a total damaged suspensory ligament.
Even though I tried my best to treat it, so I could continue some kind of training all the time and keep the healing system of the horse leg active.
Cooling with ice all the time was one main key to get over the problem quite quickly.
How are you treating or preventing suspensory ligament problems?

Horse Tendons

Horse tendon injuries are one these problems I hate most. You never can be sure will the horse heal 100% or not. You will see the result just when you start to be in the normal daily level of training, or racing.
You have done everything right and put a lot of work for the process, and still you can just hope everything will be ok.

Fortunately it is so long time ago I had this kind of problem. What about you, how you feel about horse tendon problems, and what kind of advice you got from vets?

Hoof Diseases

I've been lucky having only one time Hoof Thrush, and it was not a big problem. Fortunately I found it in very early stage. I had closed pads little bit too long, and conditions were wet all that time period, so there was all the time wet and dirt between pad and hoof.
I just took away pads and kept hooves clean I won the battle quite fast.

I know many people have been struggling with Thrush very much, so it would be interesting to read about your stories.
Also I think it would be great if you people tell all the good tricks you used, but also what things you found were not good, what mistakes you may have made.
In that way we all can help each other, and learn from each other.

Horse Fetlock

Fetlock problems are quite common. In my branch it seems they are quite much ignored, because if nothing can see from outside, if the fetlock is not already swollen, then there is no problem.
Weird...

Many people think if can´t see anything unusual on the legs, everything is ok.

I think a swelling fetlock is a sign of a longer existing problem, it hasn't came just now. I am not talking about some accident or wounds.
There probably is an infection in the joint causing the swelling.

Some ligament problem can be the reason for the swelling too. But then it is more local swelling, not the entire fetlock.

Have seen horses with swollen fetlocks and owner/trainer see that, but like ignoring them.
Why?
Don't they care about their horses or are they just so stupid or what?

The very first post

Hello Horse Folks,

My name is Hannu and had horses as a hobby about 28 years. Some short breaks have been without horses during these years.

Trotters have been my thing, reason I don´t know, but hey, I hope you people with other kind of relation to horses, "sitting on saddle" for example, don´t go away, because I want this blog to be for all kind of horse people.

Why I created this blog?

Well, I am interested in horse leg problems, because as training trotters have shown me the importance of taking care of legs. And I feel ever can´t be wise enough in this branch. Always can learn something new, by getting some new information, or by mistakes I´ve done.

I want to start discussions about different kind of leg and hoof problems, so I hope you will come here and write about your experience(s) with horses and their problems, or you can comment what someone else wrote.

Or, if you are looking for help, information, just tell me what kind of information you need.

By open minds it is possible we all can learn something new, or at least something to think about.

Here are examples of contents that might interest you also:
Fetlock, Hock, Knees, Hoof diseases, Hoof cracks, Tendons, Ligaments, Muscles, Shoeing, Shoes and Pads.

So, folks, be my guest, the arena is yours:)

Thanks,

Hannu