equine hoof care & rehabilitation centre

Upcoming CPTG oil events

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 20:01:00 +0000

Blue Mountain is very proud to be associated with the following Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oil events being held around New Zealand during February.

We use and recommend these products as being highly effectively for horses, other pets and people! Discover the powerful natural healing potential of Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils in reducing stress, supporting the immune system, assisting with focus, body balancing and speedy recovery from knocks, cuts, sprains, etc.

These events are focused on sharing information. Everybody is welcome. Just mention Blue Mountain at the door for free entry.

Auckland - Tue 10th Feb at X-Factor Organic Health Spa, 161 Marua Road, Ellerslie, 6:30pm
Palmerston North - Sat 14th Feb at Massey Equestrian Complex A Rooms, Best Road off Albany Drive from Old West Road, 1:00pm
Auckland - Mon 16th Feb at X-Factor Organic Health Spa, 161 Marua Road, Ellerslie, 6:30pm
Nelson - Tue 17th Feb, Rutherford Hotel, 27 Nile Street West, 6:30pm
Motueka - Wed 18th Feb, Motueka Community House, Decks Reserve (opposite the Information Centre), 6:30pm
Blenheim - Thu 19th Feb, Scenic Circle Hotel, Cnr Alfred & Henry Streets, 6:30pm
Rotorua - Sat 21st Feb, venue TBC, 1:00pm
Whitianga - Mon 23rd Feb, venue TBC, 6:30pm
Christchurch - Wed 25th Feb, Avebury House, Avebury Park, Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, Richmond, 6:30pm
Hamilton - Sat 28th Feb, venue TBC, 2pm

If you would like to learn more about these amazing products, but live outside these areas or are unable to attend, please contact Molly Wastney by phone 03 541-9442.

See also Doterra Essential Oils for Horses NZ on Facebook for firsthand stories from those already using CPTG essential oils with their animals.

Farriers wanted nationwide

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Due to high demand for our services, we are looking for farriers with a genuine desire to up-skill in ELPO hoof care protocols.

Not only will you be trained in modern methods developed by world-leading hoof care research experts, but there are existing and ever-growing client lists throughout the country ready and waiting.

You will be part of a team continuing to experience positive and sometimes even life-saving results in correcting and preventing lameness-related issues in all parts of New Zealand, and joining the ranks of a passionate and very supportive international network.

Contact us for more information.

Upcoming Kaikoura clinic

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 01:33:00 +0000

The last Blue Mountain clinic for 2013 is being held at Bluff Station, Kaikoura, on 28th and 29th December. Each of the daily sessions cover:

Day Two, 10:00am start:

Anatomy of the lower equine limb
How to recognise the internal structures from external reference points
How to recognise hoof distortion
Live sole mapping in preparation for trimming

Day Two, 10:00am start:

Hoof trimming and shoeing in accordance with recognised ELPO protocols

To register or for more information, please phone Molly Wastney on 03 541-9442 evenings.

Vet Corner: Equine hoof distortions - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:22:00 +0000

In his last post, veterinarian Andrew Conway BVSc from The Vet Centre Richmond touched on how External Hoof Mapping can be used as a useful tool to evaluate the conformation of your horse's feet. This ensures that any distortions in hoof growth can be recognised early to prevent potential discomfort or lameness. In this follow up post, Andrew now looks at another area of hoof conformation that is easily overlooked, but can often have subtle to severe impacts on your horse's movement.

Firstly, have you ever noticed any of these things about your horse?

Moves better on one lunge direction compared to the other
Rushes after landing from a jump
Bucking after a jump
Often places feet to either side of the midline when standing at rest
Hard swellings, sometimes sensitive, on the medial or lateral aspect above the coronet on the hoof (see Figure 2 further below).

The joints in a horse's leg, from the stifle down in the back leg and the elbow down in the front, are known as hinge joints. This means that they can only move in one direction (compare that to your wrist, which can move in all directions). All these joints have minimal tolerance for side to side movement.

Put another way, if you were to ask your horse to walk around a hill side in the same direction continually, it would soon become lame. The persistent pressure on one side of the hoof being greater than the other side will eventually cause irritation to joints, in particular between the coffin bone (also known as the Phalanx 3 or P3) and the Phalanx 2 (or P2).

Figure 1: The exfoliated functional sole thickness is equal
beneath the lateral and medial ventral border of P3 and,
therefore, is reliable as a reference guide for medial-lateral balance.

A similar effect results from uneven hoof wall lengths between the medial and lateral sides of the hoof. The distance between the lateral and medial borders of P3 to the ground surface must be equal. If one side is higher than the other (even only 3 or 4 millimetres) for long periods of time, irritation will occur in the joint between P2 and P3, resulting in discomfort and lameness. This is shown here in Figure 1.

Over a long period of time, the collateral ligaments become calcified due to being under constant strain and irritation, and are then called ‘sidebones’ (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: The head of arrow 'A' shows an example of hard swellings on the medial or lateral
aspect above the coronet. Arrows 'B' show sidebones.

How can you tell if your horse’s feet have a medial-lateral imbalance?

One way is to have your horse's feet X-rayed (see Figure 3). Even if the problem is not currently present, the presence of sidebones can suggest that there has been a problem. Generally, sidebones are not an issue in themselves - they are just the end result or symptom of irritation or strain to the collateral ligaments, usually due to medial-lateral imbalance.

Figure 3: X-raying to check for medial-lateral imbalance

Another way is to have the sole exfoliated in the region of the widest part of the foot (discussed earlier in Part 1). When the functional sole is identified, the height of the hoof wall on each side should be equal. The functional sole thickness is a reliable reference for medial and lateral heights of the distal border of P3 from the ground and is, therefore, an accurate guide in achieving medial-lateral balance in the hoof.

What can I do about it?

The solution is generally simple and the results can be dramatic. Have all your horse's feet trimmed for medial-lateral balance - either from X-rays (a very reliable check method, especially if the problem persists), or from exfoliation of the sole down to ‘live’ sole, measuring the hoof wall in the area of the widest part of the sole and trimming for equal heights medial to lateral.

Vet Corner: Equine hoof distortions - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:18:00 +0000

This is the first of planned regular posts by veterinarian Andrew Conway BVSc. Horses form a substantial part of The Vet Centre Richmond's activities, and Andrew has developed a special interest in equine hoof care and lameness issues. In this post, Andrew looks more closely at hoof distortions - what are they and how can you recognise them?

Around half a tonne of horse weight is supported by a bony column ending in a supporting structure called the 'HOOF' - a capsule of keratin, ligaments, tendons, bone, blood vessels and nerves that is the last supporting structure between the horse and the ground. It is not surprising then, that 80% of horse lameness issues are associated with the hoof or its adjacent structures and, equally, it is not surprising that the hoof's health and conformation is critical to the athletic function and comfort of the horse it supports.

COA should be halfway along the ground contact surface of
the hoof. That is, the breakover point to the most caudal part
of the heel touching the ground (usually part of the frog).

Although there is considerable opinion on what is normal hoof conformation, there are some very established and well-recognised guidelines. One of these is what is called the ‘Centre of Articulation’ or COA, which is a point in the middle of the distal condyle of P2. Draw a line to the ground from this point and you should have equal amounts of ground contact area behind that point as you do in front.

The tendency is that with poor trimming or infrequent trimming/wear, you end up with much more area in front of this line than behind. In turn, this can cause discomfort, poor function, incorrect gait and lameness. When this occurs, it is called ‘Hoof Distortion’.

In the arid, wild environment of the native horse, wear occurs on a daily basis and 99% of these horses' feet have no distortions. However, the way we care for our horses and use them in domestic life is quite different to that wild environment. We put shoes on them, stable them and we graze them on soft ground. All these actions take away any natural wear of the hoof structures that are growing relentlessly 24-hours a day. We become reliant on regular trimming to look after the conformation of the hoof.

As the hoof wall grows, without natural wear or correct trimming
occurring, distortions start to appear. These include loss of frog
ground contact, elongated frog, long heels and toe, bent and
cracked bars, etc.

The difficulty is that, from the outside, it is difficult for the horse owner to know where this point (COA) is without X-rays. That is, until more recently.

At a specialist conference I attended in Colorado, USA, External Hoof Mapping was presented as a tool to identify and grade hoof distortions. This is for the purposes of monitoring the process of correcting hoof distortions and lameness, and also as an aid to predict potential lameness, such as Navicular syndrome, on the basis of the grade of hoof distortion present. For example, a Grade 1 distortion is the normal growth of the hoof that you would expect between trimmings. Whereas a Grade 3 distortion may show altered gait and discomfort, with the toe becoming elongated, the heels long, and the frog elongating and losing ground contact.

One of the key markers used is what is called the ‘Widest Part of the Hoof’ or WPH (or more correctly, the widest part of the sole). By finding this point, we know where the COA is. The COA is consistently located one inch behind the WPH. The WPH can be located by three methods - which are best demonstrated on a horse rather than described here - but it is something very valuable for a horse owner to know so that they can make some assessment of their horse's conformation and need for corrective trimming. Even apparently normal looking hooves can be slightly distorted, but the correction is simple, and the results on a horse's movement and comfort can be remarkable.

Look out for Part 2 of Andrew Conway's informative hoof distortion post, to be published here shortly.

The story of George

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:15:00 +0000

Six years ago, Nelson woman Helen Bowler wrote down the special story of her Warmblood-X-Thoroughbred horse, George, and his long struggles with lameness - as the eventual happy ending meant so much to her.

Even though scientific research into hoof care and lameness prevention has continued to advance rapidly since that time, and we are learning more and more as the years go by, the foundations of George's rehabilitation are still just as relevant today. Six years on, this story still makes interesting reading.

Helen has kindly asked that this story, told largely from George's point of view, now be shared here for anyone who may be interested: Select here to access to The Story of George.

Welcoming a fully digital X-ray facility

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:34:00 +0000

In association with The Vet Centre Richmond, Blue Mountain is pleased to now be able to offer a fully digital X-ray facility to our Nelson Bays based clients and horses receiving care at our Wakefield clinic.

The only instantaneous digital X-ray veterinary service available in the South Island north of Rangiora, it means your horse can be trimmed and shod to X-ray there and then if required. Results can also be copied to disk for clients or emailed via smart phone data link from right there in the paddock.

This X-ray system is fully portable, so very useful out in the field. It produces vastly better quality X-rays, showing much more detail than older, non-digital technologies. This enables more accurate diagnosis of even body areas. We also like it because it does not use any toxic chemicals, produces lower radiation outputs, and there is no wastage or consumables required.

There is also a separate hand-held digital X-ray machine available to take high-quality pictures of your horse’s teeth to enable accurate assessment by a veterinarian of any root and/or bone loss.

Upcoming Nelson clinic

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Our next Nelson-based educational clinics are being held on 28th and 29th July 2012 at The Blue Mountain Centre, 1495 Eighty Eight Valley Road, Wakefield. These sessions cover:

Day One, 9:30am - 4:30pm:
- Anatomy of the lower equine limb
- How to recognise the internal structures from external reference points
- How to recognise hoof distortion
- Live sole hoof mapping in preparation for trimming

Day Two, 9:30am - 4:30pm:

- Hoof trimming in accordance with recognised ELPO protocols

Morning/afternoon tea and lunch will be provided for all attendees.

To register or make enquiries, please telephone us on 03 541-9442 evenings.

North Island workshops announced

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Wed, 30 May 2012 09:26:00 +0000

The first North Island hoof care workshops following Equine Lameness Prevention Organization (ELPO) protocols are being held over the weekend of 23rd/24th June in Hastings.

These are aimed at farriers, horse owners and veterinarians to help them determine how a horse's foot is functioning and if current or future lameness issues may be a concern.

Day 1: Hoof Mapping - Learn a step-by-step process to evaluate any horse's foot
Day 2: Hoof Trimming - Learn and practice trimming a horse's foot**
**Some restrictions apply

Download the event flier for more information and booking details. Spaces are limited.

Severe dorsal hoof split

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:10:00 +0000

Cricket, a now 8-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, endured a severe and very painful dorsal split in his hoof considered incurable by the equine veterinarians who treated him. The solution to Cricket’s lameness was found in the basic concepts of modern farriery.

When the Blue Mountain Centre’s Kevin Wastney first met Cricket in 2011, the gelding had a large crack running down the centre of the dorsal (front) wall of his near-fore (front-left) hoof. This crack was about the width of an adult human finger, with the pieces of hoof wall on either side of the split moving independently of one another.

Owner Jessica Poynton says that she had not noticed any visible cracks in Cricket’s hoof until an abscess blew out through the coronet during a period of wet winter flooding. With the abscess unable to be completely dug out by the attending vet, a poultice was immediately applied. This was removed the following morning to reveal the extensive and excruciating crack.

We are treating an increasing number of dorsal hoof splits.
Someone had attempted to fibreglass this different example
together, which also created an ideal breeding ground for fungi.

What happens when a horse’s hoof is allowed to grow significantly past the correct point of breakover, or is not trimmed in accordance with important internal structures, is that the hoof becomes dangerously distorted and the hoof walls are often excessively flared, weakening the hoof tissue. Kevin believes the abscess would have weakened the tissue still further, resulting in the hoof blowing apart and the crack forming.

Immediately following the appearance of the split, Cricket began receiving care at a New Zealand specialist equine veterinary hospital. Various treatments were attempted over the following twelve months, including being stabled 24 hours a day for several weeks, affixing a bar shoe to the bottom of Cricket’s hoof, and applying silicon to meld the crack together.

Unfortunately, all treatments proved unsuccessful and Cricket remained extremely lame and in considerable pain. The vets treating Cricket were also concerned his injury may make him susceptible to Navicular in the future. Cricket was eventually discharged back to Jessica’s care with a formal veterinary recommendation that euthanasia be seriously considered.

In a last desperate attempt to save Cricket, Jessica contacted the Blue Mountain Centre after being given the phone number from a friend.

“Cricket was still terribly lame, basically walking on three legs. I didn't really think that anything would work for Cricket at that point, but after Kevin shod him for the first time, he walked out sound straight away." -- Jessica Poynton, Cricket's Owner

Cricket was unable to trot soundly for some time, but it was a huge improvement; he hadn’t been able to walk anywhere without struggle for over a year. Although Cricket did trot out soundly after his third hoof trim, he proceeded to work through intermittent lameness issues for many months. There were good times and bad times during this period, due to the ligaments and whole suspensory apparatus inside Cricket’s foot having been under serious strain for such a long period.

Cricket's hoof after one year of successful treatment
using ELPO's trimming protocols.

Cricket has been extremely lucky to survive, but in fact, his is not the miracle story that it may seem. The treatment that finally saved his life was not complex, but came through following basic ELPO principles now used across many parts of the world. For both routine hoof care and rehabilitation cases, it is crucial that each hoof is mapped out correctly prior to trimming using accurate reference points on the outside of the hoof. This ensures the exact location of critical internal hoof structures are known so that hoof care can be carried out ensuring their correct alignment, as is required for a horse to be healthy. Trimming back to the live sole (removing the dead tissue) is also important to help to prevent excessive hoof distortion.

Now merry as a Cricket once again.

Today, two years on from when the crack first appeared and a year after that first trim using ELPO protocols, Cricket is now back in full work and jumping eagerly. Most importantly, he is healthy and happy. All that remains of his previous injury is a tell-tale line down his dorsal hoof wall, which should continue to improve over time, and a love for eating Gingernut biscuits from his farrier’s lunchbox.

Can you recognise a distorted hoof?

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:21:00 +0000

In early 2012, a one day hoof mapping workshop is being held here at the Blue Mountain Centre in Nelson Bays.

Hoof mapping is a valuable skill that anyone can learn. Using references easily found on the outside of the hoof, you will be able to identify potential hoof distortion and predict, with a good level of accuracy, existing or potential future lameness.

Even apparently normal looking hooves can be slightly distorted, but the correction is often simple and the results on a horse's movement and level of comfort can be remarkable.

Horses are being provided for all workshop attendees, so spaces are limited. Email us to register your interest, and we will be in touch with you as soon as details are confirmed.

Equine body work art

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:04:00 +0000

Dharma is seen here patiently modelling her middle layer of muscles, as painted on by Blue Mountain Centre’s equine body worker Kirsty Wastney.

Horses have, in basic terms, three layers of muscles. The deep muscles are those that surround the skeleton which we cannot feel through the skin. The superficial muscles are those just beneath the skin’s surface that our hands can detect and touch. The middle layer muscles are located a little deeper than the superficial muscles, but most are still palpable through the skin. The healthy and efficient interaction between muscles plays a vital role in the quality of the work that your horse is able to give you, as well as ensuring that he/she is comfortable and happy while performing their job.

Being a rider and having a real interest in equine biomechanics gives Kirsty a unique approach to body work for horses. She involves you as the rider and, in many cases, will provide both on the ground and under saddle exercises for you to do with your horse. Practising exercises like this helps your horse to become stronger, suppler and ultimately a much more willing athlete.

People often have a massage session on their horse for relaxation purposes and end up finding the answer to a niggly schooling issue that has been causing problems for months or longer. Massage and body work are really nice ways to get your horse thoroughly checked over for soreness, while reaping the huge benefits of relaxing, renewing and health-promoting therapy.

Launch date announced

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:06:00 +0000

Join us for the launch of New Zealand's specialist equine hoof care and rehabilitation clinic on Sunday 13th November. Entry to this Blue Mountain Centre Open Day is free, everybody welcome.

Take the opportunity to look around our new purpose-built facilities, meet the Blue Mountain team and check out the newly constructed training cross-country course, which will shortly be available for use.

Download the open day launch flier for more information.

We're also pleased to present the following speakers for your interest and enjoyment:

Bill Noble
A chat around the hay bales

New Zealand's most experienced Grand Prix dressage coach, trainer to Mark Todd 1983-1988, successful competitor, judge and NZ Horse & Pony columnist chats in an open forum.

Kevin Wastney
In your horse's shoes

New Zealand's only farrier representative at the recent International Lameness Prevention Conference held in Penrose USA, Blue Mountain Centre's Kevin Wastney (LSHMC, CNBBT, CNBF, CLS) shares practical insights and information about what the latest equine hoof care research means for horse owners and the equine industry.

Patricia Warhurst
Thermal imaging

Patricia Warhurst (BAppSC, Masters Rehab) discusses non-invasive and portable thermal imaging diagnostics to aid in the treatment of horses.

The Vet Centre Richmond
Equine treatments and therapies

Veterinarians Andrew Conway (BVSc) and Kelly Phillips (BVetMedHons, BScHons MRCVS) talk treating horses, the latest X-ray technology being implemented on-site at the Blue Mountain Centre and equine acupuncture.

With many thanks to our kind sponsors for their support:

NZ's specalist equine hoof care clinic takes shape

noreply@blogger.com (Letterarti) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Construction begins on Blue Mountain Centre facilities: including a purpose-built consulting clinic and shoeing shop, a large surfaced dressage/jumping arena, round yard and training cross-country course. Veterinary and on-site digital X-ray services will also be available in partnership with The Vet Centre Richmond.

This specialist centre for equine hoof care and rehabilitation is scheduled to open in Nelson Bays, New Zealand later this year. It will be the first clinic of its kind in Australasia, based on ELPO principles.