RE: standards of care (long!!!!)

[Sue Brown <sbrown@wamedes.com>]

>Dear Karen;  
>I have another idea to help out:  don't bother picking out the feet.  
>Unless there is a specific reason, like a rock stuck in the foot,  new
>research says that the natural pack of dirt keeps the horse's foot
>healthier.
>Katee

This is true since it acts as a cushion and helps the "frog
pump"...however, if there's manure packed in there with it, you're giving
all those nasty little anaerobes a good breeding ground.  Periodic cleaning
to expose everything to air is very important since the anaerobes don't do
as well in an aerobic environment.  A little Coppertox or some such thing
will help disinfect the area before it gets repacked (which I think happens
about 2 minutes after you've finished cleaning them! ;-))

Sue

sbrown@wamedes.com
Tyee Farm
Marysville, Wa.


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=