--- Carol Higgs <carollhiggs@...> wrote:

> Hi All
> I would appreciate some help from some of you that are
> knowledgable
> about herbs and treating horses for health issues.
> I have a horse that needs joint supplements, he has arthritus, high
>
> ringbone, hock spavins. I just want him to have a quality life, if
> I
> can get him sound enough for pleasure riding of course I would love
> it!
> I would like to know how much yucca root powder and devils claw to
> give
> my horse, he is around 1000 pds. This is a common ingrediant in
> most of
> the natural supplements.I know MSM does also helps, that is easy to
>
> figure. I just can't afford to keep buying these expensive
> supplemnets,
> he is not like he can't get around,he does limp on the foot with
> ringbone, but he is the herd boss and does move his two buddies
> around
> with out any problem. I am working on his feet myself for lack of a
>
> barefoot trimmer that is willing to come 3 hours to trim and I know
>
> barefoot will also help all his joint issues. He is on turnout in a
> 12
> acre pasture 24/7. Do any of you have a formula for a combination
> of
> these things to help the inflamantion and pain. I also would like a
>
> place to order thses things,I can buy a 1/2 pd of Devils claw
> locally,
> but it cost me 29.99, I saw it on line for 12.00 for a pd!
> I know none of the expensive joint supplements are going to "cure"
> him,
> I think they just have the right combo to relieve the pain.
> Any insight would help!
> Carol






I know this is a barefoot horses list, but I am going to say this
anyway, if you do not want to hear about shoeing, use the delete key
now.







With horse with arthritis and ringbone, one of the methods we have
used in our farrier buisness that really makes these horses
comfortable and in many cases rideable and bucking and cantering in
the pasture is this.

We use a poly shoe called Ground Control, we rasp in a mustang roll
all around the shoe, we do a natural balance trim before we put on
the shoe. We use a product from Epona, it is a hoof pack that goes
in between the frogs, it simulates dirt in a barefoot horse...and the
shoe also keeps the frog pumping as well. The hoof packing is very
supportive, the poly shoes are like air nikes for these horses.

I have knee issues myself, and some arthritis, thats one of the
reasons I moved from Seattle Wa to Hawaii. I never walk outside, or
on uneven ground barefoot....I always wear my shoes, they are more
supportive and I can get around if I have them on, without them, I
can not walk very far comfortably.

I have seen this work on horses as well. Barefoot, air nikes, (or
the shoe that is the most comfy for you) or steel toed heavy duty
boots?

What do you wear on uneven ground?

I wear light very supportive footwear because of my issues and in our
farrier buisnes we do the same for horses that need the extra help.


As far as the joint supplement Country supply has a cheap Yucca
supplement, we have used this exact product on a retired show
champion from Europe that had joint issues. It helped him immensley.
He had shoes as well though, poly natural balance shoes with a full
frog support, that keeps the frog pumping.


Skye



~~~~Fire Island Farms~~~~
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Certified Farrier Services
'Natural Balance' Shoeing and Trimming.
Founder, Navicular options for your horse.

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