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What is a Farrier, and why they are so important
Farriers play an important. yet often overlooked role in equine health. Farriers help to maintain an equines hooves, insuring the animal is healthy and happy. Poor hoof health can lead to infections, lameness, and even death. Let's take a look at the anatomy of a hoof, as there is a lot more going on in there than you might think.
We will outline the basics of what a Farrier does and how you can identify if your animal needs the services of a Farrier.
So what do Farriers do? In a nutshell they maintain the length, balance, and integrity of the hoof capsule. They check for discomfort, infections, clean, trim the hoofs, and help to insure your animal remains healthy. While horses and donkeys share the same anatomy, there are several differences in the hoof capsule and specific care which you can read more about here. In general, your equine should be examined by a farrier every 6-10 weeks, if they start favoring a foot, there is any sign of infection, or there is a deformity in the hoof you should schedule an appointment immediately. If you have questions, contact you local veterinarian for assistance.
Most importantly, don't wait if you see something wrong.
Here is an example of a healthy donkey hoof
Below are some examples of hooves that are unhealthy
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