Look after your back

Physical work and heavy lifting are an inevitable part of a life with horses, whether you are an experienced groom or a leisure horse owner.

Horses’ feet and legs are heavy so very often, they do not receive the daily hoof checks and care that have been proven to improve hoof health and strength

Research carried out at Queen’s University Belfast has shown that our hoof stand greatly reduces the strain on handlers when carrying out the much-needed routine hoof work.  

Researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia conducted a very comprehensive study published in 2015 regarding the welfare of horses. They concluded that their welfare and well-being is ultimately determined by those responsible for their day-to-day care, this means that the care of their feet is not only the responsibility of the farrier every 4 to 6 weeks, but if you keep horses, you have the obligation to carry out daily checks and routines on your horses to maintain adequate levels of welfare!

The same researchers also showed that around the world, a substantial proportion of the welfare problems are due to horse owner neglect or mismanagement and that these arise because of ignorance rather than abuse.

A surprising number of horse owners believe hoof care is the sole responsibility of their hoof-care professionals. Hoof care and farrier visits often seem to be treated as a time-consuming and expensive hassle instead of an actually very simple part of a horse’s daily management.

There can be several reasons why horse owners may not pick out their horse’s feet as frequently as they should. Here are a few possible reasons:

  1. Lack of awareness: Some horse owners may not fully understand the importance of regular hoof care and the need to pick out their horses’ feet.
  2. Time constrains: Horse care involves various responsibilities, and horse owners may have limited time available to devote to each task. Picking out a horse’s feet requires time and effort, especially if there are multiple horses to attend to. Busy schedules or other commitments may make it challenging to prioritize frequent hoof cleaning.
  3. Uncooperative horse behaviour: Certain horses may be uncooperative or resistant to having their feet handled. This can make the process of picking out their feet challenging and time consuming. If a horse owner faces difficulty in handling their horse’s feet, they may be less inclined to perform the task frequently.
  4. Environmental factors: The environment in which horses are kept can affect the frequency of hoof cleaning. For instance, if a horse is kept in a clean and dry pasture or stable, there may be less debris and dirt accumulation in the hooves, reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
  5. Physical limitation: Picking out a horse’s feet can be physically demanding, especially for individuals with mobility issues or physical limitations, or in cases of large horses. Som horse owners may find it difficult to bend down or hold a hoof up for an extended period, which can discourage frequent cleaning.

While regular hoof cleaning is vital for horses’ health, these factors can contribute to why some horse owners do not pick out their horse’s feet as frequently as recommended.

However, it is important to note that neglecting hoof care can lead to potential issue, such as hoof infections, abscesses, or other hoof-related problems.

There is no doubt that there is a relationship between heavy loads and back pain. Lifting heavy objects like a horse foot repeatedly can strain your back leading to discomfort and potential injury. To avoid this, it is important to use proper lifting techniques, maintain good posture, and consider using equipment to minimize the risk of back pain.

Luckily enough there is a well-tested solution to the problem of lifting the heavy legs of your horse, you can use one of our lights but strong hoof stands to give your horse the care he needs while at the same time you take care of your back. Finnegan Tools hoof stand underwent scientific scrutiny at the Movement Innovation Lab, of Queen’s University Belfast, under the supervision of Professor Cathy Craig. In summary, this study indicated that the use of the hoof stands reduces significantly the heart rate of the handler and a to 70 % reduction in the physical strain on the handler during routine work.

Our stands are proven to reduce handler strain in all routine work, saving your back and helping to prevent injury as it allows you and your horse to be in a more relaxed position. Looking after your horses’ hoof health and at the same time reducing common handling strains on your own body helps you enjoy riding your horse for many more years to come.

Read the full report here.

Don’t delay, look after your back today!

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