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Audrey Pavia

Audrey Pavia is a freelance writer and author of 23 books about animals. She lives with a host of animals at her Norco, Calif., home.

Articles

ARTICLES

Looking For Lameness During A Pre-Purchase Exam

Ohio vet and farrier corrects asymmetrical gaits with wireless sensors

By Audrey Pavia posted on May 12, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Clients, Education, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Prospective horse owners depend on pre-purchase exams to uncover issues that could potentially affect a horse’s performance — particularly hidden lameness. Adam Pendleton, an equine veterinarian and farrier, discussed a pre-purchase exam he conducted on a 10-year-old Quarter Horse mare during which he utilized an interesting method to determine the mare’s soundness: the Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator.

The Farrier’s Role In Correcting Angular Limb Deformities

Proven techniques for treating mild to serious deviations in foals

By Audrey Pavia posted on March 10, 2018 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases, Lamenesses, Therapeutic Shoeing, Trimming

Angular limb deformities in foals are not created equal. Yet, corrections can be made with quick and appropriate farriery and veterinary intervention. After nearly a half-century of hoof-care experience, including 2 decades as the head farrier at the University of California Veterinary School in Davis, Kirk Adkins has considerable experience with angular limb deformities, particularly in Thoroughbred foals.

What Causes Club Feet?

Hall Of Fame farrier Doug Butler examines why flexure limb deformities develop and how to prevent and manage them

By Audrey Pavia posted on December 4, 2017

The characteristics of a flexure limb deformity, commonly referred to as club foot, are easy to identify. Growth rings are wider at the heel, the toe is usually dished, the hoof is high on the heel and the coffin joint axis is broken forward. Radiographs often reveal that the coffin bone is deformed or remodeled. But what causes it?

Get A Leg Up On Common Foot Woes

Hoof-care professionals share strategies to prevent and stop thrush and white line disease

By Audrey Pavia posted on March 6, 2017 | Posted in Anatomy, Diseases

One of the consequences of domestic life for horses is hoof disease. Diet and heredity, along with confinement, contribute to certain serious conditions of the hoof.

Considerations For Negative Plantar Angles

Farriers and veterinarians share thoughts on the diagnosis and treatment of this condition

By Audrey Pavia posted on December 5, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Therapeutic Shoeing

One of the more common hind end problems that vets and farriers see is associated with negative plantar angles. This issue can present itself as a subtle limitation in performance to outright lameness.

Why Equine Bones Break and Tendons Rupture

Understanding anatomy and physics can help prevent severe injuries

By Audrey Pavia posted on May 9, 2016 | Posted in Anatomy, Education, Lamenesses

The life of one of the most promising racehorses of our time was cut short in 2006 after a long struggle to recover from a shattered fetlock. Barbaro’s injury at the Preakness Stakes and the New Bolton Center's heroic attempts to save him drew a lot of attention to the question of why so many young performance horses suffer from broken bones and ruptured tendons. Are these kinds of injuries inevitable? Should we give up trying to solve this problem?

Discuss Climate And Environment With Your Owners

Taking time to educate novice horse owners on better horse care can save you headaches down the road

By Audrey Pavia posted on April 4, 2016 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Farriers know too well how the effects of weather and where a horse is kept greatly affect the overall health of that horse’s hooves. Often, that familiarity comes because farriers must deal with the problems that result.

Preventing And Addressing Hoof Flares

Identifying and correctly managing deformations are critical to keeping horses sound

By Audrey Pavia posted on November 30, 2015 | Posted in Education, Diseases, Lamenesses, Trimming

Hoof flare is one of the most common issues facing farriers today. Yet as often as it’s seen, hoof flare is also potentially crippling to the horse. Recognizing hoof flare and treating it can be crucial to keeping your clients’ horses healthy and sound.

Giving Your Opinion For A Pre-Purchase Exam

It is important to reserve your opinions on a horse specifically related to its footcare

By Audrey Pavia posted on May 8, 2015 | Posted in Business Practices, Clients

Before purchasing a horse, it is common for buyers to contact a veterinarian for advice on the animal prior to the sale. Wise buyers also will seek the expertise of a farrier during the evaluation. After all, farriers are the ultimate experts on the hooves and these days it is increasingly important for owners to understand the hoof health in relation to the rest of the horse.

Rehabilitating Equine Tendon Injuries

Equine veterinarian Roland Thaler delivers an overview of the process for diagnosing and overcoming this issue

By Audrey Pavia posted on December 1, 2014 | Posted in Anatomy, Lamenesses

The tendons of the lower leg are one of the most crucial parts of the equine anatomy. Responsible for the elastic recall crucial for locomotion, healthy tendons are mandatory for a sound horse.

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2019 American Farrier’s Association Convention Vern Hornquist Memorial Class

Watch International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame member Roy Bloom of Drummond, Wis., as he forges the winning shoe during the Vern Hornquist Memorial Class at the 2019 American Farrier’s Association Convention in Tulsa, Okla. Bloom forged a 10 1/4” x 3/8” x 1” shoe from a 4 1/2” x 5” piece of aluminum bar stock. The toe must be 3/16” and the heel must be 1/2”. It also must fit six #4 city head nails.

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