No hoof, no horse. Widely published equine authority Heather Smith Thomas explains exactly why this is in her latest book, Understanding Equine Hoof Care. Her comprehensive approach covers how domestication has compromised the equine hoof and offers instruction on how horses' feet can be returned to a more natural, and healthy, state, through conscientious care. Thomas describes the complete anatomy of the hoof and explains methods to both prevent and treat common foot ailments. These methods include proper shoeing for usage, daily cleaning, trimming, and knowing your horse well enough to spot any deviations that can indicate potential problems. Understanding Equine Hoof Care provides the reader with a wealth of information on how to maintain hoof health, treat minor problems, and know when it's time to work with a vet or farrier.
Heather Smith Thomas grew up on a ranch near Salmon, Idaho.
She is the author of 20 books and thousands of articles on animal health care. Her books include Essential Guide to Calving, Getting Started with Beef & Dairy Cattle, Storey's Guide to Raising Horses, Storey's Guide to Training Horses, The Horse Conformation Handbook, Care and Management of Horses, Stable Smarts, Understanding Equine Hoof Care, Beyond the Flames--A Family Touched by Fire, The Cattle Health Handbook and Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle.
She began writing stories for children's magazines while still in high school and wrote articles for horse and farm publications to help pay her way through college (University of Puget Sound). She wrote her first book, A Horse in Your Life: A Guide for the New Owner, during the summer between her sophomore and junior year of college. She and her husband Lynn Thomas have been raising beef cattle and a few horses on their ranch in central Idaho since 1967. Most of her books and articles deal with horse or cattle health care, breeding, or handling. Her goal has been to learn all she can about the care of horses and cattle, and to share this with her readers. One of her books, however, discusses an entirely different subject. Beyond the Flames tells about her daughter's severe burn injury and how this changed their lives. For more information about that book, and updates on the Thomas family and their ranch life, see Heather's blogs at http://www.heathersmiththomas.blogspot.com and for short anecdotes about her experiences with some of the horses and cattle she has raised, see her author's blog at http://insidestorey.blogspot.com
