Health and Wellness
At Fox Crossing Farm, our mission is to build healthy, positive relationships between equines and their human partners. We strive to correctly diagnose the issues that influence a horse's behavior. Many horses are abused, neglected, or euthanized when they show aversions to normal use. When a health or wellness issue is identified, we use a holistic approach to remediate the problem.
"No hoof, no horse." - J. Bridges, No Foot, No Horse: An on the Anatomy of the Foot of a Horse, 1751.
Our professional farrier provides corrective/general trimming and shoeing to our herd on a regular schedule. We will not work or train a horse that has not had proper foot care. Horses coming to FCF for training must arrive with healthy hooves. If the horse shows signs of lameness or is otherwise unsound, our farrier will determine how to proceed.
Fox Crossing Farm is a dealer for Elite Nutrition products. Elite Nutrition develops unequaled nutritional supplements for equines, canines, livestock, and humans. Partnering with a professional equine chiropractor and rehab massage therapist, we use Elite Nutrition products to address issues such as arthritis, gastric ulcers, navicular, laminitis, Cushing disease, mineral deficiencies, and many other conditions that affect performance. Our horses receive ultrasound and exercise therapies to correct pain and/or injuries.
Ill-fitting tack or equipment that is in need of conditioning or repair may cause behavior issues--just as a pair of shoes that do not fit can ruin one's day. We ensure that every horse that enters our farm has tack that fits, is appropriate for its job, and is in good working condition. We use the most comfortable equipment available for the horses. We also adjust saddle fit and bit size/type for our clients' horses.
Horses' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. Like human hair, a horse's teeth grow unevenly; therefore, regular dental care is necessary to keep horses healthy and happy. A horse with sharp points, tooth infection, or other mouth pain cannot eat or perform comfortably. Weight loss and unwanted behaviors are often solved through professional dental care. Our herd receives regular dental care by a professional equine dentist.
A regional large animal veterinary group provides routine wellness and urgent medical services for our herd at Fox Crossing Farm. Should advanced emergency intervention become necessary, we transport our equines to specialized veterinary university centers or referral clinics. We cherish every horse in our care and treat them like members of our family.