How does your keep-a-horse-sound strategy compare to the 11points outlined in Horse & Rider’sApril 2009 soundness article by Barb Crabbe, DVM? Her article covers theseheadings:

1. Proper, timely footcare.

2. Daily checks.

3. Proper weight.

4. Careful conditioning.

5. Warm up, cool down.

6. Watch the torque (don’t go overboard on small circles,etc.)

7. Good footing.

8. Safe, plentiful turnout.

9. Protective measures.

10. Dietary supplements.

11. Alternative therapies.

Is there anything on this list that you particularly swearby? Anything else you’d add to the list? We’d love to get your thoughts.

Number One!!  And I would like to add  ...by a professional, certified farrier that knows what they're doing.  A certified farrier is constantly continuing their education to keep up their certification.  The rest of the items on the list are also very important, but to me, without #1 they're all for naught, as far as soundness goes.

I practice the whole list, of course, but this winter has been all about a meeting of #'s 1 and 3.  A few months ago my mare dropped about 300lbs seemingly overnight, so daily checks of her weight have really helped keep us on track and gotten us back a lot closer to where we should be.

ETA by which I meant 2 and 3.  Apparently counting isn't my strongest skill this week! :p

I agree and practice all of the above.  I am a firm believer in the importance of chiropractic care and tack fit -- both have a huge influence on the health of the horse's back and back problems often create soundness problems as well. 

As an eventer, I would also add to #6 -- don't use studs unless you absolutely have to.  I think the torque exerted on joints by studs is an often overlooked impact on soundness.

I agree with all of the above. I also don't overschool.

Once trained, my horse KNOWS how to perform a spin or slide to a stop.. or in the case of english - jump 4'.... I don't drill them into the ground doing those things. There are other ways to keep one legged up to perform best. I don't need to constantly jump 4' to maintain the edge. Or spin and slide just because we can. If there is an issue that needs work, I'll break it down and work on fixing a problem - but once fixed that's it. 

I agree on your comments too.. tack fit and shoe/stud isses...similarly to the studs.. on a reining horse, I don't leave slide plates on. Fortunately, hubby is a farrier so they only get put on when they need them then pulled back off - as ours are turned out an trailers 24/7 is hard on them. 

Having my horses at home definatly helps with all of the above. My farrier is out every 6 weeks, year round. It helps that he only lives a few miles from me too!

The only thing I don't do any more are the tons of supplements. I have tried quite a few joint and hoof supplements, and to me they seem to work for a while and then the horse develops a tolerance to them.  I only feed 2 now, my overweight IR mare gets her Thyro-L, and the baby gets Clo-Vite. 

 In the perfect world I would add a daily picked turn out, but in winter we all know how that goes!  I can't wait for the weather to warm up/ dry up, so my footing in my paddocks stabilizes!

 I think protective measures is a tough one. We all like to think we have that covered but horses being horses and people being people sometimes messes it up. Case in point is the leg injury to my Arab mare this winter. We still don't know how she tore her leg up in her stall or turnout area.