Problem: Article: A good temperament is one of the most important features in a horse. Search the wooden railing and walls in the stable for any signs of kick marks and chewing. These indicate an unruly horse or a bad temperament. Avoid purchasing a bad-tempered horse unless you are an experienced rider and trainer. If the owner doesn't offer to show you the stables, ask them to give you a tour. Bring a knowledgeable friend with you to meet the horse and view its stall if you are not an experienced horse owner. Ask the owner of the horse if you can brush, lead, saddle, and bridle it. This is a good way to observe how it responds to being handled. If you are unable to saddle and bridle the horse, it is best not to proceed with the purchase, unless you plan to train the horse yourself. Check for any blemishes on the horse while you brush it. If you are concerned about any marks, ask a vet to give you a second opinion. If the horse seems nervous around you, ask the owner to stand beside you to help settle the horse. Ride the horse slowly at first to give you and the horse time to get to know each other. Once you feel comfortable on the horse, attempt to turn in different directions and increase the pace to watch how the horse acts in different situations. Look for a horse that responds quickly and accurately to your aids and is comfortable in different situations. Ride the horse in a ring at first and then venture to open fields, trails, and roads. This allows you to observe how the horse responds to different environments. This is a great way to find out about any injuries, diseases, or infections that you are unaware of and can assist you in making an informed purchasing decision. An examination will usually between cost between $150 and $600. Contact your local equine vet to make an appointment. If you are buying an expensive horse or a competitive horse, ask for an examination that includes x-rays.
Summary: Check the horse's stall for damage. Handle the horse from the ground to assess its basic temperament. Ride the horse to observe how it moves and responds to guidance. Ask a vet to conduct a pre-purchase exam on the horse.

Problem: Article: Over the course of a day, apply antibiotic cream, lotion or ointment to your affected toe at least a couple of times, particularly just before you go to bed in the evening. After the cream has absorbed into the soft tissue surrounding the inflamed toe, apply a sanitized bandage. Make sure to change the bandage each time you apply antibiotic. Some compounds around the house that have antibiotic properties include Clorox bleach, hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, baking soda dissolved in water, iodine solution and fresh lemon juice. Be warned that most home remedies that act as antiseptics will sting if the skin has already been cut by a sharp ingrown toenail. Colloidal silver is a powerful antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-fungal that doesn't sting or irritate the skin when applied. It can be found at most health food or nutritional supplement stores. After soaking your foot in the warm bath, the ingrown toenail will soften up and allow you to slip a small piece of cotton, gauze, or bunched up dental floss (clean of course) underneath the nail, which will provide some padding for the sensitive soft tissue near the nail bed. Carefully pull back the inflamed skin and lift up the toenail with a nail file, or something similar, and tenderly push the cotton material underneath it. Change the cotton material daily. It may take one to two weeks for the ingrown toenail to grow enough so that it doesn't poke into the skin any longer. Avoid attempting "do-it-yourself" surgery by cutting into the toenail in an attempt to provide pain relief, because it can actually cause the condition to worsen. Once the toenail has grown and is long enough to clip, then don't make the same mistakes again. Instead, trim the toenail straight across and don't taper the edges or clip them at angles. Also, refrain from cutting them too short as it will further agitate the injured toe. If you have your toenails done by a pedicurist, tell them to trim your nails straight across and not too close to the skin. As a guideline, you should be able to fit your fingernail under the sides and end of the toenail. If home care and changing your trimming technique doesn't help or prevent your ingrown toenail issue, then see your family physician or a foot specialist (podiatrist) for advice and/or treatment.
Summary: Apply antibiotic cream. Slip some cotton or dental floss under the toenail. Trim the toenail properly.

Problem: Article: Wooden or foam rollers can help work out tightness in your foot or deepen a massage. You can manually rub the roller against your foot, or you can place it on the ground and rub your foot over it. Wooden rollers are often made small just for feet. You can even find some that rest on the floor so that you can easily rub your foot against them. Foam rollers can also be laid on the floor under your foot so that you can rub your foot over it. Sit up straight with your legs outstretched. Loop a long towel or strap around your foot. While keeping your knee straight, gently pull your toes toward your torso. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch feet, and do a total of 5 reps per foot. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent at 90 degree angles. Cross your legs by bringing your right foot to the opposite knee. Rest the foot on your knee so your toes point forward. Use your right hand to gently pull your right toes toward your right shin. As you stretch, use your left thumb to gently rub the your right foot's plantar fascia, which feels firm and taut, like a guitar string. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch legs, and to a total of 5 reps for each foot. While standing, lean toward a wall and place your palms against it with your elbows outstretched (but not locked). Extend your left leg behind you so it's straight with your heel flat on the floor. Your right knee should be slightly bent. You should feel a stretch in your left calf and heel chord. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds, switch legs, and do 5 reps total per leg. Don't bounce in and out of a stretch, and don't push your body past your normal range of motion. Breathe in as you move into a stretch, then exhale as you stretch. Never hold your breath as you stretch.
Summary: Loosen your foot using a wooden or foam roller. Stretch your plantar fascia with a towel or strap. Cross your legs and stretch your plantar fascia with your hands. Do calf stretches. Hold a stretch steadily and remember to breathe.

Problem: Article: Chances are that at least one national group, focused on your particular concern, already exists. You may be able to join an existing group, or if no groups exist in your area, then you may be able to form a "satellite group" if you share common values and interests. To find any existing national group, search for the terms or conditions you are seeking with the words "support group". You can also narrow your search to your local city or county. Obtain any how-to guide, or group starter kit, that the national organization offers (many provide them free online). If there's no national group, see if your search results revealed any "model group" elsewhere in the world, which you can contact and duplicate in your area. Try social groups sites and social media pages to see if local groups exist. Learning from others, even if their group addresses different needs than the group you want to start, can help you plan out everything you'll need from the ground up. That way, once you organize your group, you will have the guidance you need to get started. Social service workers, clergy, and physicians or therapists may be helpful in various ways, from providing referrals or meeting space to locating other needed resources.
Summary:
Look for existing groups. Ask other groups how they got started. Seek out professional assistance before you start a support group.