| Links to valuable information about hoof
care: The links below provide insights into how a non-invasive, natural trim (based on the wild Mustang hoof) allow the hoof to grow healthy, correct exisiting pathologies, and improve overall horse health. By using the wild horse hoof as a model, hoof trimming to maintain bare hooves respects the the critically important and complex engineering of nature. The goal is to trim only enough to remove excess growth that would normally wear if horses were free to continuously travel over distances as the wild horse does. A proper trim supports internal structures of the hoof and promotes increased circulation and normal alignment of internal structures, including coffin bone parallel to ground upon landing. Without shoes, the soles, walls and frogs are allowed to wear, compact and callous so they can function as nature designed them. Unlike shod hooves, the back of the hoof and frog (where a horse's hoof should contact the ground first) can absorb most of the concussion with each footfall, greatly reducing the concussion on joints in the the hoof, leg and everywhere else. It is critical that the horse is sound after each trim: if a horse is sensitive or sore on easy footing after a trim, then too much sole and/or frog has been removed (or other error was made). If this happends, a horse suffers unnecessarily. If a horse is okay before a trim and sore after a trim, the trim failed! If this happens once, it should not be taken lightly and the trimer needs to learn from it; if it happens repeately, then the horse is paying dearly for a trimmer's inadequacy. Don't let it keep happening! If a horse is sore due to a trim, use boots to make the horse comfortable, but don't keep repeating this cycle. If a horse is comfortable on easy footing, but sensititve on challenging footing (rocky, hard trails), then boots such as Boa boots or Easy Care Epic or Bare boots must be used to keep the horse comfortable traveling over difficult trails. While many horses are initially sensitive on challenging footing, in time and with use of boots, these horses' hooves often toughen up and can be ridden without boots in most situations. It is essential, however, to always have boots available when riding to maintain a horse's comfort on every ride. |
| http://www.hoofrehab.com/ http://www.edsshoofcare.com/natbalance/nbguidelines.html http://www.barefoothorse.com/ http://www.tribeequus.com/ http://www.ironfreehoof.com/ |