Feet First Equine Hoof Care

Working with trust. When I started trimming this mare she was obviously traumatized by forceful farrier sessions and probably also carrying a lot of tightness in her body that restricted her movement. She would squirm, walk backwards/brake cross ties, jerk her feet away and even kick at me. With each trim session we got better. I learned how to accommodate and improve her restrictions, I let her know that if she needs a break she can have it, and she learned to trust me that I'm helping and not hurting her. I love the calm expression in her eye while I am rasping the hoof. We have come a long way!

Best way to get really shiny feet? Ride in fresh grass! 😁

Right front at intake and after 5th trim. The frog is getting contact with the ground and developing nicely. The central sulcus thrush has cleared up thanks to the owners help treating it with Red Horse Sole Cleanse and Field Paste.
(The dark spot in the second pic is wet dirt that the horse had just stepped on. Sorry - taking pictures is not my first priority during trims and this was a very busy day...)

Same horse as in previous two posts. After the 4th trim.

Same horse as in previous post on the same day after the trim. Stance has changed significantly. Bringing down the hight of the hoof capsule is a work in progress and will be achieved in several trim cycles.

New intake: very tall, overgrown and unbalanced hooves. Narrow stance and toes turned turned in.

Same right front as previous post on the same day, after trim. The white stuff is Artimud, applied for treating wall cracks and separation.

Overgrown right front hoof of an older mare with metabolic issues. New intake before trimming.

This girl has super strong corner pillars and if the trim intervals are a little too long she grows an almost square footprint.