Offers Equine Hoof trimming and boot fitment. Also assists in transitioning from shod to barefoot
17/01/2025
Case study Equine Sole
During 2025 I will be doing some case studies, well really one but on a few horses.
The horses I’m looking for are coming out of shoes or have chronic soft or thin soles.
There are a few reasons for undertaking these case studies:
1 for My education and to continue my learning
2 Gain reliable data based on measurements not what I think is happening.
3 Use knowledge and desire to implement change, repair, improve the horses I work with.
4 find the most efficient way to transition a horse to be bare footed and to be able to travel across a variety of ground conditions. find an outcome and record so it can be reproduced on variety of horses.
The driving purpose of this research is to find the most efficient way to improve density and thickness the equine’s sole.
I plan to use several tools to test and record the base line of current condition of the horse’s soles.
After the base line has been established, I will continue to record the data looking for any changes, not all the thing we do will work so that is am valid reason for recording and monitoring the data, as well as the horses.
A few key points to be recorded listed below
• Width between the heel buttresses
• Measure the frog ratio (looking for 80% width to length)
• Measure frog to foot ratio
• Measure the position of the widest part of the foot, there are a few measurements recorded when doing this one
• Digital hoof tester to measure at what pressure the sole flexes
• Ultrasound to measure sole thickness and density (not too concerned about actual thickness looking to record the change)
• Photo will be taken of all feet with a ruler to use to scale
All of the horses in the case study will have a physiological trim, that not to say that all horse will receive the same trim as they will not, but the landmarks will be used in the same way.
The trims will depend on what the horse need at the time some will transition quick some will take a long time.
That brings me to my next point duration of case studies, from my way of thinking it would need to be an absolute minimum of 12 months. Trim cycles will change through the case studies. I think a good starting point would be 4 weeks.
I will not be getting stuck with doing the same thing for every horse some I would like to try some herbs, other boots and several other options.
It really depends on your ideology and what you would like to try, as at present there has not been a lot of research done in this area.
What I need from you.
First you will need to want the best for your horse.
Want a truly barefoot horse
Interested or some understanding of being Barefoot
Willing to go on this journey with me and your horse
Not after a quick fix and happy to see small improvements
Wanting to learn and be involved in your horse’s hoof care
Be committed to regular trims and the case study duration
Being ready for your appointment
Willing to get the gear needed to suit your ideology or just rely on the trim, (a control Horse) need these as well
