11/25/2025
A good read
🙌 Why I DO NOT trim to the hard sole plane 🙌
In summary, because any method imposed on horses is dangerous when it is focused on imposing an action, and not necessarily based upon truly addressing the horses individual welfare needs, if this is the priority (which it SHOULD be, but in reality, according to the objective evidence I have seen, and IMO, is rarely achieved).
let me explain. A trimmer is trained to apply a trimming method which involves trimming all wall above the sole. They are trained to foillow the steps, and make a hoof look a certain way.
The trimmer arrives to see a horse for the first time, sees the wall growth and removes it. Job done, human satifsaction all round.
The trimmer comes back 5 weeks later, the owners says the horse was footy for 2 weeks after the trim, and the trimmer is utterly convinced they just need to stick to the trimming method “because it works and is the best thing for horses”, and the same thing happens.
Then the trimmer comes back, same conversation, same outcome.
You ge the picture?
This might seem ridiculous, BUT THIS HAPPENS A LOT!
The horse featured here was from an online consult with a concerned and diligent owner who told me this story just last night. She tried 2 different trimmers, both qualified with the same organisation, both trained with other professionals post qualification, and while their trims were slightly different, they both trimmed to the hard sole plane. The horse was “lame for 2 weeks post trim - to the day”.
There are many, many reasons I do not advocate for trimming to the hard sole plane, and some of the worse cases of deformed and distorted hooves and compensatorted horses have been trimmed this way.
This example may look ‘okay’ to the untrained eye, and the poisture ‘not too bad’ which is why this is so disturbing… for a horse to be lame for 2 full weeks after every trim is a serious welfare concern, and consistent lameness post trim without resolve, reason, or solution offered by the owners current hoof care providers is the #1 cause for customers contacting us for assistance.
Lameness itself is a welfare concern, but what about the micro damage done to the foot and tissues above the digit? What happens when the circulation is reduced to the coffin bone? Once P3 bone mass is lost, it’s gone forever. It does not grow back. Permanent damage can be inflicted.
Hoof care providers - if you are welfare focused, please consider assessing the horses welfare parameters before imposing a trim method or any intervention on a living, vulnerable animal. Use objective evidence based on credible scientific resources upon which to make informed decisions and stop imposing a method on horses which is hurting them, no matter how well intended you are.
This means assessing the horses physiological, postural and behavioural welfare parameters and seeking to optimise neutral posture and healthy load on hooves, which takes far more skill than simply removing wall above the sole, especially on the 99% of horses which (IMO) already have distortions and compensatory posture as a result of domesticicity and previous hoof care imposed.
To summarise, trimming methods which trim to the hard sole plane in my opinion, in my experience, and according to the objective evidence I have seen, doesn’t create the environment to optimise welfare and performance in horses over time.
The 2.5 hour detailed and comprehensive online consult recording featuring this horse, including objective assessment and recommendations will be available to VIP subscription members as part of their membership or to purchase as a 2 part video very soon.
Resources and links for help in the comments as usual.
A big thank you to our clients and supporters who grant permission for us to share their stories for educational purposes.
Copyright rules apply - Please do not share images or content here without sharing the complete post, or from our website, without the author's explicit consent.
Www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴
