Kelly Brown Equine Podiatrist

04/07/2025

Really functional healthy hoof.

02/07/2025

Wowsers have we had some uncomfortable weather this week 🥵

Massive thanks to all those who made efforts to soak hooves, didnt grumble when we had to postpone because of the heat and/or my bad back, and to Mark Johnson for being my phone-a-friend today when he should have been packing for his holiday.

I sure do work with some fantastic people. Thanks again 🫶🏼

25/06/2025

I have seen a number of comments on barefoot discussion pages lately, which seem to suggest that it’s ok for a horse to struggle for a while when you have the shoes pulled.

It is not ok.

As a HCP, if I think your horse will be uncomfortable in the stable/field without shoes, I will always recommend a therapy boot. Because let’s be honest, if the horse is uncomfortable, something is wrong.

Let’s assume as an example, that the soles are on the thin side because the horse has been in shoes for a while and the soles havent had the stimulation needed to maintain decent sole depth.

This is a double edged sword. Firstly, it is important to avoid unnecessary pain. Yes a set of boots might cost you. A second hand pair will cost much less, but they WILL keep your horse more comfortable whilst the hoof is adapting/strengthening.

Secondly - movement stimulates growth (eg soles). If your horse is uncomfortable, they will move much less. So by not booting a sore horse, not only are you causing unnecessary discomfort, you are hindering their transition.

Don’t get me wrong - some horses come out of shoes and stomp all over rubble like it’s nothing. Most do not. A lot of newly barefoot horses are absolutely fine in the field and in the stable, but may struggle with the stoney tracks that lead between the two. In which case, if there is nowhere for your horse to pick his way through comfortably, you’re going to need boots.

Likewise, if your newly barefoot horse is fine in the field and stable but is sensitive when hacking on coarser surfaces, wear boots for hacking! There will come a time in such cases where your horse is less sensitive on those coarser surfaces (because he is moving, his soles are stimulated and his hooves are changing), and you can hand walk on those coarser surfaces without boots. This usually progresses to riding on those surfaces without boots too - But it’s all a progressive process of slowly conditioning.

In terms of comfort - if your horse is regularly exposed to any surface that makes him uncomfortable, protect his feet when on those surfaces. Always make comfort your priority and never allow your horse to struggle through the process.

*REPOSTED FROM 2023*

18/06/2025

Misty, a senior Quarter Horse.

17/06/2025

With the forecast set to hit 30 degrees here by the end of the week, if you have a hoof care appointment:
1) Please make sure you have shade to stand your horse (and your trimmer) in for the appointment
2) make sure your horse has fly repellent on before your appointment and
3) please please soak the feet in advance - everybody’s hooves are rock hard at the moment, with such a long dry spell. For context I’m finding it impossible to trim frogs and remove pressure points on dry soles. A bag in a hoof boot will do, standing on a saturated towel, create a puddle with the hose, bath your horse on trim day, or just use a sponge and a bucket.

Thanks so much, and stay hydrated 🙏🏼

13/06/2025

I suspect this post relates to a disturbing series of youtube videos created by the paint by numbers gang.

"Hoofcare isn't rocket science," I have often heard people say. The implication being that it isn't hard to do.

They are right. It isn't rocket science.

It's biomechanical engineering.
It's trigonometry.
It's physics.
It's advanced biology.
It's living sculpture.
It's geometry.
It's psychology.
And, above all else, it is art... because sometimes all the mathematics in the world aren't enough for the horse. And it is our job to hear them speak when they tell us they need something different. Something more than what we expected.

They are right. It isn't rocket science. We aren't sending anyone to the moon, or to space.

Instead, we are improving the lives of those here on earth, right now. Those without a common tongue to tell us what they need. Those who suffer at our hands more often than we want to admit. Those who we try our best for. Those who try their best for us, always.

No, it isn't rocket science. It is so, so much more.

10/06/2025

Things that make Equine Veterinarians shake their heads…when the movie hero horse has DSLD!!

10/06/2025

Teeny tiny miniature shetland pony hooves 🫶🏼

02/06/2025

NORMALISE THIS!! This is Sharon and Kisi. Today, during Kisi’s trim we talked about bitless riding, which for these guys is progressing into bridleless riding. Sharon isn’t a world famous trick rider with a team of stunt horses. She’s recently retired and is spending all her spare time with her bestie. She told me earlier:

“Today was the first time I’ve ridden without the bridle with another rider in the school. Luckily he wasn’t worried by it and Kisi was chilled so I carried on. You can see Kisi giving Toffee the gelding a proper “mare stare” interestingly she didn’t do that earlier when she had her bridle on!
She’s 11, I started her myself gently at age 4, always bitless.

I started with just the neck rope last winter and we progressed very slowly from groundwork with no bridle to getting on and off at the mounting block then a little walk to the centre of the school and getting off and progressively to this.
We do it in the outdoor school as well”

As I was leaving the yard I heard Sharon say to Kisi “Right, what would you like to do next?” And I knew full well that Kisi would be turned out with a treat and a kiss.

I hope you’re feeling inspired. Horses don’t need junk in their mouths, let alone curb chains and tight flash nosebands.

Someday this will be normal 🤞🏽