Footloose Barefoot Hooves

10/02/2025

Seedy toe recovery, 5 months.
Resection isn't my first choice, but is useful in some cases.
Shoes were recommended for the growing-out period....nothing a hoof boot couldn't do as well.

06/02/2025

Looking at my own pony's feet is worse than stepping on the scales for me 😄 But I really noticed her concavity at this trim. So I'll be brave and post them!

06/02/2025

Picture record - so important to see how far we've come, but also that we need to push a little further.
Big Shire with lots of things going on. We're finally seeing the end of the tunnel and I really want this boy to succeed both within his feet, but also within his full body - which really is the driving force behind any hoof improvements!
(Second picture also shows the foot after the initial trim)

04/02/2025

Fellow hoof care professionals!

The deadline for this survey on injuries to hoof care professionals while performing their job is approaching fast, but it's not too late to take part and share some of your experiences.

I truly cannot wait to hear about the findings of this survey.....

03/02/2025

Usability or why I ask what you are doing/wanting to do with your horse

Whenever I trim a hoof, I make an assessment on what this hoof is capable of doing; what surface, what duration, with or without boots.

So why am I showing you a picture of my plastered finger? Little diversion. Underneath the plaster is the crunch point of my dominant hand; this is where the nippers require my hand to have the strongest callous.

Right now, the callous is small – I have done very little work in the last week (it’s winter adjustment week). Once I go back to work later this week, this callous will be needed. With my workload, I already know it will be sore within a couple of days, so I will put a plaster on for added protection. A week later again, the callous will have had a chance to build up some – although if I’m entirely honest, I will most likely exceed the usability of it on very busy days, and need to wear a plaster from time to time.

Now that you’re wondering what this has to do with hooves – everything! Hooves are made of living tissue that respond to input from the environment: if your horse has done very little and has been in a soft field for the last month, and you’re now ready to bring them back into work, be mindful that, like general fitness, hooves require time to adjust. You can give them added protection with boots and pads, and you may need to increase your regime slowly.

Taking what has happened since I've last seen the horse, what I can see in the feet, and hearing what your intentions are for the next trim cycle, will help me decide on a course of action: booted on the roads, or booted for all ridden work? Adding pads into the mix? Or maybe just enjoy what you're doing because the feet can take it all!

31/01/2025

Sue Dyson is not to be missed. All the more amazing the EPA got her for an evening all to ourselves to talk about all sorts of hoof and body related issues.
I'd recommend that every rider (or horse owner, really) has a look at her pain ethogram in ridden horses; it's a huge eye opener.

“The question we asked was: can we determine, by looking at facial expressions and other behaviors, whether the horse has musculoskeletal pain?”– Dr. Sue Dyson What’s new? Horses and the Science of Harmony “We wanted everyone, from the pony clubber to the Olympic athlete to learnnew inform...

24/01/2025

Just catching up on last week's trim pictures (the tax return took priority!). So many different hooves in so many different stages. So much to smile and be hopeful about. But also a little tear for the little fighter mule who has taught me so much and kept us at the edge of our seat for so long and who took his last breath earlier this week 😢🌈

20/01/2025

This week's gold star for dedication and making me tear up with pride goes to the owner of this pony (and four more pony noses).

A three hour roundtrip to view hay, sniff it, feel it, rake through to make sure the right grasses are in it (that was the moment my tear ducts got very active).

It will also be tested to make sure it's suitable for the ponies.

Big shout-out to Blairfordel Equestrian !

18/01/2025

Shetland spam 🥹❤️❤️

It’s hard work getting your tootsies trimmed 💙

Thank you, as always to Footloose Barefoot Hooves for trimming our little herd this morning 🙏🏼

13/01/2025

Strong little barefoot feet 💪

13/01/2025

What do I see when I look at these feet? Highly functioning rock crunching barefoot feet.

Are they perfectly looking? Probably not. There's bits and pieces here and there we could improve.

Am I happy with them? Yes, because the horse is.

Will we try and improve them even more? Yes, of course!

13/01/2025

Sometimes I'm just not taking the right pictures and only see afterwards what I should have documented 😬🤦‍♀️
Top pictures are before the first trim. Bottom after the second trim. I just see the high heels and how that has shunted up the coronary band. Looking more relaxed after the second trim, and I can't wait to get the pictures I need for a full comparison next time!

13/01/2025

Youngster Welsh D feet. Aren't they beautiful?

10/01/2025

My little trim companion yesterday 😊

08/01/2025

Cute little Arab feet in the snow!

07/01/2025

Another . Can you see the kink in the wall?

07/01/2025

I wish I had better comparison pictures for this one!
This boy has a very wonky leg/foot placement (right hind).
Left/top pictures are from August, right/bottom from December.
I've made a courageous change to his trim and I think we're on the right track.
Although the heel bulbs aren't entirely straight yet, there are a big improvements in his stance, willingness to stand still to be trimmed, and balance between both heels (it's a shame the feathers hide some of the heels in December pictures...).
I'll be interested to see how much more I can nudge him towards a more balanced foot and leg.