Hometown Hoofcare

01/04/2026

Boundaries and Centerdness in Leading

Another specific place where boundaries create a relaxed and happy horse is leading.

When we attach a lead rope to a horse, we are putting parameters on where they can go. The misunderstanding of how to operate their body within the confines of a lead rope can create quite a bit of trouble for many horses, and I would call this problem of poor leading one of the most frequent ones I come across.

A lead rope’s purpose is to direct the horse’s body, feet and mind and everything in between, to a specific location in a specific way. It can tell a horse to go forward, right, left, stop, backwards, speed up, or slow down. If you didn’t know, your lead rope comes with quite a few very dynamic “settings,” if you don’t believe me just check the manual 😉

The problem for many with leading is the human, as in many instances in life, puts the halter on and begins mentally checking out, essentially dragging a sensitive and feeling animal around like a boulder on a rope. This removes all connection and sensitivity to the lead rope’s meaning to the horse. A lead rope’s meaning to a horse is the human’s responsibility to explain, which means, as I have said many times before and will say many times again- awareness. The human has to be aware of what the lead rope is doing and how it is affecting the horse.

A lead rope is not a dead piece of equipment used for a horse to drag a human around, or a human to drag a horse around. It is, to me, a living thing, used to transmit feeling back and forth between me and the horse, the horse and me. It is how I feel where they are and what they’re feeling. It’s how they feel where I am and what I’m feeling. It’s how one can begin teaching refined and essential concepts like straightness, and bend and half halts.

But for this lead rope to have meaning, it has to be used with intention- for many that is a struggle, myself included quite often. The amount of awareness and refinement possible through the lead rope often staggers me. Every time I think I have some idea of how to be refined with a lead rope, I find I have more to learn. As my teacher (who is an expert in all things feel and lead rope) Brent Graef Horsemanship would say, “how deep do you want to go?”

Photo by Jasmine Cope

01/03/2026

There is a big difference between going slow and avoiding the work in horsemanship.

Going slow is intentional.
It’s thoughtful.
It’s staying with a task long enough for the horse to actually understand it, mentally and emotionally.

Avoiding progress looks slow on the surface too… but it feels different.
It’s skipping the hard conversations.
It’s staying comfortable instead of setting clear and consistent boundaries.
It’s repeating the same thing without purpose and calling it patience.

True horsemanship isn’t about rushing, but it’s also not about standing still.

Progress happens when we:
• break things down
• hold the standard
• give the horse time within the lesson to absorb, but not avoiding the lesson all together.

Your horse doesn’t need you to hurry.
But they do need you to be honest, consistent, and willing to work through the uncomfortable middle.

Slow is fine.
Stuck is not.

Go slow with intention.
Not as an excuse.

12/27/2025

If you're a client of mine, I highly recommend you attend this fabulous educational opportunity!

Coming Soon! Join us February 12 at 7 pm (EST) with Paige Poss for her webinar "Exploring Laminitis: Comparing Structural and Anatomical Changes in Mild to Severe Cases". Sign up available soon.

12/24/2025

My vet, Dr. Madelyn Ramirez, will be presenting at this event!

12/24/2025

* Winter Laminitis *
As winter weather sets in, closely monitor your horses with metabolic issues or a past history of laminitis or founder. They could develop winter laminitis, which can appear suddenly, without typical warning signs.

While spring and fall laminitis are typically linked to insulin dysregulation, winter laminitis has a different trigger: cold stress when temperatures drop, which leads to limited perfusion throughout the limb.

Arteriovenous (AV) shunts are special blood vessels in the horse’s hoof that act like shortcuts for blood flow. Instead of moving through tiny capillaries that feed the sensitive laminae, blood can be redirected straight from arteries to veins. In a healthy hoof, these shunts help control temperature by opening in cold weather to conserve heat, and closing in warm weather so blood flows through the capillaries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the laminae.

During a laminitis or founder episode, inflammation within the laminar tissues weakens the cellular bonds between the epidermal and dermal laminae, causing the white line to stretch. Their blood flow is restricted, which can lead to permanent damage of the hoof lamellar connection - the laminae rarely returns to its original strength. In founder cases, the laminae failure allows the coffin bone to rotate, and/or distally descend in the hoof capsule, also known as sinking, and can sometimes lead to the coffin bone penetrating the sole.

Even well-managed horses with a history of laminitis may have thin soles, reduced shock absorption, weaker hoof-lamellar connections, and ongoing low-grade inflammation, making them less tolerant of trimming errors, long cycles, diet or environmental changes, and metabolic stress. A horse can appear sound yet still have permanently compromised laminae, which increases the risk of relapse and often requires lifelong management, especially when a metabolic disease is involved.

If your horse is actively experiencing winter laminitis:

* Contact and consult with your veterinarian immediately.

* Ensure proper pergolide dosing with your vet’s help (if PPID/Cushings).

*Prioritize warmth: use blankets, layering if necessary. Wool socks, shipping boots, or leg wraps can all help provide extra warmth and protection - just make sure they’re not fitted too tight! Make sure your horse has adequate shelter to support temperature regulation.

* Reduce mechanical leverage and stress on the hoof capsule by staying on a short, consistent cycle with your hoof care provider. Providing hoof support with boots and pads can help keep your horse comfortable.

* Monitor weight and watch for fat deposits (commonly seen around the neck, ribs, tailhead, above the eyes).

* Re-evaluate diet and aim for consistent tested hay year-round, feeding a truly low-NSC (non-structural carbohydrate) diet. Don’t rely solely on “low sugar” or “low starch” labels - use evidence-based resources like the ECIR Group or Mad Barn for guidance. Consider metabolic support supplements if appropriate.

Wishing everyone - and their equines - warmth and good health this winter!

12/22/2025

Sometimes less is more.

Sometimes they are in their own process and we need to get out of their way.

Sometimes the low spots need to fill in.

Sometimes what's there is protecting what will be.

A friend inspired me to share this simple hoof with sharing one of her own.

12/20/2025

Not a bad day at the office.

Pretty cool track setup for these critters, too!

12/16/2025

The Big Question aka WTF

How can one farrier say "never top dress the hoof wall because that doesn't fix the flare" and another farrier (me) say "I rasp flares from the top because that fixes them quicker."

That's just one example - I'm sure you've heard other conflicting hoof care advice and information on a variety of topics. How can one professional say the EXACT opposite of another?

Because any farrier who is paying attention to their work will see what is working and what is not working for each individual horse. There is no big conspiracy of farriers to trick or fool their clients. Sure, some farriers are better than others at continuing education, staying curious, and experimenting. But I've only met one single farrier in my decades in the horse industry (in the Midwest and on both coasts) that was full of s**t as a person and as a professional. I can confirm there are a few more out there 😆 BUT the majority are better or best and every one is providing decent hoof care (as defined by them) to their clients.

I don't say that I fix flares by trimming from the top because I've bought into that method as the ONLY way.
*It's because I see it work on almost every single horse I trim.*
And I can explain to you why it's not working on the few that don't respond to that the approach the way I hoped.
Someone who is saying the opposite must be seeing results that they like the way they do it. I have local colleagues who trim differently than me stylistically and they have sound happy horses on their schedule, too.

I feel like this nuance exists in real life but not on social media.

Horses are individuals. Environment, nutrition, conformation, genetics..... it all plays a role in their hoof health. My colleagues in Arizona and southern California are working on desert feet while I'm up here working on swamp feet most of the year. And my colleagues in Colorado and eastern Washington are working on hard dry feet in the summer and snowy feet in the winter.

Like it or not, the best way to trim or shoe a horse is up for interpretation by the humans. Those of us who aim to excel in this career take on the challenge of finding what works for the horses on our schedule. If what I'm doing isn't working, I either know why and adjust or I don't know why and we go looking for answers.

So to those of you confused by the conflicting answers you're getting - I'm sorry. Welcome to the horse industry where everyone has lots of opinions. I promise you have what you need to wade through to find what your horse needs.

To those of you who like to tout The One and Only Way™️ - well, it's like I said in my last post. Some people are wrong on the internet and I just have to let that go. I've got 50 horses to trim this week so I'm busy bye!

12/13/2025

12/08/2025

If you’re a hoofcare pro, you likely can think of another hoofcare provider who changed your life.

I am lucky to have had so many amazing hoofcare friends, mentors, and colleagues that have walked this hoofcare journey with me.

Beth Lynn Lewis of Equibalance Farrier Services was the very first of those.

Over a decade ago when I first bought my gelding Vinnie, I searched online forums for who to use to do his feet. I didn’t know much about hooves then except that they were important. I found Beth, and she was incredibly patient and kind with my nervous, green mustang (a hoofcare pro’s dream horse, right? 🙈). Over the years, she has let me ride along with her, shadow her work, taught me glue on tips, answered trimming questions, helped me on clients of mine, been on my podcast numerous times, and even helped me put on clinics and educational days at various farms - even my own.

A few days ago, her farrier rig was hit by a snow plow and totaled. The insurance she had on it is not what it seemed it would be now that all is said and done, and Beth is not only without the ability to work currently, but she will have to replace her rig and a lot of her tools from the crash.

If you have the ability this holiday season, please consider donating to her GoFundMe! She gives so much to the horse community and I hope we can give a little bit back!

https://gofund.me/4be5ee69b