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The Working Hoof

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Sherwood, OR
The Working Hoof

Holistic barefoot hoof care.

04/26/2023

"We know that poor hoof balance predisposes to injury (Kane et al.) and is linked to lameness (Dyson 2011). And lameness is linked to back issues (Landman et al.).
In the hind end we know that NPLA is linked to Hock arthritis (Pezzanite et al. 2018) and stifle pathology (Clements et al. 2019). And long toe low heels are linked to navicular in the front feet (Waguespack et al., Ruff et al., Uhl et al.) and gluteal pain in the hind end (Mannsman et al.). And pathologies all the way along the dorsal myofascial lines.

So the question I would ask in answer to the original question is. “Can you afford to do it slowly?”
We know it takes around 12-18 months for the hoof to grow out completely, although positive morphology can happen Anecdotally over 3-4 cycles when coupled with appropriate trimming. This could still be too long a time for horses when presenting with lameness or injury NOW. "

04/20/2023

Some days go great and other days the critics just won't leave you alone. Cooper is a very important critic who just turned 9 years old today. He always carefully inspects every nipped piece of hoof and critically examines my knife work to make sure he gets the most prime cuts. He likes to think he's helping me become a better trimmer and always softens his critique with a tongue bath when I least expect it. Happy Birthday Cooper!

03/28/2023

This is the previous mare and the process that I went through to get her serviceably sound and pain free. This post is a year old from my personal page but I wanted to make sure it got onto here.

When Circulation is this damaged changes take a LOT of time but they are so rewarding to see.

This is a previously foundered mare who’s farrier had been trying to grow out her toe to correct her clubfoot (wrong method in every way!) without understanding what was going on internally with this hoof. In my opinion he is responsible for at least some of the remodeling that has happened to her coffin bone. (this is extrapolated info from what I was told by the lessee at the time of meeting the mare.)

This sweet mare then came to live at the barn where I keep my horses so I could work on her feet. These pictures start in late October of 2021 but this wasn’t the beginning of my time with her. First set of rads before these her sole depth below her coffin bone was only 5mm (it should be at least 10) and while she didn’t make huge external changes between the 2 sets of rads she did gain 5mm of depth from conservative trimming and living in cloud boots to keep her feet supported and protect her soles. By the October rads she had gained that MUCH needed 5mm of depth under her coffin bone and now measured 10mm. Cue the big changes.

With rads and measurements in hand the toe got chopped way back and big important corrections were made to reduce leverage on the toe and start building a more functional hoof. Between the October and March trim, many small corrective trims were done. And now after putting the pictures together it’s such a relief to see these great changes. Will her hoof ever look like a normal hoof again? No, unfortunately because of the bone remodeling there will always be some oddities about how her hoof grows. BUT thankfully a perfect hoof isn’t our goal. Our goal is comfort and soundness and I believe we can achieve that.

She’ll be going into glueon shoes this week and hopefully starting back to light work. Which will improve the circulation to her hoof and boost healing even more.

12/04/2022

From a 2 mm sole depth and chronic laminitis, to this sassy little mare. I'm so happy with her progress.

10/26/2022

I got to take this old gentleman, who lived much of his life in shoes, barefoot a bit over a year ago. And just love seeing the healthy feet on him since. He is naturally a little high/low in the front (we don't try to change that, especially on seniors!). But he's sound and still giving riding lessons like the champion he is.

10/20/2022

How to tell the horses that belong to hoof care professionals. "Look ma, no halter"

10/15/2022

Same hooves, left picture, laminitis with mild rotation (closer hoof trimmed far hoof untrimmed) to a healthy functioning hoof a year later (pre trim).

The hoof has an amazing capacity to heal. This owner did a spectacular job changing/managing diet for this pony. I pulled his shoes and started trimming the leverage off his toe as new healthy hoof wall grew in.

10/13/2022

Very special glue on, Duplo brand shoes, for a mare with chronic laminitis. These shoes remove pressure out from under the tip of the coffin bone while still providing good support through the sole and back of the hoof.

She still has a lot of damage and distortions to grow out, and I'm not sure what her "normal" will be as she has considerable coffin bone remodeling. But she is now sound and she can go back to light work which is so beneficial to aiding in circulation and healing.

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