Pros to Barefoot Hooves:
A healthy foot does not need shoes for protection (HOOF BOOTS are a great option for equine athletes and will end up saving you $$$)
The hoof flexes naturally
Hoof grows normally
Blood flow is increased
Greater traction from the hoof expansion and flattening out
Better shock absorption
The digital cushion is allowed to assisting in shock absorption and blood flow
Th
e frog gets pressure assisting in blood flow
Better circulation = better health
Barefoot/naturally trimmed horses are said to live TWICE as long as shod horses
Cons to Shod Hooves:
Horseshoes restrict blood flow
Shoes numb the foot from lack of blood (this is why horses go lame when shoes are removed)
No hoof expansion with a shoe
Hoof flexing is prevented
Shoes on a hoof is like putting a clamp on a hose
Many forms of lameness are linked to shoes
Shoes change and affect the coffin bone and prevent the frog from functioning
A shod hoof loses 60 to 80% of the hoof's natural shock absorption
Shoes cause three times the pounding force and pressure to the hoof
"The greatest advantage is to hoof health. By leaving a horse barefoot, one allows the hoof's natural functions of shock absorption, traction, and biomechanics to perform at their optimum. Shoes inhibit natural function and the horse's natural way of going, and limb interference with shoes can cause injury,"
-Debora Ash, American Farrier's Association (AFA) certified farrier, BHS assistant instructor, and co-author and publisher of Study Guides (to aid farriers for AFA national certification examinations):
"The foot was designed to be unshod. Anything that you add to the foot, like a horseshoe that is nailed on, is going to interfere with the foot's natural process. Most horseshoes have six to eight nails, possibly one to three clips, all of which constrict the foot's ability to expand and contract. Add pads, packing, any number of alternatives to the shoe, and you create a gait alteration. Ideally, for the foot to work the way it's been designed through evolution to work, you'd rather do less than more to the foot."
- Emil Carre, AFA president, AFA certified journeyman farrier, and a consulting editor for Hoofcare and Lameness magazine
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED MY SERVICES OR A FRESH SET OF FARRIER EYES?? Well, let me ask you:
1. Does your horse have a "goat on the rock" stance where he/she leans over their knees and tucks their back legs under them? When your horse is in "Park", what does he/she look like? If it does not resemble a "table top" stance with cannon bones perfectly perpendicular to the ground, I can help!
2. Do your horse's hooves follow the angle of their pastern down to the ground? or does the line look like it's broken? Does your horse look like he is resting far back on his/her pasterns?
3. Are the hooves all the same size? How healthy is the frog?? Is your horse prone to thrush and abscessing?
4. Are the heels contracted (very close together) with a pinched-looking frog? Does your horse look like his hooves are high-heels as opposed to running shoes? Proper balance and proper lifestyle for horses begins at the hoof. So, why is excellent hoof care critical to your horse's well-being? Besides comfort, what does properly balanced hoof care provide your horse?:
Horse's brains get signals from their hooves about the kind of ground they are standing on (uphill, downhill, level). If your horse has the "goat on a rock" stance, the signals passing from the hooves to the brain are not correct. Your horse overcompensates for this poor signal in his head/neck carriage. Also, the brain then signals the spine and pelvis to be misaligned tilt the pelvis too far forward, accentuating swaybacks and also aiding in the degradation of the spine. Proper trimming affects the nervous system of the horse and structural integrity of the skeleton and elevates a horse's mood and stops them from feeling lethargic and misaligned. Their balance and physical ability will improve. Sure-footedness will increase exponentially. CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS WILL LAST MUCH MUCH LONGER!!! BAREFOOT HORSES ARE SAID TO LIVE TWICE AS LONG AS SHOD HORSES! Benefits of my trimming style:
1. Develop proper breakover which leads to better performance and traction for any riding style
2. Contours conformation of legs so as to relieve horse of unnecessary pressure or unevenness in his/her hooves
3. Cardiovascular improvements/faster cool-down times/ inproved & increased circulation
4. Strong, healthy hoof growth (no seedy-toe, dehydrated hoofs, etc)
5. NO SORENESS after trim!!! You can hop up and ride immediately after I'm done.
6. Improved movement which ultimately leads to proper muscle development/use
7. Can prevent wearing of deep digital flexor tendon, as well as superficial, as well as blown suspensories, preventative against navicular as well.
8. This trim can ease symptoms of horse's with pre-existing leg conditions
9. Proper Shock Absorption within the hoof capsule that includes the frog (think of the frog as a mini heart in your horse's hoof) and sole
What Can You Visually Expect:
1. An Even Balanced trim -->medial & lateral
2. A Flare-Free hoof
3. Improved Color (from improved blood flow)
4. 4-Point Trim
5. Short Toe
6. Better Posture
7. Overall longevity
8. Less chips/cracks
9. Concavity within the hoof capsule to aid in shock absorption
References can absolutely be provided~!! TESTIMONIALS:
I have asked 3 to 4 other farriers why my horse Indy would trip over his own feet all the time, even just walking. They said, "shoe him." I did for a while. One of the farriers ended up putting 3 nails where they should have not been, laming my poor Indy for over 6 months. The nails were deep. After Karin did 2 trimmings, no shoes, also got the nails out, and balanced his feet, he no longer is tripping over his own feet. I am so happy with the results just after 2 corrective trimmings. :)Amber
