Caballo Barefoot Trimming & Scoot Boots South Africa

15/11/2025

This was fun 😁 throwback to when a bunch of us helped Broken Horseshoe Ranch curate an episode

13/11/2025

11/11/2025

This is a hind hoof of my Thoroughbred Fifi. Fifi doesn't have too many skills but she is really good at hock-wringing which has her putting a lot of extra pressure on the lateral sides of her hind hooves and in general just creating very odd looking feet. She's done this all her life and has coped with it, but sometimes her outer wall and white line struggle with the extra pressure.

Earlier in January this year her white line weakened a lot in this area and this nasty-looking crack appeared. She was not lame. I put it down to the very wet season we'd had contributing to the weakening of the outer wall and white line and then I did, almost nothing about it. I recall twice doing a touch up trim at 2 weeks (she's on a 4.5 week schedule) and otherwise I just carried on as normal. I didn't disinfect, I didn't add supplements or protection. Fifi lives in an extremely clean environment - a 5ha field, is never stabled, doesn't eat commercial concentrates, and her diet has been analyzed for any deficiencies and she is on a custom mineral mix from with her ad lib forage.

I understood the circumstances around the crack and I knew it would be fleeting so I just relaxed 😎 But, this was only because I'd done everything within my control already many years back, so that if she were to develop a hoof problem, it probably wouldn't turn into anything significant. I as the owner have a whole lot more in my control than one might think.

PS. Something interesting - just over halfway down the foot one can see a kind of bubbly appearance on the wall. This appears to have been some or other fungal invasion that occurred at the coronary band some months ago and is now growing out. The wall below that line has weakened and we have a few hairline cracks which aren't normally on the menu.

04/11/2025

Our Black November SPECIALS are here!!!

Visit www.caballo.co.za or WhatsApp 0733895245 for more info

Offers end 4 December, 2025

29/10/2025

I'm a bit late to the party but I wanted to send a huge shoutout to and the team as well as the sponsors of the event who put in all the effort and behind the scenes work to make Yogi's South African visit happen.

I have said it before and I'll happily say it again, Yogi is a huge blessing to our horses and our industry. While I've watched countless hours of his webinars over the last few years, to hear him speak in person just reiterated why I am such a fan of his work and studies. Yogi ended with a beautiful and heartfelt poem at the end of his presentation which served as a reminder as to why we do what we do, or certainly why we should do what we do.

It's not for acknowledgement, it's not to prove who is best at it, it's not for some sort of public reward, it's certainly not for our egos, it's for the horse.

This is what we should care about the most otherwise we shouldn't go near this industry.

In just a few days we have had a few events take place after the clinic where what Yogi has shared with us has spread beyond expectation, even to people who weren't necessarily at the event. May these events result in very positive changes for the horses involved.

We hope you'll be back again Yogi, thank you!

25/10/2025

This horse had a strange event where she was slightly unsound for a short while and then developed what looked like a pimple a bit of the way down the medial side of her hoof capsule. I opened up the yellow area with the pimple-like eruption slightly and found nothing exciting. I've never seen anything like this (if anyone else has, please give me more info!).

A small toe crack she'd had for a while suddenly worsened rapidly following the initial event and strange eruption. We decided to stabilize it by gluing on an Easycare tab and I've filled the bottom part of the crack with a mix of superglue and bicarb.

There are two months between pictures and the cavity (hard to see) has dramatically filled in. The horse has remained sound despite the severity of the crack.

Thanks to Giacomo and Theo Janssen for the innovative ideas.

21/10/2025

Pretty Thoroughbred bare feet on this older retiree ❤️

21/10/2025

Breeders breeding for longevity will always get my attention. Karorado Nooitgedacht Stud has their horses out on a very large acreage of mostly dry, hard ground and this produces strong hoof and bone.

20/10/2025

Time for new Scoots! These boots are four years old.

I asked this customer on what terrain she rode on and how frequently. This was her response:

"We rode 4-5x a week, mainly doing trails in the bushveld on packed dirt roads, 1-2x a week in the arena. We slowed down the last year to just walking and trotting due to arthritis."

I believe this works out to about R95 a month to enjoy riding anywhere they needed to go, while still appreciating the benefits of barefoot the rest of the time. This horse is now being upgraded to the new Therarides to help keep her comfortable with her arthritis.

16/10/2025

THE UNSOUNDNESS WE BREED FOR – FACTS BEHIND THE FASHION

BREEDING HAS CHANGED THE HORSE WE SEE

Across European Warmblood populations, the average horse has grown roughly 1–2 cm taller per decade since the 1980s. Mean wither height for many modern stallions now sits around 169–172 cm—almost a full hand taller than forty years ago. Body mass and frame have grown to match, increasing the load per square centimetre of hoof.

Other breeds show the same pressure from fashion, though in different directions:

– Thoroughbreds have become taller, finer-limbed, and faster, with smaller hooves relative to body size.

– Arabians have stayed similar in height but selection for extreme refinement has narrowed bone and hoof width.

– Native ponies (Welsh, Highland, Dales, Fell) have mostly retained strong proportions, yet show lines sometimes favour flatter feet and lighter bone for “type.”

Bigger or more refined doesn’t mean stronger. A horse with more frame on the same-sized feet simply channels more force through the digital cushion, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and navicular region—raising the risk of heel pain, micro-damage and early joint wear.

GENETICS SET THE BLUEPRINT, MANAGEMENT BUILDS THE STRUCTURE

Hoof shape and proportion are moderately heritable—studies in Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds place heritability between 0.15 and 0.30 for traits such as hoof angle, heel height and toe length. That means breeding can move a population gradually toward better (or worse) feet, but management still does most of the work.

Feeding, trimming, movement, footing and environment shape how that genetic potential is expressed. A foal from excellent bloodlines can still grow weak, low heels if minerals are out of balance or trims come too late. Conversely, good hoof care and nutrition can help offset less-than-ideal genetics.

WHAT “LONG TOE / LOW HEEL” ACTUALLY MEANS

These aren’t aesthetic details. They are mechanical imbalances.

A long toe delays break-over and increases tension in the DDFT.
Low or underrun heels both shift load forward, compress the soft tissues of the heel, and reduce shock absorption—but they’re not identical.

Low heels describe reduced heel height—heels that sit too close to the ground.

Underrun heels describe a shallower heel angle where the heel tubules grow forward under the foot.

One affects height, the other orientation, yet both lead to the same functional problem: forward weight shift, loss of heel support, and increased strain on the navicular apparatus and deep digital flexor tendon.

Veterinary imaging studies across Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds consistently show a link between these heel patterns and a higher incidence of navicular changes and DDFT lesions.

MANAGEMENT MATTERS—FROM FOAL TO ADULT

Research is clear:

– Steady, moderate growth and balanced mineral intake reduce developmental joint problems.

– Copper and zinc are essential for horn and connective-tissue strength; so is a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (about 1.5 : 1).

– Regular early hoof balancing encourages correct heel formation.

– Controlled exercise from weaning onwards supports bone density and cartilage development.

Rapid growth, mineral imbalance or restricted movement increase the risk of osteochondrosis (OC/OCD), a condition with heritability between 0.10 and 0.40 depending on joint and breed. Even genetically “clean” foals can develop lesions under poor management; well-managed foals from risk lines often stay sound.

TOOLS THAT ALREADY EXIST TO IMPROVE SOUNDNESS

– D-OC genomic index (KWPN): estimates a horse’s genetic risk for osteochondrosis.

– PROK radiographic screening: detects subclinical joint changes before licensing.

– WFFS testing: now routine across most Warmblood registries to prevent carrier-to-carrier matings that produce non-viable foals.

– Hanoverian, Holsteiner, Swedish and Danish soundness indices: integrate X-ray and performance data into breeding evaluations.

These are not bureaucratic steps; they are concrete levers for selecting health alongside talent.

BEYOND WARMBLOODS – OTHER BREED TRENDS

– Thoroughbreds: Selection for speed has produced lighter bone, flatter soles and small feet relative to body mass—traits linked with distal limb injuries.

– Arabians: Often exhibit high hoof angles and narrow feet, which can perform well in endurance if managed carefully but reduce load-bearing surface.

– Stock breeds (Quarter Horses, Paints): Certain halter lines show upright pasterns and thin soles, predisposing to heel bruising and navicular syndrome.

– Native ponies: Retain some of the best hoof-to-body proportions, but modern showing trends occasionally prioritise cosmetic neatness over function.

Wherever the pressure for looks outweighs function, unsoundness follows.

FOR OWNERS AND CARE TEAMS

Good hoof care supports what genetics provide.
Regular maintenance, appropriate surfaces, and nutritional balance build resilience over time.
Shoes or barefoot isn’t a matter of ideology—it’s a management choice. A well-fitted shoe can protect a foot under load; an unbalanced one can cause damage. Barefoot management can build strength if the trim, surface and diet support it—but can expose weakness if they don’t.

THE TAKEAWAY

Breeding can shape type.
Genetics can fix proportions.
Management and hoof care decide the outcome.

Fashion can push horses toward extremes—longer limbs, finer bone, taller frames—but only the daily care determines whether those horses stay sound.
The real measure of progress isn’t the photo at five years old; it’s the horse who still walks out confident and comfortable at fifteen.

Until soundness is valued as much as movement and glamour, we’re not improving the horse—we’re just repeating the same mistake in a prettier package.

13/10/2025

Restful forest vibes after work ❤️

27/09/2025

I trim your horses' hooves, walk your dogs and then they sleep on my bed. My clients are away so I'm not sure if this is allowed and I haven't had confirmation as yet, but Jackson seems to indicate that it's perfectly fine sooooo..... Look how adorable he is. I can't move him 😑🥹

Update: He just snarled, hopefully in his sleep, I'm definitely not moving him. I'm not sure if I'll survive the night either.