Natural hoof trimming for a sounder horse

Natural hoofcare is about more than just a trim method, however. It is a holistic approach to hoof care which takes into account the living conditions and the terrain that the horse encounters on a regular basis. The trim is a tool used to encourage the hoof to grow in a physiologically correct shape and the correct living conditions aid remodeling where necessary and help maintain a healthy hoof.

Natural hoofcare and natural hoof trimming aim to mimic natural wear so is often carried out on a more frequent basis than traditional pasture trims. This keeps the hoof in the optimum shape at all times. Click here to see barefoot hoof diagrams.

Rock-crunching hooves in action
© Jeau Thomas

There are many benefits to keeping your horse barefoot including:

• Improved blood flow which improved horse's overall health.
• Healthy, strong horn (hoof walls).
• Greater shock absorption so fewer concussion related injuries.
• Quicker heart rate recovery time after exercise.
• No more worrying about shoes coming off during a ride/event.
• Lower risk of injuries when playing in the field.
• Improved traction - nature designed the hoof so it can adapt to all terrains.
• Less tripping, stumbling and forging as horse can feel where it's feet are.

However, it is not just simply a case of removing the shoes and happily riding off into the sunset. Most horses need to go through a transition period to allow the hooves to adapt to being barefoot. During that time hoof boots may be needed when riding.

Good natural hoof trimming aims to:

• Encourage a tight laminar connection by dealing with flares to ensure that the coffin bone is held strongly in the top of the hoof capsule.
• The heels are trimmed to allow the frog to function in shock absorption.
• The walls are trimmed so that the sole is also weight bearing.
• The toe callus is encouraged to develop through conditioning to protect the front of the coffin bone.
• Ensure that the bottom edge of the coffin bone. is kept at approx 0-5 degrees (depending on which trim method you follow) angle to the ground.

Potential issues with a traditional pasture trim:

• Often in a typical pasture trim the heels are left long which encourages contraction and can lead to navicular pain.
• The toe callus is trimmed away (from the bottom) leaving the tip of the coffin bone unprotected.
• The walls are flat and left higher than the sole so they have to support the entire weight of the horse.
• Flares are often ignored which puts strain on the laminar connection and results in poor suspension of the coffin bone making the horse more susceptible to laminitis.
• Trimming is often carried out on an infrequent basis, so the hooves are often not in an optimum state.

Trim Styles

Hoof-related Websites

• www.ironfreehoof.com Excellent website that gives very detailed, easy-to-understand, step-by-step information on trimming hooves

• www.naturalhorsetrim.com Lots of detailed information on dealing with laminitis and founder

Common Hoof Disorders

Looking for a Trimmer or to attend a Trim Clinic in the Kingston, Ontario area?