Natural hoof trimming

for a healthier horse

Natural hoof trimming, natural hoofcare and barefoot trimming are all terms used to describe horses kept without shoes. There are many different styles of trim but they are mostly all based on the wild horse model. 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.

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 loose shoes
  
• Lower risk of injuries when in the field playing
  
• 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 riding off into the sunset. Most horses will go through a transition period which allows the hooves to adapt to being barefoot. During that time hoof boots may be needed when riding.

Natural hoofcare using a natural horse trim aims 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.

A good natural trim 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 to so that the sole is also weight bearing
  
• The toe callus is encouraged to developed 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° angle to the ground (depending on which trim method you follow)

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

Excellent website that gives very detailed, easy-to-understand, step-by-step information on trimming hooves

Lots of detailed information on dealing with laminitis and founder

Common Hoof Disorders