Barefoot Performance Trim
Natural Movement for Health and Soundness
Is your horse not quite right? Not moving to its optimal potential?
Perhaps he has reoccurring hoof pain, caudal (heel) or navicular syndrome, laminitis, P3 rotation… flat sole, thin soles, under run heel, contraction, landing toe-first, stumbles, choppy, short strides….?
What are healthy hooves? They have certain dimensions, proportions that ensure protection and flexibility… functioning as much more than a long nail to be cut…the hoof is a fascinating structure so important, as the age-old saying goes… ”no hoof, no horse”.
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Left: The diagnosis for the lameness: rotation of the coffin bone... laminitis. We see: The heels are unnaturally high, and cause all the weight of the horse to be on 'tiptoe', the rear of this foot is too high off the ground and not helping support the horse.
A natural diet which is low in carbs and sugars is required to heal laminitis and restoring a ground parallel coffin bone will bring relief to the pressure on the toe. |
Sadly, many (if not most) performance horses have their productive careers cut short due to lameness… and hoof deformity so often accompanies this situation. The outer hoof capsule supports and protects the vital internal skeleton – the coffin and navicular bone – and their adjoining structures: the lateral cartilages (the area where sidebone/arthritis develops) and the pulley system of ligaments and tendons of the leg.
It’s becoming common knowledge that maintaining natural proportions of the hoof’s outer wall keeps the internal structures in optimal function, flexing, pumping, dissipating concussion… all serving toward circulation and locomotion of the entire horse. All horses are prey animals; genetically coded to move enough miles per day, scrounging (grazing) for food , travelling to water, and flight from predators.
Our modern use of the horse has changed this natural lifestyle and shortened its healthy lifespan; career or not. Feeding and stabling practices can and should be made more natural to the horse… ie, remove the cause of ulcers and colic, rather than treating reoccurring symptoms.
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Left: Overgrown barefeet attemp to self-trim... but our domestic horses live on soft pasture... the ground is not abrasive enough and they don't travel 10-30 miles per day which would wear down the hooves. We have to help maintain their hooves by removing what doesn't wear naturally. |
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Left: This endurance horse needs no farrier... his 50, 100 mile rides do all the work! |
The use of inflexible, permanent steel horseshoes affects the dynamics of hoof mechanism in support and function, and changes the hoof structure inside and out. Because the external hoof does deform and change, you can often judge the health of the hoof by how it looks.
We recommend these resources to educate yourself and look carefully at your horse’s feet. Perhaps you may learn how to solve an ongoing lameness issue, or begin prevention. At any rate, soundness and health is the goal… to enjoy your partner, your horse.
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Left: Mystery lameness and stifle soreness...the wedging causes unnatural forces to the hoof, which deformed in attempt to compensate. |
LINKS
www.equinextion.com Barefoot professionals, in Canada! Many photos of before/after and transition examples… excellent support and educational group at the Discussion Board - share others’ queries and journeys, plus post photos of your hooves for discussion! It’s awesome!
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| Above: From www.equinextion.com These are healthy-shaped hooves maintained by a barefoot specialist. Notice the low, wide weightbearing heelbulbs...the downwward slope to the straight hairlines...no deformities...just natural support, as the hoof should be. |
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| Above: Contracted heels and narrow frog... high heels are not comfortable; they force unnatural pressure against the lateral cartilages (seen as a bulge in coronet on the sides and heels) and internally the navicular bone is squeezed up. Track athletes do not perform in ladies high heel stilettos. These pics and more: www.equinextion.com |
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Improved Movement
Above: Trimmed with too high heel (left) affects performance - shorter, 'average' stride and sometimes toe-first landing. Notice the hairline angle - is it towards horizontal to the floor, or aiming on an angle (down to the floor at the heels). On a (horizontal) hairline that bulges upward, often frog or bar pressure is pushing up the hairline at these lateral cartilages (the sides of the hoof).
On the better-shaped hoof (right) performance is enhanced - a natural flowing stride that comes out of the shoulder - the hoof lands, cushions the horse's weight and spreads out, then flexes into a rebound as the leg lifts again - the internal function of the hoof aids circulation by operating as a type of pump, so long as the horse walks or moves. |
 
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| Above: Contracted heelbulbs and frogs not functioning... leads to heel pain... correct barefoot maintenance will restore hoof health and mechanism. |
