💙 CASE STUDIES 

DAMAGE HAPPENS OVER TIME..

 

Reduction in hoof quality and damage to the inner sensitive structures typically happen over time  - most often without any outward signs. It is not wise to wait until the symptoms and signs of injury are apparent and the horse is in obvious discomfort. 

 

Healthy change in hooves is brought about through miles - not just months. It does require time to reverse the damage - and it can be done in the majority of cases. The transition can be challenging but the rewards are priceless. As long as the horse is comfortable (with or without boots), the horse will self-exercise and should be ridden.

 

Keep in mind that proper nutrition (offering the horse what it needs to repair and grow tissue from within), regular natural trimming (promoting the physical and mechanical means to develop, stimulate and maintain the horse's hooves for use on all terrains) and plenty of exercising (miles - to develop tough calloused frogs and soles) will result in STRONGER, HEALTHIER, SOUND HOOVES.

 

 

...correct form promotes correct function;

correct function maintains correct form...

The inverse is also true

 

 

 

 

HOW MUCH TIME TO HEAL?

 

The amount of time depends on several factors, not limited to:

 

  • extent of damage
  • structures affected
  • history of health or neglect
  • length of time damage was not addressed
  • horse's past and present living conditions
  • caretaker's motivation to take action and participate
  • past injuries, compensation
  • shod present or past
  • age
  • horse's expected performance
  • the individual horse
  • amount of effective exercise

 

Some hooves may not result in textbook perfect form. The goal is maintaining healthy hooves with strong material and structure which are able to perform with comfort based upon the needs of the individual. It takes time to heal and rehabilitate... the damaged hoof capsule typically grows out in 8 to 12 months. In extreme cases, it may take longer until the horse presents a stable, healthy, functioning structure.

 

A side note about THRUSH: Keep thrush out of your horse's hooves! Attack it with a vengeance… and invest the time to prevent and treat. The infection can progress from discomfort to severe pain at the heels which will cause the horse to land on its toes. This leads to more problems - The negative affect this has on the mechanics of the horse's movement then affects the development and soundness of the structures of the hoof. It is imperative that the horse maintain a heel first landing.

NASH

Day 1 May 2023 Pre-trim: rescued, shod, neglectful hoofcare, poor nutrition, poor hoof structure, past injuries/scarred material

May 2024: significant progress, moving comfortably, client continues to aggressively treat thrush and gives him miles of movement weekly

BUDDY

DAY 1 March 2013 Pre-trim: client stated hoof material was not removed before each set of shoes and horse was moving very uncomfortable and profoundly lame

March 2014: much healthier structure and moving soundly on gravel and in pasture, diet and nutrition improved

Four months later July 2013:  X-rays

BUDDY IS THE CHESTNUT

JACKIE

Day 1 September 2013 Pre-trim: retired, uncomfortable standing/walking, nutritional issues, arthritis, severe pastern dermatitis/scratches, hoof care neglected; unhealthy hoof material

Day 1 Post-trim: more comfortable standing on concrete surface and walking on gravel, no changes made to diet yet she continued to stay comfortable and moving

CLYDE

Day 1 February 2012 Pre-trim: neglectful hoofcare performed randomly by client, diet consisted of human food (including ham sandwiches, not horse appropriate forage/feed), nutritional deficiencies, cushings

November 2012: freely moving comfortably; continued progress, no changes made to diet

 

TOBY

Day 1 Dec 2021 Pre-trim: child's show horse, crippling hoofcare, missing shoes (nails still in hooves), uncomfortable and cranky, client questioned farrier with no changes made then sought barefoot option/rehabilitation

December 2022: significant improvement in hoof structure and soundness; progress continues

 

TACOMA

September 2012 Day 1 pre trim: client had shoes pulled several years earlier and was interested in optimizing and maintaining with natural trims and lifestyle, presented slightly pigeon-toed, uneven growth rings; previous trim did not have rolled edges

April 2021: over 8 years of consistent care including trims every 4 weeks; stall-less lifestyle, regular miles of daily exercise, forage first based nutrition, robust frog, strong structure

COCO

First day: immediate relief from excessive neglect, unrestricted, high sugar diet, lack of hoofcare, metabolic syndrome

Moved comfortably and more soundly after trim

 

GUS

June 2023: Recently  rescued after being gelded, underweight, malnourished, covered in lacerations from pasture mates, lacking hoofcare, poor hoof material and structure, history of abscesses, anxious, uncomfortable standing for trims (day 1 photos not taken). 

September 2023: All photos below show amount of progress after dietary improvements; resulting in healthier hoof material/growth, healing continues

 

BLAIR

October 2019 Day 1: new home, shod with pads, neglectful hoofcare, poor nutrition, poor hoof structure, overgrown frogs, excessive sole material, stalled, metabolic, arthritic

October 2019 Day 1: Post-trim

May 2021: improved structures and material, permanent sole damage, stalled, low NSC (sugar) diet, effortless sound movement

Right fore

Left fore