4SF

1. Bare Hooves are perfectly designed to move under the horse. (video) They absorb shock.
2. Shod hooves have minimal movement. (video) The back half of the foot, containing internal structures of fibrous cartilage, becomes useless. Every farrier book recommends going barefoot for several months each year (“resting the hoof”) in order to grow out a healthy, well attached hoof.
3. Natural hooves feel and know where they are in space because proprioceptor nerves in the back of the foot are working. Shod horses loose this ability.
4. Shod hooves redirect energy of the horse right up the leg. The leg is not a shock absorber; the hoof is.
5. A natural (based on what we have learned from feral horses) trim puts the hoof in the perfect position to rehabilitate. Every 4 weeks, I trim off what the environment hasn’t. Clients are encourage to reapply the wall bevel aka mustang roll weekly.
6. A bad trim damages the horse as much as shoes.
7. I encourage my clients to turn out 24/7. Ride barefoot when you can and strap on your padded Easy Care Boots for rougher terrain.
8. Navicular and foundered horses can be rehabiliated with the natural trim and padded boots. Even hoof slough is “fixable”.
9. A horse with naturally trimmed hooves moves better than the same horse in shoes and is immeasurably healthier. Dr. Tomas Teskey claims his well conditioned, barefooted, cow horses perform better than their feral cousins!
10. Why do high level horses appear to “do well” in shoes? Horses are adaptive animals of prey; they have to be, to survive. They tolerate pain. Lame horses can appear to go sound in shoes because the shoe stiffens the capsule. No movement, no pain. They are still lame. Please read on for the sake of your horse’s health . It’s never too late!

Both Hind Feet

Left Front Hoof

Look at these “shelly”, thin-soled Thoroughbred feet! Easily rehabbed with trim, movement and diet.