"Mother Nature does everything right. Until man intervened, the hoof did not fail the horse the way it
does today. We need to work towards mimicking Mother Nature the best we can, for the horse's
sake. We must find a harmony between a natural environment and the forces of domestication.
Domestic Horses deserve the soundness & longevity of the wild horse." -courtesy of Drabek Hoofcare
does today. We need to work towards mimicking Mother Nature the best we can, for the horse's
sake. We must find a harmony between a natural environment and the forces of domestication.
Domestic Horses deserve the soundness & longevity of the wild horse." -courtesy of Drabek Hoofcare
The Goal of the Natural Trim is to mimick the natural wearing the hoof would receive in a
horse's ideal natural environment. The trim is non-invasive and allows the hoof to heal and
perform the job it was designed to do on it's own. What is that job?? One of the most
important functions of the hoof is shock absorption and energy dissipation. The back 2/3 of
the foot - the frog and digital cushion - are designed to handle the tremendous amount of
shock from the weight of the horse and dissipate that energy so that it doesn't have to be
absorbed so much by the bones and joints. When we place metal shoes on the bottom of
the hoof....we interrupt that shock absorbing function of the frog and hoof mechanism. The
bones and joints must take the brunt of it.
horse's ideal natural environment. The trim is non-invasive and allows the hoof to heal and
perform the job it was designed to do on it's own. What is that job?? One of the most
important functions of the hoof is shock absorption and energy dissipation. The back 2/3 of
the foot - the frog and digital cushion - are designed to handle the tremendous amount of
shock from the weight of the horse and dissipate that energy so that it doesn't have to be
absorbed so much by the bones and joints. When we place metal shoes on the bottom of
the hoof....we interrupt that shock absorbing function of the frog and hoof mechanism. The
bones and joints must take the brunt of it.
| Natural Trim |
1. Allows sole to thicken, callous and naturally
concave
2. Allows hoof expansion & contraction
(aka "hoof mechanism")
3. Allows better blood circulation
4. Mustang roll prevents chips, splits, cracks
and pressure on the laminae
5. Earlier breakover - allows limbs to fully
extend for proper movement, bone/joint
alignment, and a heel-first landing
6. A heel-first landing is a must for proper
development of frog & digital cushion - which
absorb shock
7. Hoof will align on it's own by following the
true sole...no more forced angles, toe lengths
or heel heights
8. Non-invasive - no invasive cuts are made
which would subject the hoof to fungus, bacterial
infection or interruption of blood supply. Only
remove what the hoof would naturally wear
through miles of daily movement in a natural
environment.
9. More sure-footed because the natural
sensors in the frog can "feel" foot placement
and the bare hoof provides the best traction on
all types of terrain and in all types of weather.
concave
2. Allows hoof expansion & contraction
(aka "hoof mechanism")
3. Allows better blood circulation
4. Mustang roll prevents chips, splits, cracks
and pressure on the laminae
5. Earlier breakover - allows limbs to fully
extend for proper movement, bone/joint
alignment, and a heel-first landing
6. A heel-first landing is a must for proper
development of frog & digital cushion - which
absorb shock
7. Hoof will align on it's own by following the
true sole...no more forced angles, toe lengths
or heel heights
8. Non-invasive - no invasive cuts are made
which would subject the hoof to fungus, bacterial
infection or interruption of blood supply. Only
remove what the hoof would naturally wear
through miles of daily movement in a natural
environment.
9. More sure-footed because the natural
sensors in the frog can "feel" foot placement
and the bare hoof provides the best traction on
all types of terrain and in all types of weather.
I used to be normal....now I'm natural.
~Pat Parelli
~Pat Parelli
1. "Cleans up" the sole and frog, which
actually removes the callous, thins the
sole, and eventually causes bone
structures to sink down in the hoof
capsule. They must do this in order to
get a "flat spot" to place the shoe on.
2. Thinning the sole causes it to flatten
-losing the natural concavity needed for
shock absorption
3. Hoof wall is left flat in preparation for a
shoe. Believed to be the weight bearing
surface leaving the coffin bone to
"suspend" from laminae as hoof wall
grows -causes stretched laminae and
flaring. Sole & frog should also bear
passive weight.
4. Nailing on shoes invades hoof wall &
laminae -allowing entry place for
bacteria and infection, weakens and
thins hoof wall and could interrupt
blood supply to laminae if not done
properly (hot nail)
5. Shoes prevent natural hoof expansion
and contraction mechanism which will
deteriorate the frog, digital cushion and
lateral cartilages over time and cause
the heels to contract. This is one cause
of pain in the back of the foot. Frogs
basically atrophy.
6. Heels and toes are usually left too long
putting the coffin bone in an un-natural
position - biggest cause of navicular.
Long toes leave the foot susceptible to
flare, vertical cracks and a late break-over
preventing a heel-first landing.
7. Uses hoof angle, toe length and heel
heights as a guide. These
measurements are not always an
accurate indication of coffin bone
placement within the hoof capsule.
actually removes the callous, thins the
sole, and eventually causes bone
structures to sink down in the hoof
capsule. They must do this in order to
get a "flat spot" to place the shoe on.
2. Thinning the sole causes it to flatten
-losing the natural concavity needed for
shock absorption
3. Hoof wall is left flat in preparation for a
shoe. Believed to be the weight bearing
surface leaving the coffin bone to
"suspend" from laminae as hoof wall
grows -causes stretched laminae and
flaring. Sole & frog should also bear
passive weight.
4. Nailing on shoes invades hoof wall &
laminae -allowing entry place for
bacteria and infection, weakens and
thins hoof wall and could interrupt
blood supply to laminae if not done
properly (hot nail)
5. Shoes prevent natural hoof expansion
and contraction mechanism which will
deteriorate the frog, digital cushion and
lateral cartilages over time and cause
the heels to contract. This is one cause
of pain in the back of the foot. Frogs
basically atrophy.
6. Heels and toes are usually left too long
putting the coffin bone in an un-natural
position - biggest cause of navicular.
Long toes leave the foot susceptible to
flare, vertical cracks and a late break-over
preventing a heel-first landing.
7. Uses hoof angle, toe length and heel
heights as a guide. These
measurements are not always an
accurate indication of coffin bone
placement within the hoof capsule.
Welcome to HoofSense ... because natural hooves just make sense!!
| The Natural Trim |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Measure collateral grooves to determine
sole thickness. Only scrape away flaky
dead sole enough to find live sole plane.
This sole is very thin so we are leaving
the toe completely alone.
sole thickness. Only scrape away flaky
dead sole enough to find live sole plane.
This sole is very thin so we are leaving
the toe completely alone.
vs.
Common Farrier Trim
Most horse owners know that horses need to have their feet trimmed yet, hoof care is
usually somewhere on the bottom of the priority list or an expense they'd like to minimize.
Hoof care is also of little interest to most horse owners, other than just knowing it needs
to be done. Complete trust is put in the farrier when the hooves look like they need a
trim or for shoes when we want to ride. As long as the horse isn't lame, we assume
everything is fine, but horses can hide pain very well and will compensate for it in other
areas of their body.
Without truly realizing how physical a farrier's job is, most people assume a farrier can,
should and will, attempt to trim any horse. Some farriers, usually the new ones trying to
build their business, will wrestle with a horse that hasn't been trained to stand well and
get the feet trimmed as quickly as possible, sometimes using very harsh measures or
drugs to sedate the horse. The horse probably had a traumatizing experience, too, and
will remember it. If the owner doesn't consistently work with the horse on picking up its
feet and standing long enough to have its feet worked on, each time will be a struggle.
Not only is this not safe, it's not fair to the horse. Eventually, the horses that consistently
don't stand well will get weeded out as the farrier gets busier with more well-trained
horses.
IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN THEIR HORSE TO STAND WELL.
This is just part of horse keeping! The hoof care appointment should not be "training
time", unless arrangements were made to do so. Harsh measures should NOT be a
substitute for an untrained horse!!! If you are not sure how to, or can not, train a horse
for hoof care, have a professional train them. The reason this is so important is
because there is no possible way a horse that is uncooperative can get a proper trim.
The hoof can be left very unbalanced while trying to work on a struggling horse. Many
mistakes or short-cuts can be made when a farrier has to rush a trim in order to get it
accomplished. If you don't take the time to train your horse in advance, more than likely,
you will not get quality hoof care.
When horses aren't trained to stand well and have their feet handled, they usually get
their hooves neglected, as well. Neglected, over-grown hooves can cause as many
problems for the horse as improper trimming or shoeing.
Your horse's hooves should be a top priority because without them, the rest of the horse
suffers. Horse's can be trained to stand very well if their owner's will just take the time,
be consistent and make the effort to do it properly.
There is no such thing as a bad horse - only bad training!!!
usually somewhere on the bottom of the priority list or an expense they'd like to minimize.
Hoof care is also of little interest to most horse owners, other than just knowing it needs
to be done. Complete trust is put in the farrier when the hooves look like they need a
trim or for shoes when we want to ride. As long as the horse isn't lame, we assume
everything is fine, but horses can hide pain very well and will compensate for it in other
areas of their body.
Without truly realizing how physical a farrier's job is, most people assume a farrier can,
should and will, attempt to trim any horse. Some farriers, usually the new ones trying to
build their business, will wrestle with a horse that hasn't been trained to stand well and
get the feet trimmed as quickly as possible, sometimes using very harsh measures or
drugs to sedate the horse. The horse probably had a traumatizing experience, too, and
will remember it. If the owner doesn't consistently work with the horse on picking up its
feet and standing long enough to have its feet worked on, each time will be a struggle.
Not only is this not safe, it's not fair to the horse. Eventually, the horses that consistently
don't stand well will get weeded out as the farrier gets busier with more well-trained
horses.
IT IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO TRAIN THEIR HORSE TO STAND WELL.
This is just part of horse keeping! The hoof care appointment should not be "training
time", unless arrangements were made to do so. Harsh measures should NOT be a
substitute for an untrained horse!!! If you are not sure how to, or can not, train a horse
for hoof care, have a professional train them. The reason this is so important is
because there is no possible way a horse that is uncooperative can get a proper trim.
The hoof can be left very unbalanced while trying to work on a struggling horse. Many
mistakes or short-cuts can be made when a farrier has to rush a trim in order to get it
accomplished. If you don't take the time to train your horse in advance, more than likely,
you will not get quality hoof care.
When horses aren't trained to stand well and have their feet handled, they usually get
their hooves neglected, as well. Neglected, over-grown hooves can cause as many
problems for the horse as improper trimming or shoeing.
Your horse's hooves should be a top priority because without them, the rest of the horse
suffers. Horse's can be trained to stand very well if their owner's will just take the time,
be consistent and make the effort to do it properly.
There is no such thing as a bad horse - only bad training!!!
| The Importance of Training your Horse to Stand Well for Hoofcare |
A Wild Mustang Hoof
- our model of
perfection!!
- our model of
perfection!!
Look at this rock-crushing
healthy hoof right after a natural
trim!! It goes bare over rocky
terrain in Arkansas!!
healthy hoof right after a natural
trim!! It goes bare over rocky
terrain in Arkansas!!
Want hoof protection?
Which one will you choose?
Which one will you choose?
The above horse had not been trimmed for
a year!!! This is a BEFORE and AFTER
photo of what the Natural Trim is all about.
However, to be effective...the trim MUST be
maintained at 4-6 week intervals!!
a year!!! This is a BEFORE and AFTER
photo of what the Natural Trim is all about.
However, to be effective...the trim MUST be
maintained at 4-6 week intervals!!
| STATISTICS (PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN FARRIERS JOURNAL, NOV 2000 vol. 26 #6) |
| Of the 122 million equine world wide... ~No More than 10% are CLINICALLY SOUND ~ 80% are somewhat lame and could not pass a soundness evaluation ~ 10% are clinically, completely, unusably LAME IN OTHER WORDS....90% of all domestic horses have some degree of laminitis (from mild to severely foundered) or some other hoof pathology!!! These statistics are the result of traditional farrier practices, traditional feeding routines, lack of movement, and an environment that is UNNATURAL for a horse!! |
| "A horse that is sound only in shoes, is not a sound horse." ~ Steve Dick BWFA, CESP |
| HOW TO BE YOUR HOOF CARE PROFESSIONAL'S FAVORITE CUSTOMER |
- 1. Have your horse(s)
caught and ready for
their trim when your
trimmer arrives...
while you go get them in the north 40,
one at a time! We are usually on a
tight schedule and appreciate those
that realize that.
- 2. Have a clean, flat,
dry place available to
trim -free from clutter,
muck, dogs, etc.
way make for a difficult and
dangerous working environment for
us and the horse.
- 3. Bathing, hosing off,
or fly spray
the legs or drown them in fly spray
right before their trim. We know you
have good intentions, but when the
horse is all wet they are difficult to
hold on to, and it's no fun driving
around in wet clothes or covered in
chemicals the rest of the day.
- MUD
mud off your horse before we arrive.
Wet, muddy horses left for us to clean
off means that mud will be all over us,
our tools, and takes up additional
time.
- Correcting Bad
Behavior
be bitten or kicked. We will correct the
horse if you do not and sometimes
even if you do!
- Train Your Equine to
Stand Well for Hoof
Care
horse is not only difficult, it is
dangerous and the trim is usually
lower quality. Don't expect the trim
appointment to be "training time".
- Learn all you can about
natural hoof care and a
more natural lifeway for
the domestic horse and
tell others!
hoof care, but it also takes a big effort
from you, the owner, to get the diet
and other environmental factors right
for your horse. Hats off to all of my
customers for wanting to do better for
their horses and being open minded
enough to let the results speak for
themselves!!