The Barefoot Bloke

09/09/2025

Written for autumn in the northern hemisphere, although this occurs in both spring and autumn. So please be watchful…..
Tongue in cheek, according to some Hoofing Malicious practioners who believe laminitis is the result of trimming….. maybe people only trim badly at different times of the year 😂😂😂

As we approach the start of fall and the temperatures start to drop, here is some important information to know regarding fall laminitis.

Fall laminitis refers to cases of laminitis or founder that occur in the autumnal months. Although laminitis can happen in any season, anecdotally there seems to be an uptick in the number of cases in the fall.

Why could this be?

• As the days get shorter and colder, grasses have been shown to respond to this stress with higher sugar concentrations. Diets with higher simple sugar concentrations may increase the risk of laminitis.

• Decreases in exercise may cause increases in body condition. Fat or obese horses are at risk of developing laminitis.

• Horses naturally have increased levels of certain hormones in the fall. If you have a horse with PPID (previously referred to as equine Cushing’s), the increase in their cortisol levels could put them at risk for laminitis.

If you have questions concerning fall laminitis or are concerned that your equine companion may be at an increased risk, contact your equine veterinarian so that they can properly evaluate your unique situation.

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/09/2025

03/09/2025

There is nothing worse than having to butcher a horse's hoof because a previous hoof care provider failed to address pathology. If pathologies are not addressed, fire them on the spot; they are either lazy or lack knowledge of anatomy.

26/07/2025

Understanding the distal limb.
What is a Bursa?

11/07/2025

Below is a slide articulating the Joints of the distal limb. (pun intended).
The second photo are the bones of the distal limb. Try to identify the joints correctly.

08/07/2025

Understanding ligaments. Ligaments attached bone to bone and provide or allow movement of joints. While tendons attach muscle to bone. Ligaments are more "elastic" than tendons. (Images from "The Glass Horse").

06/07/2025

This little "boat" shaped bone is the navicular bone. It can be the victim of poor hoof care. Navicular disease / syndrome can be a terrifying diagnosis. A few very simple points about navicular:
1. While Navicular disease manifests itself in the navicular bone, it is actually a "whole hoof" problem. Poor form and function of the hoof over a prolonged period of time result in the incorrect structures of the hoof being loaded excessively.
2. It appears to be a man made disease. (poor hoof care / horses in domestication). Thus far there is no evidence of this disease existing historically with wild horses.
3. The factors contributing to navicular include low heels and long toes, or the opposite where we have a "clubby" or "boxy" upright foot where the frog is not functioning.

To prevent this disease from manifesting itself, all that is required is a short break-over, with a well balanced foot.

04/07/2025

The main point of contention between traditional hoof care and barefoot hoof care is the proportion of weight distribution/load across the structures of the sole. Traditionally it is thought that the hoof wall is the primary load bearing structure, while the frog, sole and bars play a minor role.
The belief in the barefoot industry is that all structures play a role, and the hoof wall only about 10 or 15 pct…. These figures are just estimates…. The below pictures show that a hoof with a dirt plug which contributes to increased load bearing on the sole, frog and bars. (The dirt plug was actually convexed in shape and the hoof wall was virtually none load bearing). Despite the wet, note the health and size of the frog, also note the Length of toe (break over).

03/07/2025

Understanding the pedal bone. Try to label the pedal bone in the 2nd photo, with the names on photo 1.

02/07/2025

Understanding the distal limb begins with basic anatomy.

29/05/2025

Further to a post this morning. Where an ill informed individual who has limited understanding of barefoot techniques or correct anatomical and physiological function of the equine distal limb expressed concern over the fact that a horse should be carrying a portion of load on the sole as well as the other structures of the foot, the below video will help them sleep easier. The black Morgan is the horse whose hoof was in question… he seems happy enough.

28/05/2025

We always want owners to trim their horses as often as possible. This keeps the hoof shape as close to perfect as possible, and any changes made by Mother Nature are positive.

The hoof grows 1 mm every three days. So any shoe or hoof protection will prevent any wear. The foot just gets longer day by day. In an effort to maintain balance Mother Nature will start make adaptations to the foot to compensate for the increased length.

At our Equine Rehabilitation Centre we run monthly Owner Trimming Courses to empower owners to maintain their horses hooves.