Wild at Hoof Equine Podiatry

02/02/2026

Well this is interesting…

I think the FRC is definitely due an overhaul ..

Slightly worried they will change to rules so that I might be out of a job … that wouldn’t be ideal 😬

Proposed changes to farriery regulation — have your say.

DEFRA has launched a public consultation on reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act — and these proposals could significantly affect how farriery is regulated in the UK.
This is the biggest potential change to farriery legislation in over 50 years.

What’s being proposed:
The consultation includes proposals that could:
▪️Replace the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975
▪️ Change how farriers are regulated in line with more modern practices
▪️ Bring farriery under new legislation
▪️ Regulate hoof trimming and barefoot practice for the first time
▪️ Introduce UK-wide regulation, including Northern Ireland

Why this matters:
There are clear positives — particularly around improving horse welfare and closing long-standing regulatory gaps.

There are also important concerns around:
⚠️ Farrier independence
⚠️ Scope of practice
⚠️ Governance and representation
⚠️ How regulation would work in practice
⚠️ Proportionate regulation for self-employed farriers
⚠️ Increase in costs & bureaucracy

These details matter — and they are being decided now.

BFBA position:
The British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association will submit a full organisational response to DEFRA and is actively representing the profession throughout this process.

However:
👉 Individual farrier responses are essential.
The strength of our profession’s voice depends on participation.

Consultation deadline:
🗓 Closes: 25 March 2026
🔗 Link in comments
(Search: Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act)

What we encourage members to do:
✔ Read the proposals
✔ Consider how they affect your work
✔ Submit an individual response

You can support welfare improvements and protect farriery as a profession.

We have until March to take full advantage of the consultation process - it's important we consider all the potential positives or set backs reform could mean for UK Farriery in the future.

We will continue to update members as this develops.

02/02/2026

Loving the new Spatial Scene feature 🫶🏻

I’ve definitely not just been using my it on hoof pics … I promise 😬😜

31/01/2026

Resharing this…

It’s always relevant 🫶🏻

Life hit me with a lesson today ... interestingly it wasn’t a lesson I was aware I needed to learn.

Today I had another session with Wren, we were joined by 2 lovely ladies and their young sports horses.

It’s one of the first times I have felt inadequate. Them with their gorgeous tall leggy clean horses ... me with a small scruffy grubby spotty pony. I felt embarrassed ... and I have no idea why ... I normally have zero f**ks about what people think ... I rarely wear make up, wander around Morrison’s in my scratty yard clothes ... I simply couldn’t care less if someone considered themselves better than me.

But today I did. I found myself putting myself and Wren down (both out loud and in my head): her height, her colour, her potential talent, her personality, our plans for the future ... pretty much everything.

And I was wrong to do so.

She won’t ever be a 17.2 leggy warmblood.

She isn’t ever going to turn back into a bay blanket spot.

She’s never going to win any beauty competitions.

She definitely isn’t ever going to be a easygoing pushover.

And she isn’t ever going to be a world be**er ... but she can be my world ... and that’s enough ... it’s all enough.

Because when we finally hopped on ... I remembered why she doesn’t need to be any of those things ... not for me, not for anyone... her heart is as big if not bigger than those posh horses... she is so smart, brave and fun ... even riding round in a halter with one rein she showed everyone she was enough.

Worse than that embarrassment was the feeling of betrayal that came after.

I’m sorry for doubting you.

31/01/2026

Oooooo … I think we are getting somewhere!

Can’t wait to see how these look in a few more months … these heels are starting to look and act the part… not quite there yet … but well on our way 🫶🏻

30/01/2026

Announcement …

I **freaking** adore black feet with white soles …

that is all! 🫶🏻

30/01/2026

They should do this with Mares …

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Smy6eHBU9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

28/01/2026

** PSA **

Keep calm! It’s just the periople!

Your breed of horse will influence the size and thickness of the periople, but it’s always there … just not always looking like this … but it’s completely normal and healthy for it to look different during wet weather.

Carry on!

27/01/2026

I can’t believe it’s been 8yrs since Barnsdale stormed through the field to land a win at Kempton … without something the other horses had … shoes.

A few horses have raced successfully barefoot over the years,Barnsdale being one of them, but current UK rules means that you can only run barefoot on a sand surface… unfortunately there are only 6 of those in the UK. (Out of about 60 licensed tracks)

The regulation that all horses must be presented fully shod in flat races was implemented in April 2016 and was enforced over jumps on February 2019. The change was supposed to make racing safer by reducing the risk of horses slipping. However, they never released any of the stats or research used to make this decision.

A 2022 study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) examined how different shoeing conditions affect galloping Thoroughbreds on both turf and artificial surfaces. The horses were tested barefoot, in aluminium shoes, steel shoes, and GluShu (an aluminium–rubber composite), with accelerometers used to measure impact forces during landing.

The findings were striking. Barefoot hooves consistently experienced the lowest impact accelerations, particularly on artificial tracks. In contrast, steel shoes on turf produced the highest impact accelerations, a factor that may increase strain on bones, joints, and soft tissues and potentially elevate injury risk. While the study stopped short of making definitive recommendations for high-speed race conditions, it strongly suggests that barefoot running…especially on artificial surfaces…may reduce limb stress.

Shoeing choice also plays a critical role in hoof slip, which is often misunderstood. While excessive slip can cause instability, some slip is essential to dissipate energy during initial loading and reduce stress through the limb. Further RVC research at the British Racing School measured hoof slip duration in retired Thoroughbred racehorses galloping on turf and Martin Collins Activ-Track surfaces. Barefoot hooves showed shorter, more controlled slip durations than aluminium shoes, particularly in the hindlimbs, supporting the idea that barefoot hooves can strike a more natural balance between grip and energy absorption.

Evidence from other racing disciplines supports this concept. In Swedish harness racing, barefoot competition is common, with data showing trotters racing an average of 0.7 seconds per kilometre faster when unshod—suggesting not only potential soundness benefits, but performance advantages too.

Despite this, not everyone has accepted it willingly. Veteran trainer Mick Easterby famously opposed the BHA’s mandate requiring horses to be fully shod in the name of safety, arguing that enforced shoeing - particularly behind - could increase risk rather than reduce it. His stance echoed the concerns of several experienced trainers who believe blanket rules fail to account for biomechanics, surface type, and individual horse needs.

It doesn’t make sense why barefoot horses are excluded … even in RoR classes post racing especially when current evidence challenges long-held assumptions about shoeing and safety, and suggests that barefoot Thoroughbreds - when appropriately managed and matched to suitable surfaces - may experience lower impact forces, improved limb loading, and potentially reduced injury risk.

So … is it time to take another look at these rules?

27/01/2026

This time we are looking through the cross hairs … finding our centre and balance …literally!

All these lines essentially base around finding the centre point which should be the “centre of rotation” in the hoof… which also should line up with the centre of the coffin joint … “should” being the optimal word.

These lines can help you see if the hoof is balanced on 2 planes … medio-lateral and dorso-palmer. They help see ratios and balance and they can help you see if the hoof is distorted and if work is needed to bring toes back or widen heels.

So does this help you read B̶E̶T̶W̶E̶E̶N̶ the lines? Hopefully you can see the difference between the different hoof balances.

22/01/2026

to the wonderful Alfie 🫶🏻

Alfie came out of shoes with very very weak frogs and a good balance that was all out of whack.

Thankfully it didn’t take long for him to get some decent feet under him! Look at those frogs! 🐸

Improved dorsal wall angle from bringing the toe back and the heels wondering and of course an actual frog with structure and strength.

This is the type of glow-up that makes me smile 🥰

Incidentally that’s also partially because I completely adore white hooves that have black frogs ❤️

21/01/2026

Who said you can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear?! 🐷 👛

First trim in his new home for baby Toby 🫶🏻 and there was a good foot hiding under all that!

And he was definitely due one, thankfully some rather lovely feet underneath. A few bits to improve on but that will come.

I love working with the babies 🥰 and Toby was so clever and calm. Especially given that the appointment was made with the intention that we get done what we get done … few conversations about balance but to be expected.

Can’t wait to see where these hooves take him in the future ❤️❤️

21/01/2026

** READ B̶E̶T̶W̶E̶E̶N̶THE LINES **

Tired of looking at marked up hooves online and being more confused than before?

It’s crazy how many times I see a marked up foot online with either no explanation as to what the lines mean or. Seeing a pathological hoof marked up and somehow sneaking past as a “normal hoof” …

Many times I see mark ups with lines that mean nothing… even with angles that are complete bs 💩 worse, hooves with distorted camera angles showing things that aren’t there.

Not all feet are perfect… some are the way they need to be for the horses soundness. But you can’t just pretend a pathology doesn’t exist… even if it’s one you know you have to live with.

So, stay with me as I read B̶E̶T̶W̶E̶E̶N̶ the lines for you on these posts … and hopefully you will come out the other side being able to see for yourself.