Wild at Hoof Equine Podiatry

Wild at Hoof Equine Podiatry Jenny Parsons (DEP)
Equine Podiatrist based near Mansfield, providing performance barefoot trims
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Hoof trimming services are tailored to each individual horse's needs. I use a scientific approach to optimise biomechanics based upon their individual conformation, age, level of work, previous or current injuries, and any future goals. A fitting service and advice on the use of hoof boots is available if required. You never just get 'A TRIM', my service includes recommendations on management, nutrition and exercise, all of which will contribute the overall health and usability of your barefoot horse I consider this a regular MOT for your horse! Horses with laminitis, navicular and other hoof pathologies are trimmed using a remedial approach, and it is my goal to improve the comfort and aid relief and healing in these cases. I have been around horses of all ages my entire life (they were inflicted on me from a young age!) and have recently trained with Ben Hart, for advanced handing skills. I can provide training for horses and owners including youngstock and nervous horses, to gain acceptance of having their feet handled without getting stressed, using sympathetic non-aggressive techniques. I have experience in most disciplines and have trained many horses for leisure and competition ... including 2 miniature shetlands into harness! If you are considering going barefoot, or would like any more information, please call me for a chat.

I love it when a plan comes together. Baby Frank is now nearly 5, however as an ex racer he is having some down time aft...
15/12/2025

I love it when a plan comes together.

Baby Frank is now nearly 5, however as an ex racer he is having some down time after an early start in the world.

We are just over a year into this transition, and we have finally grown out all the poor hoof from his previous life.

They are some very nice hooves now, all ready for his next chapter 🫶🏻 hopefully they will continue to improve as he starts his new career 👌

Want to know a little secret?One secret of turning the heel and digital cushion in the first image into the heels of the...
13/12/2025

Want to know a little secret?

One secret of turning the heel and digital cushion in the first image into the heels of the second and third…

It’s all a matter of perspective. But probably not in the way you think.

I shared a few years back, on a group of industry professionals, the dangers of using a phone camera to record hoof photos. Namely the problem that the 1x zoom is actually a wide angle lens which completely alters the image you take when compared to the hoof in your hand.

I was taught to take progress photos every trim, with a proper camera, with the camera about 6ft away and the zoom setting dialled all the way up. This minimises the distortion in the recorded image. Now I mostly use my phone (it has a better camera and always charged!) but I always take my photos on a minimum 2 x zoom to try to capture the most accurate images … not for social media but for my own records.

The wide angle lens effect can also be seen when people use the front facing cameras for filming or selfies … that people often loose their ears, or their face looks different (this is why millennials invented selfie sticks…)

The take home message for this is if you are taking photos of your own horses feet for online mark ups or recording progress … do so with care … and not zoom out. Also use this knowledge to notice if an image looks distorted and changes how a hoof looks, if the things closer look too close and the things further back look too far it usually a sign things aren’t always quite in perspective.

So back to these images … all 3 of these images were taken within about 10 seconds of each other … but they all look very different. The first is most accurate, at about 2x zoom (it’s hard to do this shot at a higher zoom setting), the second at 1x zoom and the third at 0.5x zoom … you will usually see these options on your phone camera at the bottom.

The difference is subtle … but definitely there …

I knew my HND in photography and graphic design might come in handy one day … happy to go into more detail but need another coffee first!

Edit: video added to comments

How much progress can be made in 2 trim cycles? I saw a conversation on Facebook the other day about how quickly hooves ...
11/12/2025

How much progress can be made in 2 trim cycles?

I saw a conversation on Facebook the other day about how quickly hooves can heal or grow in correct.

And whilst usually that answer is “about 4 months for a new heel and about 9 months for a new toe”, I always think back to a horse that surprised me.

This was the hind feet of a lovely little thoroughbred mare. Every single one of her shoes was a weird shape. Kudos to the farrier for making the shoes the shape her feet were … but I feel being able to do this means that many forget that they are actually responsible for what shape those feet are. (Not farrier / trimmer basing here … you either trim for the foot you have or the foot you want … and those 2 things aren’t the same)

Any way, I digress, I actually cried when I took her front shoes off because of the mess they hid (I’m a sensitive soul - this wasn’t the first time and wasn’t the last) but the hinds … well …

Would you believe me if I told you there was 12 weeks between these pictures? You should, I’ve double and triple checked the dates … and even I’m surprised they improved so quickly. True, there was a bit of toe to come off, but I’d never seen heels stand up like this instead of growing all the way in.

So when you’re dealing with poor hooves or foot structure … it’s worth contemplating, whether you have a few short months to begin healing and turn everything around.

Sometimes it doesn’t take as long as you think 🫶🏻

⭐️🌟💫 Gold Star of the Day💫🌟⭐️Bit delayed, but yesterday it felt like Mac turned a corner 🙌🏻For the last year he has been...
10/12/2025

⭐️🌟💫 Gold Star of the Day💫🌟⭐️

Bit delayed, but yesterday it felt like Mac turned a corner 🙌🏻

For the last year he has been throwing out different challenges to his owner … and to me. With his favourite being to either sn**ch a leg back or just to exit stage left … right … or straight over you. Always fun!

However yesterday’s trim, despite the glorious weather 🌧️ he was practically perfect, I certainly couldn’t have asked for more from him.

I know I have said this a few times, but the point at which horses learn they can ask for their leg back and the human obliges … it changes everything. Gently touching the person with their nose to signal they would like their leg back becomes the new “go-to” … in favour of sn**ching or in Macs case … just leaving.

We are still early in this progression of learning this so I have been rewarding every touch very quickly with giving him back his leg and giving him a nice scratch.

Next visit we will work on keeping the leg slightly longer after the request … what’s super interesting is when I do this they often repeat the request just slightly firmer.

Even more interesting, many, over time, allow you a lot longer with their hoof than you would have previously expected. I’ve always considered this is because they know if they ask, they will get it.

More interesting again is that is the super smart horses that start asking for it back before you’ve even picked it up … like yeah buddy … doesn’t work like that… you do actually have to pick it up 😆🙃

Obviously this only works with front hooves, but they will still sometimes turn to look at you and you can feel their shift in weight and reward the ask.

The best thing about all of this … is the horse thinks they are training the human… and things always work better if the horse thinks it’s their idea!

Anyway! Onwards and upwards for Mr Mac 🫶🏻

What a difference a year has made to this old girl 🫶🏻 Always glad to improve horses hooves but helping oldies makes it e...
09/12/2025

What a difference a year has made to this old girl 🫶🏻

Always glad to improve horses hooves but helping oldies makes it extra special.

Getting these toes back under control gave us the opportunity to widen the heels and the plan has come together beautifully. She has now grown in a whole new hoof with better angles, balance and biomechanics.

Happy days

Yeah … we know … 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️
09/12/2025

Yeah … we know … 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

It's official 🌧️

Recent rain has finally moved the Midlands out of drought almost five months on from the hottest summer on record

Read more: https://bbc.in/4pUDCau

Something to smile about 🫶🏻 especially on a cold wet rainy morning
05/12/2025

Something to smile about 🫶🏻 especially on a cold wet rainy morning

03/12/2025

Sorry it’s been a while. I hope you can all understand

The face of a horse who, just a year ago needed sedating by a vet just to get her through a trim. Over the year, we’ve n...
10/08/2025

The face of a horse who, just a year ago needed sedating by a vet just to get her through a trim.

Over the year, we’ve never needed sedation, but plenty of patience and understanding. Lots of conversations and lots of relearning the best ways to communicate.

Over the last few months she’s been practicing asking politely for her leg if she needs it, and with time, waiting patiently while I finish what I’m doing to give it her back. She’s got this absolutely nailed … and as with most horses that learn this … the more they know they can get their feet back … the less they ask.

However, the last trim we took an even bigger step. One I completely adore and always feel very honoured to experience… she started interacting with me on a really gentle and intimate level.

I got hair snuffles, she was checking out what I was doing with my tools whilst her foot was forward on the stand. And enjoyed gentle muzzle kisses and nostril breaths with me.

When horses who were previously fearful take this step to interact with you at this level, when they’ve previously merely tolerated your presence, it should never be under recognised.

Here’s to her enjoying her feet being done from this point on 🫶🏻

Micro Coblet … her periople is so strong it was practically the entire hoof so I scraped it away a bit just to check wha...
08/08/2025

Micro Coblet … her periople is so strong it was practically the entire hoof so I scraped it away a bit just to check what was going on

📣 Client Notice – Changes to Pricing from 1st September 2025 📣From 1st September 2025, I will be adjusting the way I cha...
05/08/2025

📣 Client Notice – Changes to Pricing from 1st September 2025 📣

From 1st September 2025, I will be adjusting the way I charge for my services.

Currently, I operate on a flat-rate system. However, from September, I’ll be moving to a flexible pricing structure.

• For most clients on a regular

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05/08/2025

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Address

Mansfield

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+447841294141

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