Pheobe Fricker Equine Podiatrist

11/05/2026

These are the boots I currently ride in and I cannot tell you how excited I am to see these being stocked by The Hoof Boot Shop 🤩🙌🏻🤩

01/05/2026

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

WHY YOUR HORSE IS SUDDENLY FOOTIER — AND IT'S NOT JUST THE GROUND

Edited for accuracy and clarification on the horn hydration mechanism.

The ground was soft all winter. Now it's baked hard in a week. And your horse is picking their way across the yard like it's made of broken glass.

This is one of the most common spring presentations in the UK, and it tends to prompt a lot of anxiety. Some of it warranted. Most of it manageable.

Here's what's actually happening.

WHAT MONTHS OF WET GROUND DOES TO A HOOF

Horn — the structural material of the hoof capsule — is a keratin composite whose mechanical properties are directly tied to moisture content. But the hoof wall is largely impermeable. It regulates its own hydration internally, via blood supply to the underlying dermis. Environmental wetness doesn't change wall moisture content the way it's commonly assumed.

The sole is different. The sole can absorb moisture from the environment. That affects sensitivity and bruising risk directly. And after months of wet ground, that matters.

THE TRANSITION PROBLEM

The problem isn't prolonged wetness. It's the transition.

Repeated cycling between wet and dry states creates mechanical stress — water molecules breaking and reforming bonds within the horn matrix. When the ground hardens rapidly, that cycling intensifies at exactly the point when the foot is least prepared for it.

Classic research by Bertram and Gosline (1987) measured the stiffness of hoof wall keratin across different hydration states. Young's modulus — the measure of material stiffness — increased from 410 MPa at full hydration to nearly 14.6 GPa when completely dried. That's an enormous range. The hoof is designed to operate somewhere in the middle, with maximum fracture toughness occurring at an intermediate hydration level — roughly 75% relative humidity, which is within the normal in-vivo range for healthy hoof wall.

Stable conditions, even persistently wet ones, are less mechanically damaging than constant fluctuation. A foot that's been cycling through wet and dry all winter is not in that optimal middle range.

WHAT'S ACTUALLY HURTING

The solar corium — the vascular, nerve-dense tissue that sits just beneath the sole and produces sole horn — is protected by the horn layer above it. That corium must always be well-protected, covered by adequate sole thickness to keep it safe from ground contact and concussion.

The sole, having absorbed environmental moisture through the wet months, may be softer and more vulnerable than usual. The wall above it is a different story — wall integrity isn't the issue. It's what's underneath. What the rapid transition does is intensify the cycling stress on a foot that's been in unstable moisture conditions for months. The solar corium — already less protected than ideal — now faces harder ground.

Injury to the sensitive tissue beneath the sole can cause bleeding between the sole and the pedal bone — forming a bruise or haematoma that causes pain and lameness. In harder cases, that bruise becomes an abscess when bacteria find their way into the damaged tissue. The pressure of building pus inside a rigid capsule is what causes the acute, sometimes severe lameness owners describe.

FOOTY VS LAME — NOT THE SAME THING

This distinction matters and it's worth making clearly.

A horse that's footy is shortening its stride, picking its way carefully, choosing soft ground where it exists. It's responding to surface information. The foot contains mechanoreceptors — sensory structures including Pacinian corpuscles, found in the digital cushion, heel bulbs, and around the frog — that respond to pressure and provide critical sensory information during ground contact. On suddenly hard, unyielding ground, that sensory input changes dramatically. The horse responds accordingly.

That's different from lameness. Lameness involves pain — nociceptive signalling from damaged tissue. A bruise, an abscess, an inflammatory process. The horse isn't just reading the ground differently. It's protecting a structure that hurts.

The two can look similar from a distance. Both produce shortened stride and reluctance. But footy tends to be bilateral, consistent across all four feet, and resolves when the horse moves onto softer ground. Lameness tends to be localised, persistent regardless of surface, and accompanied by other clinical signs — heat, pulse, swelling.

A horse that's footy on hard ground and sound on soft is telling you something different from a horse that's lame everywhere.

THE LAMINITIS RULE-OUT

This matters because spring footiness has a differential diagnosis that cannot be ignored: laminitis.

Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae — the interlocking tissue that suspends the pedal bone (coffin bone, or P3) within the hoof capsule. In early or subclinical cases, it can look identical to general footy behaviour. Spring grass is a significant trigger for horses with underlying insulin dysregulation — a condition where the normal insulin response to dietary sugars and starches becomes dysregulated, driving lamellar damage through mechanisms distinct from simple carbohydrate overload. Horses with equine metabolic syndrome or PPID are the primary at-risk population.

If your horse is hesitant on hard surfaces and you notice an obvious digital pulse or heat in the feet, contact your vet. Increased digital pulse — felt at the back of the fetlock — is a flag that warrants proper assessment, not watchful waiting.

The presence of digital pulse changes the conversation entirely. Transition footiness from wet-to-hard ground typically doesn't come with a bounding pulse. If it does, rule out laminitis first.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Check all four feet. Pick them out and press on the sole with your thumbs — a normal sole should feel hard and unyielding. If it feels soft, that's relevant information

Feel for heat and digital pulse. Assess the walk, including tight turns on firm ground.

Hoof boots provide immediate comfort and are worth having in the kit for exactly this time of year.

WHAT RESOLVES IT — AND WHAT DOESN'T

Uncomplicated bruising generally resolves within two weeks. Abscesses resolve once drained, though the timeline varies.

What doesn't resolve: the underlying vulnerability if the foot is chronically cycling through wet and dry, or has structural issues that leave the solar corium inadequately protected year on year. That's a longer conversation about management, trim approach, and sole depth — but it starts with getting through the immediate discomfort first.

The horse isn't being dramatic. The ground changed faster than the foot could.

25/06/2025

Using hoof boots is not “cheating”

They provide comfort for your horse and are an incredibly useful tool for horses not just transitioning to barefoot, but for horses that need extra cushioning from hard ground and support.

I have seen a number of comments on barefoot discussion pages lately, which seem to suggest that it’s ok for a horse to struggle for a while when you have the shoes pulled.

It is not ok.

As a HCP, if I think your horse will be uncomfortable in the stable/field without shoes, I will always recommend a therapy boot. Because let’s be honest, if the horse is uncomfortable, something is wrong.

Let’s assume as an example, that the soles are on the thin side because the horse has been in shoes for a while and the soles havent had the stimulation needed to maintain decent sole depth.

This is a double edged sword. Firstly, it is important to avoid unnecessary pain. Yes a set of boots might cost you. A second hand pair will cost much less, but they WILL keep your horse more comfortable whilst the hoof is adapting/strengthening.

Secondly - movement stimulates growth (eg soles). If your horse is uncomfortable, they will move much less. So by not booting a sore horse, not only are you causing unnecessary discomfort, you are hindering their transition.

Don’t get me wrong - some horses come out of shoes and stomp all over rubble like it’s nothing. Most do not. A lot of newly barefoot horses are absolutely fine in the field and in the stable, but may struggle with the stoney tracks that lead between the two. In which case, if there is nowhere for your horse to pick his way through comfortably, you’re going to need boots.

Likewise, if your newly barefoot horse is fine in the field and stable but is sensitive when hacking on coarser surfaces, wear boots for hacking! There will come a time in such cases where your horse is less sensitive on those coarser surfaces (because he is moving, his soles are stimulated and his hooves are changing), and you can hand walk on those coarser surfaces without boots. This usually progresses to riding on those surfaces without boots too - But it’s all a progressive process of slowly conditioning.

In terms of comfort - if your horse is regularly exposed to any surface that makes him uncomfortable, protect his feet when on those surfaces. Always make comfort your priority and never allow your horse to struggle through the process.

*REPOSTED FROM 2023*

07/06/2025

This applies to all boots and something I regularly recommend ⬇️

24/05/2025

Really worth a read to understand how this rain and stressed grass can affect our equines ⬇️

10/03/2025

This is such a fabulous post to read ahead of Spring coat changes and the moulting season ahead ⬇️

The changing of a horse’s coat in spring (and autumn) can place additional demand on the emunctories, particularly the liver and kidneys. This is because shedding and coat renewal are metabolic processes that involve detoxification, cellular turnover, and increased circulation of waste products.
How Shedding Affects the Emunctories:

1. Liver:
The liver plays a key role in detoxification, breaking down old cells, processing hormones, and filtering out metabolic waste.

Spring coat change is often accompanied by an increase in energy metabolism and sometimes a shift in diet (e.g., from hay to fresh grass), which can further tax the liver.

Some horses may show signs of mild liver overload, such as itchy skin, dull coat, or sluggishness.

2. Kidneys:
The kidneys help remove toxins through urine, and during coat change, there may be an increased need for elimination of metabolic waste.

Ensuring proper hydration is key to supporting kidney function during this period.

3. Skin (as an Emunctory):
The skin itself is a major route of elimination, and as old hair is shed, the body may also release stored toxins.

Horses with a sluggish system might show skin issues like dandruff, itchiness, or even minor breakouts.

🌿How to Support the Horse’s Emunctories in Spring:

🔺Liver Support:
Herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock can help the liver process waste efficiently.
Avoid overloading with rich feeds or unnecessary supplements that could burden liver function.

🔺Kidney Support:
Ensure plenty of clean water and encourage movement to stimulate circulation.
Nettle or cleavers can gently support kidney function.

🔺Skin & Coat Support:
Regular grooming aids circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Essential fatty acids (linseed, h**p) can promote healthy skin renewal.
Avoid excessive rugging, which may interfere with the body’s natural detoxification through sweating.

The liver and kidneys are not only essential for detoxification but also play a significant role in the horse’s overall mobility through viscerosomatic reflexes. When these organs become overburdened, they can create muscular tension, postural imbalances, and even restrictions in movement.

🐎Viscerosomatic Reflex & Its Impact on Mobility

Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when dysfunction in an internal organ (viscera) creates tension or discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. This happens because the autonomic nervous system and spinal cord share pathways between internal organs and certain muscle groups.

➡️Liver Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The liver is innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3-C5) and the vagus nerve, and its viscerosomatic reflex is often associated with right-sided stiffness due to its anatomical position. When the liver is struggling:

Horses may exhibit restricted movement in the right shoulder or difficulty bending to the right.

The thoracic sling muscles (pectorals, serratus ventralis) may tighten, affecting forelimb freedom.

There may be tension in the diaphragm, impacting overall posture and leading to compensatory patterns in the back and hindquarters.

Horses might develop a preference for resting one front leg over the other, indicating discomfort in weight distribution.

➡️Kidney Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The kidneys are located in the lumbar region (T12-L3) and are closely related to the psoas muscles, iliopsoas, and quadratus lumborum. If the kidneys are overloaded:

Horses may experience lower back stiffness or reluctance to engage the hindquarters.

There can be difficulty with collection, transitions, or lateral movements due to a lack of mobility in the lumbar region.

Some horses may develop girthiness or sensitivity around the flanks, as the fascia surrounding the kidneys connects to the diaphragm and thoracolumbar spine.

⚠️Signs Your Horse Might Benefit from Visceral Osteopathy in Spring

🐎Stiffness or discomfort in shoulder mobility (right side for liver, lumbar for kidneys)

🐎Unexplained girthiness or flank sensitivity

🐎Reluctance to engage the hindquarters or bend laterally

🐎Skin issues, itchiness, or a dull coat despite good nutrition

🐎Lethargy or behavioural changes, especially when shedding or transitioning to spring grass

By addressing these organ-related tensions, visceral osteopathy not only helps improve movement and posture but also supports overall health, comfort, and performance.

11/02/2025

This is such a fabulous visual highlighting how the barefoot hoof can flex whilst wearing the Explora hoof boots compared to the shoe ⬇️👠

10/02/2025

My own horses styling their Flex Hoof Boots and Explora Magics 👠🦄

I always say that I think every barefoot horse should have at least one pair of hoof boots. My own are no different.

They’re pretty much foot-perfect on every terrain, yet this ride is particularly stony with lots of hard tracks. Hoof boots offer protection and support, particularly in the middle of a wet winter with softer hooves 🫶🏻

Hoof boots in action over the weekend! 💪🏼💃🏼🕺🏻

This photo was sent to us by Pheobe, who is one of our fitters based in Milton Keynes. She is the most fabulous lady, so go give her a follow Pheobe Fricker Equine Podiatry Student 💖

07/09/2024

This is such an important message. Obesity is dangerous ⬇️

03/09/2024

HOOF BOOT FITTINGS 👠🦄

📍Aylesbury - 8th September

Limited availability for the Aylesbury area on Sunday 8th September for hoof boot fittings.

The consultation includes trying on the different hoof boot fit kits to determine the best brand, style and size for you and your horse. I can then recommended the hoof boots to purchase and provide a £10 off voucher with The Hoof Boot Shop.

💌Get in touch for more info 💌

22/08/2024

6 months 🔄

As always, work to do, improvements to be made and more to learn and adjust for this darling mare.

But I see a more relaxed stance, improved heels, and when we look at the angle of the wall, there is tighter growth coming down.

This will hopefully result in a slightly shorter toe and as we continue to encourage the heels to come back, the back of the foot will develop further and lead to a better hoof morphology 🤞🏼🤩

Progress can be slow to visualise, but little and often makes the hoof trimmer happy 🤓