Annie Rose EP - Barefoot Equine Podiatrist

23/03/2026

🚨📢 LAST CALL! Quickest way to respond is to send an e-mail response to: * VSA-Reform@defra.gov.uk *

23/03/2026

Bodywork is one of the most profound influences on addressing hoof distortion for a plethora of reasons, hence I always recommend regular bodywork for clients especially essential to those who's hooves are struggling to correct from distortion or pathology despite alterations to all other elements: trim, diet, environment, activities... There's only so much influence I have with corrective trimming as the whole horse and management needs addressing.

Their musculoskeletal function plays a major part in their hoof mechanics and therefore development.

I've seen horses go from flat to more upright, capsule shifts centralising, flares decreasing, white line separation decreasing and more - all from regular bodywork.

There are clients I turn up to and ask whether they've had their bodyworker recently because I've seen a change in their feet which tells me they've either had the bodyworker more regularly or had a break from them.

Don't eliminate the power of bodywork.

Get in touch with Maisie - she's brilliant. X

19/03/2026

Great post! The hoof is a puzzle 🧩 You can't rely on one piece to see the whole picture. 🤓 I've spoken about just this one element to a few clients, but never had the example so clearly to show it... Thanks to Emma Baker; Equine Podiatry DEP MEPA - here it is! 🙌🏼

Creating easy to follow trim instructions gives you a message that is so easy to convey & sell.

Put enough power & conviction behind it and it spreads like wildfire before anyone has chance to think I through properly.

“Maybe there are other ways to bake a potato and we didn’t have to start that bonfire….” But if that’s the only way you’ve been cooking for years, it can be hard to change.

There are many ways a horse can walk (sounds obvious I know).
There are many ways a hoof can grow & distort (also obvious)

So can there really only be one way to balance a hoof?

Have a look at this sole. Notice any asymmetry?
Look at the walls - notice anything unusual there?
Look at the solar corium & how the pedal bone sits on it.

Do you think this foot should always, ALWAYS(!!), be balanced to the sole? What do you think would happen if we did?

Stay curious and don’t be too sure you’ve got it all figured out.

15/03/2026

🆘 ✍🏼 DEADLINE: 25TH MARCH 2026. Link in Comments 🔗👇

YOUR EP, FARRIER, DENTAL TECHNICIAN, PHYSIOTHERAPIST & OTHER 'ALLIED VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS' need your help - a new way of regulation and practice is emerging as the Veterinary Surgeons Act is being amended and updated, BUT, it won't be right unless you submit a response - you experience our services and there are many more clients than there are professionals who can respond, so OUR BIGGEST VOICE IS YOURS 🫵🏼🙏🏼❤️

The proposals include changing the way Allied Veterinary Professionals (AVPs) are recognised and regulated and YOUR INPUT shapes how this is done. Upsettingly, there was no consultation of any AVPs despite the change affecting our lives directly and significantly. Please consider these points and form your response accordingly:

The proposed changes in summary (and my opinion):

- Broadening the scope of the Act, placing those who own or work in veterinary practices within the scope of the act, even if they are not veterinarians themselves (business decisions don't equate to best animal welfare practices and this is already happening in practices where employees aren't animal health and welfare trained or focused)

- Regulation of Allied Veterinary Professionals, potentially under the umbrella of the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons, replacing the farriers registration council and other self-regulating professional bodies (when those councils and associations are built on nothing but expertise in the direct area of practice whereas the RCVS is broad and we may lose our ability to make fast changes in practice for horses which is a potential to hinder efficiency for their health and welfare from our sectors expert perspective)

- A new requirement for Allied Veterinary Professionals to meet certain criteria such as qualifications and insurance requirements (this represents a very positive change which has the potential to improve equine welfare and as a member of the Equine Podiatry Association Holding an OFQUAL accredited Lantra Awarded Qualification we are in good stead for meeting these requirements!)

Response Tips in 2nd Picture.

Thank you! ✨💐😊

15/03/2026

🌱 growth rings / event lines are definitely coming through a lot recently and spring is already upon us. Commonly left unchecked. Don't leave it, get on top of it now. 💕✨

When you bring your horses in from the field tonight please wash their feet and look for Divergent Rings.

These are growth lines that appear to be wider apart at the heel compared to the toe, as in the photograph. These are called divergent hoof lines and are an indication that there is a problem with the hoof growth pattern.

If you see these rings please call the practice for a chat and to book in for insulin bloods, spotting these maybe the difference of your horse suffering from a laminitic episode or not.

02/01/2026

🚨❄️ Weather Warnings ⚠️

Lots of freezing weather paired with beautiful sunny spells poses a risk to grass sensitive horses. So if your horse goes foot sore or has laminitic events in line with grass changes, they are susceptible to react at this time of year as well.

Remember, if you can't keep your horse off the grass (stabled, grassless track system or in a menage / arena), you can continue with other restrictions such as grazing muzzles, track system and reduced sugar forage.

Keep up their exercises to keep them moving and using up that energy. Don't forget a frosted morning doesn't have to be boring, you can do enrichment in the stable; grooming, stretches, forage toys and cognitive games.

If your horse is struggling, seek advice from your trusted team of experts; your vet, hoofcare professional, nutritionist, equine land management service etc.

31/12/2025

🎆🎉 YEAR OF THE HORSE! 🐴🐎
...and I have my eye on this guy.... 🧐 He's really going to feel like it's his year at this rate! 🙏🏼✨🐎 Boy do I hope it is! 🙌🏼

4th October to 21st December 2025 this special chap has made a massive improvement in just 4 trim visits over 3 months.

Credit to the owner on this one sticking to recommendations and providing him the environment, nutrition and care he needs now she has him. 🙌🏼

He had practically no frog - it had separated off and needed removing and I found that underneath it was a very soft depressionable, fluid-like sack of a "frog".... 🧐 A vet check later with no concern for anything sinister going on inside it (I've never felt a frog like it) 🤔 he had white line separation, a little seedy toe, compensatory false sole build up, severely forward running collapsed heels and bars, a very sore frog; couldn't stand for the trim very well despite his gorgeous temperament (he was trying so hard). He was trembling even with the foam mat padding I put down to trim him on. 🥺 And when I trimmed this foot he did the sweetest thing putting his pretty head through his legs to watch what I was doing, obviously extremely cautious, letting me know it was a hard one for him 💖 my heart, honestly!

Fast forward to his latest trim - he's developing his frog and digital cushion, seedy toe and white line separation gone, his heels and bars have come back, he's doing so much better. He's getting his personality back, he's relaxed to my trimming, he's cantering around the field socialising with his herd-mates, he's celebrating each little victory of progress in his feet despite still having a very long way to go with them.

What an incredible example of a horse he is! 🙌🏼

This coming year, I too am going to adopt his mentality; celebrate the small victories, trust the process, remain persistent, calm and hopeful... And most of all, look after myself like this client has looked after him, because a holistic approach makes a difference and I need to do that for myself too. 💪🏼😊🎉

It's time we really listen to what horses have to say and maybe even take a leaf out of their book for ourselves! 📖🔖

Happy New Year! X

18/12/2025

⚠️ I was told it's sedation for him if I couldn't help bring him around and the owner didn't want that life for him. All I gave him was patience, I listened to his behaviour and provided a calming, stable energy - which every trimmer should.... but the ones before me, didn't and that's also where it went wrong. 🥺✨💖

I am so incredibly proud of this horse and his owner for his progression - his feet have come along so well over the last year but due to his start (trim-specific fear), I have no initial photos to these to show a comparison. He had overgrowth cracks, minor event lines, long toes, contracted underrun heels with thrushy frogs, deep central sulcus, overlaid bars and deteriorating areas of his white line but generally had good thickness in his feet and nice concavity.

When I first met this boy, I couldn't go near him with equipment on. I merely said hello, discussed with the owner his history, saw him move and gave him a fuss. We then went through my kit to find his trigger - pretty simple as it was the most common culprit... the rasp. We spent time just allowing him to be around the rasp, allowed him to become comfortable with it as an item not used for trimming. I gave my old rasp to the owner to use in her daily grooming kit, to just have present whilst around him but not use it.

I got the owner in touch with a local behaviourist as he struggled to allow his feet to be held.

The owner was quiet, patient and spent the time needed to get his trust in the rasp and to have humans handling his feet again. It was a long process, foot by foot with particular difficulty trying to trim his right hind (likely the one he had the incident with the rasp on).

He still has his moments when he's not so sure about letting me have the feet for longer, typically in new environments, if the yard is busy or the weather is quite extreme - but I reinforce that he isn't trapped, he gets his feet back when he asks and we get calm and collected before trying again and it's usually enough to trim him well.

If you're thinking sedation; get your trimmer, a behaviourist and vet together for a plan and advice. Sedation might be it, but it also might not. 🥰

07/12/2025

🗓️ Trim cycles = Welfare 🐎

Going over your regular trim cycle puts your horse at risk of complications by delaying corrections of overgrowth and wear patterns, which cause;

🤹🏼‍♀️ Imbalances
💢 Strain
😫 Weakening
❤️‍🩹 Compromised hoof structures

It also contributes to missed chances of pathology detection 🧐🔎

🥵 Your trimmer then works twice as hard to get the foot back on track and correct a compromise resulting from delayed trimming. It often doesn't take just 1 trim to fully correct a compromise, especially as trimmers more often than not are in a process of correcting already compromised feet and "chasing" rather than fully on top of hooves from horses being at their limit in terms of appropriate trim cycle length (we understand balancing money and time is very hard ⚖️💰⌚).

Cycles can shorten and lengthen over periods of time - it all depends on the individual horses hoof; how they're growing, wearing and coping considering all elements of horse health, care and management - which constantly changes.

🗓️ Trim cycles = Welfare 🐎

07/12/2025

✨ IMPORTANT WELFARE TOPIC ✨

How do you stay on top of your horses welfare when you're sick / have an emergency and you're missing your regular trim cycles? Honestly, 1 person can make all the difference.

+ Have an emergency back-up person; whether that's an immediate family member, friend, trusted neighbour or yard mate who you can teach and then trust to hold your horse for the trim.

I'm currently sat with a whole day of 0 work due to a full day of cancellations today.... This isn't the first time this has happened and it's really difficult to manage. 0 work = 0 income = 0 business = 0 impact to horse welfare 🐴🐎💖

I've had a significant amount the last month and I understand it's that time of year where sickness rates are high, weather is more aggressive and festivities cause time constraints.

However, don't be ashamed to ask for help with your horse. You can prepare for events like these to make it easier on yourself so you know you've got it covered.

You can't help being ill, but you can help prepare to prevent cancelling in the event you're unwell.

Get well soon everyone! I think most people I know are sick at the moment! 😷 ❤️‍🩹

X

29/11/2025

It's mud season! 🍂

You can see where the mud goes when you simply lift up the hoof. Those are the places I encourage thorough cleaning, drying and then packing with hoof clays such as Red Horse Artimud, Horse Leads Hoof Clay and for deeper crevices like stone holes, seedy toe/white line or wall cavities, deep central sulcus then the more fibrous paste like Red Horse Hoof Stuff or the waxy Keratex Hoof Putty (needs to be pre-warmed) can help lock that muck out! 🚫✋🏼

Whichever you can get your hands on. Keep them clean. Keep them healthy. 😊👍🏼

23/11/2025

Kingsbridge/Dartmouth based?

I cover your area 🙌🏼

And isn't it beautiful?! 😍❤️