Natural Hoof Care Inc

11/01/2025

🙌 Winter laminitis…. What is this all about? 🙌

FACT - Research has indicated that 80-90% of laminitis is caused by endocrine (hormone system) disease (link to research in comments).

While there are many disease pathways to laminitis, if a horse has autumn and winter laminitis in the northern hemisphere, I immediately consider two of the most common underlying causes:

1. Endocrinopathic or hormonally driven laminitis, and
2. Mechanical/trauma driven laminitis

Laminitis = disease of the lamellae resulting in a lack of healthy attachment between the coffin bone/inner foot and the outer capsule. These two causes are often connected due to hoof care failing to optimise welfare in horses, leading to hormone imbalances, however a horse with ideal hoof welfare parameters can succumb to endocrinopathic laminitis simply due to what is called the seasonal rise in ACTH (hormone) levels.

Why winter? Because of the following facts:

1. ACTH, a hormone, rises in late summer to late autumn, called the ‘seasonal rise’ and this results in insulin and glucose fluctuations in both normal and those with an PPID/Equine Cushing’s disease. Horses can develop laminitis during August to December including horses on a very consistent diet (eg, hay only, no changes in fructans in grass for example)
2. Rising ACTH hormone levels can stimulate the production of cortisol, the ‘stress’ hormone - produced naturally during periods of excitement, pain, exercise, fear, trauma, and when there are infections - think of the situations this might manifest?
3. Higher cortisol makes veins less responsive to vasodilators, which can trigger foot pain if there is impaired circulation.
4. Higher cortisol, if production is high and sustained, can impair immune function, induce insulin resistance (or make it worse if already present), create electrolyte abnormalities, and reduced protein utilization.
5. High insulin which can accompany insulin dysregulation is a known risk factor for laminitis
6. Poor hoof morphology is associated with poor posture and development, pain, lameness, and altered blood supply to the hoof, therefore at higher risk of BOTH endocrinopathic AND mechanical laminitis
7. Cool temperatures and frosty grass can trigger laminitis connected to hormone changes increasing the risk due to high sugars in frosty grass and impared circulation in the hoof

Identifying vulnerable horses at risk…

1. Age - older horses naturally have higher ACTH levels, although PPID has been diagnosed in horses younger than 10 year of age
2. Horses with hooves with less than ideal hoof morphology (form and function), therefore less than ideal welfare parameters (see photo and background research and studies) which will have altered circulation, sometimes permanently.
3. Horses with unhealthy and compensatory posture and development and therefore less than ideal welfare parameters (see photos and background research and studies) which will result in altered load and circulation to the hooves, and associated lack of ideal hoof morphology. A negative cycle can develop between hoof and body, body and hoof.
4. Horses with a genetic predisposition for endocrine disease (esp PPID/Cushing’s EMR - equine metabolic disorder - and IR - Insulin Dysregulation)
5. Horses with higher than ideal ACTH, all year round or during the seasonal rise
6. Horses given an inappropriate diet, management, and welfare states
7. Horses with hoof care imposed on them which perpetuates or causes sub optimal welfare state, identified via externally verifiable objective evidence of physiology, postural and behavioural welfare parameters
8. Horses in chronic pain, chronic stress, or sub optimal regulation of the autonomic nervous system - this might be recognised as sub optimal behavioural welfare parameters and is perhaps more prevalant in the population that you think!

I recommend horse owners test ACTH levels in any horse considered at risk, at least once a year. Pergolide/prascend is a drug which helps control ACTH levels and can help promote healthier homeostasis or regulation of all the horses systems, and reduce laminitis risks.

To help prevent seasonal rise laminitis or laminitis at any time of the year, hoof care and horse care which promotes optimum welfare in horses is advised. This typically involves:

1. Species and welfare focused management which allows for the expression of natural behaviour and optimises neuro-muscular health and healthy homeostasis
2. Diet which best meets nutritional needs and welfare of horses in all stages of their life
3. Informed decision making and advocacy for horses which supports welfare, and includes appropriate exercise, training, interaction, hoof care and other necessary interventions of domestic horses to meet welfare needs.
4. Avoiding stress or interventions which may challenge homeostasis
5. Avoid frosty grass and high carb diet
6. Protect hooves from low temperatures

As an evidence based, welfare focused integrated hoof care provider, my role is to help owners provide the best HOOF and HORSE care to support optimum welfare state in their horse.

This is why I base my assessment AND gauge the impact of management and other interventions imposed based on current welfare and changes in welfare parameters over time; indicating the overall welfare state of an individual equine.

While this post cannot unravel and explain everything about this complex topic, my hope is that it causes pause for thought, and careful consideration of horses during the seasonal rise of ACTH.

Vulnerable horses especially need extra careful consideration of hoof health during this time.

The most disturbing statement I hear (often) after a consult is this:

“I wish I had known this sooner… I would have changed my hoof care for my horse beforehand”…

Most horses are lame. This is established in studies (see details for some in the comments), and in my considered experience, from my own documentation and opinion, this is increasing the risk of laminitis and other welfare issues, which for most, can be either avoided altogether, or minimised in their impact on welfare.

You may believe your hoof care provider is optimising welfare, but they may not. Question everything, seek objective evidence of welfare parameters, and ask “can we do better for his horse?”.

To take accountability, requires one to actually be accountable. Don’t believe everything you hear or read about laminitis. Fact check, apply critical thinking and reach out to established organisations and professionals with a proven track record of supporting optimal welfare parameters and laminitis.

Please, for the love of horses, take extra care of your horse, and those in your care, not only during the seasonal ACTH rise, but all year round 💚

Www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴

10/29/2025

🐴🧠 Neurodynamics & Neuroplasticity in Horses

When we think equine rehabilitation, we often focus on joints, muscles and tendons. But the nervous system - and how it adapts or mal-adapts after injury - is a powerful force in movement, compensation and recovery.

Here’s what every equine rehab practitioner should understand 👇

1️⃣ Neural communication runs through more than nerves
Beyond the obvious nerves and spinal pathways lies a dynamic network of neural control: spinal reflexes, peripheral nerve mechanosensitivity, neural gliding, and central motor-pattern systems. These pathways respond to injury, loading, posture and movement. When a limb fails, the nervous system rewires. When posture shifts, neural tension often follows.

2️⃣ Neuroplasticity = the nervous system’s ability to change
In horses, injury, pain or chronic compensation triggers structural and functional changes in the nervous system. That might include altered timing of muscle activation, modified reflex thresholds, or sensitised neural tissue - meaning the “system” now runs on a new, less efficient program. Recognising these changes can explain why an apparently healed limb still under-performs.

3️⃣ Neurodynamics = how the nervous system moves with the body
Neural tissues don’t sit still. They glide with motion, respond to stretch, and adapt to posture. A tight dorsal sling, rotated pelvis, or chronic head carriage can place abnormal strain on neural pathways, limiting mobility, altering gait, and contributing to hidden dysfunction. Mobility limitations that seem musculoskeletal may actually be neurodynamic in origin.

4️⃣ Why this matters in rehab
When you see persistent gait asymmetries, subtle head nods, or rider-induced stiffness, ask: is the nervous system locked into a compensatory program?

⚡️Standard “stretch & strengthen” may fail if neural control hasn’t readjusted. You might need neural mobilisation, proprioceptive re-education, and spinal pattern retraining.

Movement becomes therapy not just for tissues, but for the nervous system - re-teaching the body how to control motion rather than simply doing motion.

✅ Takeaway
Rehabilitation isn’t only about bones, muscles or fascia. It’s also about rewiring the nervous system’s software to restore efficient, symmetrical, pain-free movement. When you think neuro-plasticity + neuro-dynamics, you step from reactive rehab into strategic movement design.

10/23/2025

There is a very dangerous and misleading statement being made on the internet.

Quote
“Laminitis is not caused by diet”

I urge you to use caution if you choose to believe this.

I am a student of the hoof for the past 10 years and I am mentored by Prof Chris Pollitt, the pioneer who discovered the insulin relationship to laminitis. I beg you to be very careful with what you hear out there being touted by lay people.

Horses will die unnecessary painful excruciating deaths if you follow this misinformation.

By ignoring the well understood relationship between high insulin and laminitis you may be inclined to turn out your ponies onto the rich grass. Apparently it’s said that a balanced trim is the key- which I do not totally agree with.

Once the genie is out of the bottle and the laminae are failing due to high insulin stretching and snapping the laminar attachments of bone to inner hoof wall then good luck getting it back.

Is it worth the risk?

Have you seen laminitis appear in the spring when the grass starts to grow. Or after a long hot summer, when the rains start, and boom, laminitis rears its head. Why is that?

Why do many horses suffer laminitis after getting into the grain shed and gourged themselves? Is it the grain or the trim?

Trimming is important, but you cannot trim your way into preventing or treating laminitis without looking far deeper into the cause. Diet and insulin go hand in hand.

Do you think that these lay people that come up with such crazy and dangerous statements that are said as if they are fact have actually been in the lab and done any research?

These are frightening times my friends.

Anyone can say anything and mislead us.

Maybe it is intentional, it just feeds the algorithm and everyone comments and argues and shouts and the ones dropping bombshell dangerous statements just rub their hands in glee at the carnage.

It’s sick.
It’s dangerous
I follow the science.

This is my position statement.

10/06/2025

"Hoofcare isn't rocket science," I have often heard people say. The implication being that it isn't hard to do.

They are right. It isn't rocket science.

It's biomechanical engineering.
It's trigonometry.
It's physics.
It's advanced biology.
It's living sculpture.
It's geometry.
It's psychology.
And, above all else, it is art... because sometimes all the mathematics in the world aren't enough for the horse. And it is our job to hear them speak when they tell us they need something different. Something more than what we expected.

They are right. It isn't rocket science. We aren't sending anyone to the moon, or to space.

Instead, we are improving the lives of those here on earth, right now. Those without a common tongue to tell us what they need. Those who suffer at our hands more often than we want to admit. Those who we try our best for. Those who try their best for us, always.

No, it isn't rocket science. It is so, so much more.

09/22/2025

The Horse's Hoof Barefoot News September 2025 is released!
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway
What's in this issue? 🏇🏻 Dr. Bowker: Comfy Hooves with Pea Gravel 🏇🏻 A Tribute to Dr. Robert Cook 🏇🏻 What is Natural Hoof Care? 🏇🏻 Rescue Horse with Happy Hooves! 🏇🏻 Study: Turnout Improves Horses 🏇🏻 Cavallo Boot Giveaway 🏇🏻 And more!

08/24/2025

Check this out!

Some of you know that recently, I joined a great team of hoofcare pros and horse lovers over at Flex Hoof Boots, to help educate about hoof health and lameness rehab. We are now ready to start sharing some of what we have worked on the last few months!

I am SO EXCITED to be a part of this new online Hoof Care School! We have been working hard to get this up and running, with countless hours of writing articles, courses, taking photos, filming video, and editing together courses and content on all topics that pertain to hoof health and soundness.

In the Hoof Care School, we will soon have courses on everything from topics that pertain to your horse’s overall health, such as equine behavior, species-appropriate care, nutrition for hoof health, balancing hay tests, building track systems, picking your horse’s care team, communicating with your hoofcare professional, to more in-depth information about hoof anatomy and biomechanics, hoof issues and pathology, laminitis and navicular rehab, approaching various hoof issues with management and trim, and more.

Right now everything is free as we are just starting to add the content, but it will eventually be a subscription-based school where new content will be added regularly. As a member, you’ll also have access to private forums and special intermittent “behind the scenes” day-to-day of hoofcare provider life and candid content of running a hoof rehab facility.

I really am so excited to be a small part of this project!

For now, you can jump in early while it’s free and see what we are doing over at https://hoofcareschool.mvt.so/

08/05/2025

07/25/2025

Put on my first set of Squish pads today! Super easy to apply! Hopefully this sweet mare will be happy with them!

07/21/2025

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