Gary Cooper Farrier

18/08/2026

𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨.

𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 '𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣' 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖.

During a recent live video with LS and BT, a question was posted asking about their response to allegations regarding the suffering and euthanasia caused by their trimming method.
Their response?

'Show us the evidence.'

I have now posted several photos and radiographs with limited information from the evidence files I hold.

HM have not contacted me to discuss these horses, which in itself speaks volumes. So tonight, I'm inviting LS to contact me directly so that I may share evidence with her. On the following understanding.

This evidence includes radiographs, photos, videos, vet reports, and expert witness reports. If this evidence appears to prove the trimming method is harmful, you will cease the practice immediately until proven otherwise.

Equine welfare must remain at the forefront of all our decisions in equine care. If there is ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER regarding harm caused by any method - YOU MUST CEASE THIS METHOD.

LS, I know you'll see this. Contact me and I'll show you the evidence.
You know horses have died. You know owners have been outraged at what you and your trimmers have done to their horses. You know horses have got much worse when your method fails. You know which trimmers are the main culprits, and you've seen hooves through VR smart glasses trimmed down to live tissue. Haven't you?

It's time to stop the scam and end this abuse.

With permission from his owner, I am sharing more evidence tonight. This was a devastating loss, as they all are. This lady is one of the many owners I'm working with to bring an end to this barbaric practice. All of these owners are reluctantly remaining silent to protect evidence.
They are all determined to see an end to this abuse and manipulation. They will tell their stories when the time is right.

This beautiful horse was euthanised after the HM trim caused mechanical laminitis in all four hooves.

No history of laminitis, EMS or PPID.
Healthy hooves which had been un shod for many years since retirement due to a neurological issue.

October - HM trimming began. The owner had moved to a new area and was looking for a HCP. The trimmer was advertised as a 'Pro'

After approx 12 weeks the owner raised concerns about the length of the toes. The trimmer told her this was normal and not to worry. This was improving his feet.

They did not previously need improvement.

April - Horse starts holding a hind hoof up. Vet attends. Abscess suspected. Poultice applied. No result.

May - Horse is in increasing pain. Vet attends. Horse is now lame on all four hooves with strong pulses and heat. Reluctant to move. Blood test for Insulin and ACTH.

Results show levels are incompatible with causation.

Vet returns to X Ray two days later. Horse now in severe pain. Worst RH. X Ray shows pedal rotation and minimal sole depth. Clinical notes state 'Discuss given mechanical changes, serious concerns to welfare. Euthanasia indicated.'

This much loved beautiful horse was lost to the HM trim method, which caused catastrophic laminitis, in hooves which had no pathology at all just seven months previously.

RIP 💔

You will not be lost in vain. You will be remembered as one of the lost friends who brought down the biggest equine abuse scandal the UK has ever seen.

RSPCA (England & Wales) Equine Scientia PhD, MSc and BSc hons ECIR Group - Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance

04/08/2026

20/07/2026

17/07/2026

Before rotation: Radiographic Evidence of Lamellar Tissues Stretching in Acute and Subacute Laminitis

It is possible to visualise distinct layers of the hoof wall on X-Rays. These being a superficial (radiopaque) layer consisting of the stratum externum and stratum medium and a deeper ‘hoof lucent zone’ consisting of stratum internum (the lamellae) and dermis parietis (the sublamellar dermis).

This ‘lamellar lucent zone’ (LLZ) corresponds with the lamellae and sublamellar dermis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The primary objective of this study was to compare radiographic measurements of the LLZ between horses with acute and subacute laminitis and healthy control horses.

Lateromedial (LM) and Dorsopalmar (DP) forelimb hoof radiographs from healthy control horses (n=32), horses with acute laminitis (n=17), and horses with subacute laminitis (n=10) were examined retrospectively. Nine horses initially diagnosed with acute laminitis progressed to sub-acute laminitis within this study, so these horses had repeat X-Rays taken within this study.

Of the horses with laminitis, most had primary inflammatory disease that precipitated laminitis development (sepsis-related laminitis; SRL): pleuropneumonia, colic, peritonitis, diarrhoea, cellulitis. The remainder of cases were attributed to hyperinsulinaemia (hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis; HAL) confirmed by concurrent/preceding hyperinsulinaemia.

The LLZ measurements and calculated ratios (LLZ: palmar cortical length [PCL] and LLZ: Dorsal aspect of the hoof wall [DHW]-Distal Phalanx [P3]) were significantly higher in radiographs from horses with acute and subacute laminitis compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). In other words the lamellae and sublamellar dermis STRETCH as a result of laminitis from both inflammatory (Sepsis) and non-inflammatory (hyperinsulinaemia) causes.

This STRETCH can be visualised on X-Rays before rotation, as rotation takes a few days to occur and thus be visible on X-rays. Up until now, only MRI could detect the STRETCH prior to rotation.

In summary, this study demonstrates that acute and subacute laminitis is associated with detectable increases in radiographic LLZ measurements (STRETCHING of the lamellae and sublamellar dermis) compared with a healthy control group, long before rotation occurs. This measure is comparable to MRI in being able to detect laminitis before distal phalanx rotation can be observed on X-Rays.

Reference

Skelton G, Acutt E, Stefanovski D, van Eps A (2025) Evaluation of digital radiographic measurements for the diagnosis of acute laminitis. Equine Veterinary Journal. 2025;57(4):931–942. DOI: 10.1111/evj.14436

12/07/2026

10/07/2026

One Hoof. Two Halves. One Lesson. 👀🐴

One of our favourite learning exercises during our workshops is trimming just one side of a cadaver hoof.

Why? Because it allows you to compare before and after on exactly the same hoof. It’s one of the best ways to train your eye to recognise balance… and imbalance.

One thing that’s easy to miss is that an overgrown hoof doesn’t simply get taller. It also grows forwards. As that happens, more of the hoof wall extends in front of the limb, meaning the hoof provides less support directly beneath it. Seeing one side trimmed and the other left overgrown makes this much easier to recognise.

I have to say, trimming just one side of a hoof isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds! 🤣

Before the exercise begins, everyone photographs the hoof, records key measurements, and notes their initial observations. Throughout the exercise they continue to observe, compare, and measure, before repeating the process once the trim is complete. Seeing the hoof before, during, and after develops an eye for detail and reinforces how relatively small changes can have a significant effect on balance.

Only then do they complete the trim and compare the finished hoof with where it all started.

The more you learn to observe, the more you understand. And that’s where confidence begins. ❤️

HM.

If you want to learn more about true balanced hooves, join our FREE rehab group The Phoenix Way: Path 2 Hoof Health

04/07/2026