11/02/2025
I got to watch a veterinary assessment of a client horse yesterday… one who has been struggling with various hoof/body issues. It was interesting to me to watch the veterinarian identify/compartmentalize the symptoms this horse was showing, and to work through their diagnostic process and form a treatment plan. I say this not from a judgemental perspective, but simply from the standpoint of how their process as a veterinarian is very different than my process as a trimmer/trainer/bodyworker. It really got me thinking about my processes and how I break things down in my mind.
As a trimmer, I am assessing horses movement and hoof biomechanics all the time. Wear patterns, footfalls and stride length matter. As a trainer, I work hard to build an understanding of a horse’s comprehension vs willingness vs weakness. Do they truly understand what is being asked of them or can they physically not perform the task? As a bodyworker I want to assess symmetry, function and biomechanics. Are they compensating to complete the task? Is their range of motion limited? Are the biomechanics compromised due to tension and holding patterns? Assessing the horse through these different lenses can highlight many very different issues to me - all of which are factored in to my assessment and plan. Whether it be a trimming plan, training goals, or bodywork sessions.
The truth is, the hoof mirrors the body. It reflects how the horse moves, how it carries weight, and how balanced (or unbalanced) its posture has become. When we only look at the hooves, we miss the message the body is sending.
As trimmers, we’re often the first line of defence — we see subtle asymmetries, movement anomalies, and early warning signs long before they become full-blown lameness. But we can’t address those things alone.
To truly help horses, we need to work together — trimmers, veterinarians, and bodyworkers — each bringing our own expertise to the table. Vets can diagnose and treat, bodyworkers can release and rebalance, and trimmers can support the horse’s foundation through correct hoof mechanics and often with the use of prosthetic devices to reduce/relocate and alleviate pressures.
When we collaborate instead of compartmentalize, we stop managing symptoms and start restoring soundness. Because lameness is rarely just a hoof problem — it’s a whole-horse problem.
For me this has become a personal mission to educate myself in as many different roles as possible. It has become impossible to separate the inconsistencies and I find myself searching for other professionals to collaborate with. The key here though is in finding like minded professionals that also view the whole horse in the equation and who do not just compartmentalize the symptoms.
