Equine Podiatry Wiltshire

Equine Podiatry Wiltshire Business page for Nina Selfe, fully qualified Equine Podiatrist.

Can't beat a good strong cob foot, and just look at that frog!! 👌💯⭐Any of my clients recognise this foot?
28/04/2026

Can't beat a good strong cob foot, and just look at that frog!! 👌💯⭐

Any of my clients recognise this foot?

26/04/2026

Making my life a lot easier this last week, but if you are at all worried about me using an angle grinder, I am perfectly happy to use manual tools.

Noticing a few cases of pink soles lately—three horses just this past week.What’s interesting is that they all have othe...
22/04/2026

Noticing a few cases of pink soles lately—three horses just this past week.

What’s interesting is that they all have otherwise strong, functional feet. This points away from external causes (like stony ground) and more toward internal stress. The bruising is spread beneath P3, suggesting inflammation in the sole corium.

With average sole depth, what we see now likely started around 3 months ago—taking us back to January.

For these horses, that coincides with winter worming, which can place added strain on the system.

If you have horses that are more sensitive—EMS, PPID, or laminitis-prone—be mindful of how and when you schedule wormers, vaccinations, and similar treatments. Try to avoid overloading their systems.

Supporting liver function with a quality supplement may also help reduce the impact.

8 months’ progress with this Thoroughbred and the development of his caudal hoof structures is really encouraging.The ha...
22/03/2026

8 months’ progress with this Thoroughbred and the development of his caudal hoof structures is really encouraging.

The hairline is now much straighter and less dipped through the centre, suggesting improved digital cushion development. This has helped lift the back of the foot, improving hoof–pastern alignment and overall way of going.

Eight months ago he was walking flat-footed — now he lands heel first, which is exactly what we want to see.

The hoof walls are also noticeably straighter with far less flare.

I’m especially pleased with this progress considering the winter months. Soft, wet ground provides less stimulation, so development can often slow down.

It’s onwards and upwards for this horse. 🐎

***Update 15.04.26 - Only a few tickets remaining - don't miss out!! ***I’m delighted to be hosting Dr. Christina Fritz ...
12/03/2026

***Update 15.04.26 - Only a few tickets remaining - don't miss out!! ***

I’m delighted to be hosting Dr. Christina Fritz in All Cannings (near Devizes) as part of her UK tour, where she’ll be speaking about subtle early markers of metabolic issues in horses.

I attended this same talk about six months ago and it truly resonated with me. It opened my eyes to signs that can easily be missed but can make a huge difference to our horses’ long-term health and wellbeing when recognised early.

If you own, loan, or care for horses or ponies, this is a really valuable opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in this field. Dr. Fritz explains complex topics in a way that’s practical and easy to understand, with insights you can take straight back to your own horses.

📍 All Cannings (near Devizes)
🎟 Tickets: just £5 purchased via EventBrite

Tickets are limited, don't miss out!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-never-quite-right-horse-early-signs-of-metabolic-trouble-tickets-1984895456743?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Meet Brian and his owner, Vicky.Brian was retired from the King’s Troop after being diagnosed with navicular disease. Wh...
09/03/2026

Meet Brian and his owner, Vicky.

Brian was retired from the King’s Troop after being diagnosed with navicular disease. When he first came onto my books two years ago, his shoes had already been removed, but his feet were weak and he was clearly uncomfortable.

Together we began the slow process of rebuilding him — overhauling his diet, fitting Equine Fusion therapy boots with 7lb pads, and keeping his work gentle with light hacks two or three times a week.

Little by little, Brian began to change.

Where he once landed flat, and sometimes even toe-first, he now lands correctly heel-first — even without his boots. His heel bulbs, once sharp and mountain-like, are now soft and rounded, like the top of a peach. That change tells a quiet but powerful story: his digital cushions have strengthened, giving the delicate navicular bone inside the protection and support it needs.

When I first met Brian, he was nervous about having his feet handled. Perhaps shoeing had been painful for him before. He would snort at me, eyes wide and nostrils flared, fidgeting anxiously the whole time.

Now he stands like a gentle giant — calm, trusting, and completely at ease.

Vicky promised Brian a stress-free life, and she has truly given him that. Watching his journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m so grateful to have played a small part in helping him feel comfortable again.

There was a time when navicular disease was seen as a death sentence for horses. Brian is a beautiful reminder that it doesn’t have to be.

🖤

Very hard not to love my job when I get to work with beautiful fluffy floof-balls, like Maddie here. Love donkeys!
02/03/2026

Very hard not to love my job when I get to work with beautiful fluffy floof-balls, like Maddie here.

Love donkeys!

Continuous event lines (often referred to as growth rings) are an early warning sign that something isn’t quite right. T...
25/02/2026

Continuous event lines (often referred to as growth rings) are an early warning sign that something isn’t quite right. They act as small red flags, indicating that your horse may be struggling — most commonly from a metabolic imbalance — and likely has been for some time.

Each event line represents a minor laminitic episode, commonly described as Low-Grade Laminitis (LGL) or Subclinical Laminitis (SCL).

You may also notice a slight dishing in the dorsal hoof wall. This is another cause for concern, as it suggests the laminae are beginning to stretch and weaken. Again, this is a classic sign associated with LGL or SCL.

There are many subtle indicators like these, and they should not be overlooked. It may not take much to tip a horse from subclinical issues into acute laminitis — the obvious trigger might be a flush of spring grass, but sometimes it’s something less apparent, such as routine worming or vaccinations.

So, what would I recommend?
1: Clean up the diet — thoroughly.
This means more than simply feeding low sugar and low starch. Aim for a diet free from by-products, fillers, molasses, and alfalfa. Choose hay over haylage wherever possible. Personally, I also avoid chaff and beet pulp.

2: Support liver function.
Products such as Remount by Ron Fields or L94 by Trinity Consultants are my preferred options.

3: Assess environmental stressors.
Consider whether your horse is experiencing stress from limited turnout, separation from companions, inadequate rest, or other management factors. Chronic stress can significantly disrupt metabolic health and overall physiological balance.

4: Monitor closely.
Keep a careful eye on new hoof growth. Ideally, the event lines will gradually disappear as balance is restored.

If concerns persist, run blood tests.
Testing for PPID (Cushing’s disease) or EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome) may be the next appropriate step.

Early intervention makes all the difference. Paying attention to these subtle signs can help prevent a much more serious laminitic episode..

Had to jump on this Ai band wagon, and oh dear!! I seem to broken the pony's leg AND skewered the hoof with my tool!!I...
20/02/2026

Had to jump on this Ai band wagon, and oh dear!! I seem to broken the pony's leg AND skewered the hoof with my tool!!

I promise I won't do this to your beloved equines..

How muddy and filthy I am, is quite accurate though.

😅

https://chatgpt.com/s/m_6998c8718fdc8191b354e5c18a33e7d7

17/02/2026

Enjoyed listening to a podcast en route to my first client today "Safety with power tools" with Jim Apple Apf-i

I had to smile at his closing words of wisdom:

“Never be afraid to try something new — tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.”

When you think about how far barefoot trimming has come in recent years, it’s still incredibly new compared to farriery — a tradition that’s been around for hundreds of years. The barefoot movement, by contrast, has really only been established for about 20 years.

Fittingly, my first horse of the day stood beautifully for his power tool trim.

Thought of the day: Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Podcast link in the comments.

New Scoot Boots for this lucky pony.With all this wet weather, hoof horn can become much softer. It also often means mor...
15/02/2026

New Scoot Boots for this lucky pony.

With all this wet weather, hoof horn can become much softer. It also often means more roadwork than usual, as bridleways end up underwater.

During the winter months, hoof growth naturally slows down too.

Soft hoof horn combined with increased roadwork can cause the feet to wear down faster than they’re able to grow.

At this time of year, I’d recommend booting your barefoot horses to help prevent excessive wear and keep their feet comfortable and protected.

Head to Urban Horse and use code EPWILTS5 for 5% off boots or other products.

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Devizes
SN103PA

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Wednesday 8am - 2:30pm
Thursday 8am - 2:30pm

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