Pheobe Fricker Equine Podiatrist

25/06/2025

Using hoof boots is not “cheating”

They provide comfort for your horse and are an incredibly useful tool for horses not just transitioning to barefoot, but for horses that need extra cushioning from hard ground and support.

I have seen a number of comments on barefoot discussion pages lately, which seem to suggest that it’s ok for a horse to struggle for a while when you have the shoes pulled.

It is not ok.

As a HCP, if I think your horse will be uncomfortable in the stable/field without shoes, I will always recommend a therapy boot. Because let’s be honest, if the horse is uncomfortable, something is wrong.

Let’s assume as an example, that the soles are on the thin side because the horse has been in shoes for a while and the soles havent had the stimulation needed to maintain decent sole depth.

This is a double edged sword. Firstly, it is important to avoid unnecessary pain. Yes a set of boots might cost you. A second hand pair will cost much less, but they WILL keep your horse more comfortable whilst the hoof is adapting/strengthening.

Secondly - movement stimulates growth (eg soles). If your horse is uncomfortable, they will move much less. So by not booting a sore horse, not only are you causing unnecessary discomfort, you are hindering their transition.

Don’t get me wrong - some horses come out of shoes and stomp all over rubble like it’s nothing. Most do not. A lot of newly barefoot horses are absolutely fine in the field and in the stable, but may struggle with the stoney tracks that lead between the two. In which case, if there is nowhere for your horse to pick his way through comfortably, you’re going to need boots.

Likewise, if your newly barefoot horse is fine in the field and stable but is sensitive when hacking on coarser surfaces, wear boots for hacking! There will come a time in such cases where your horse is less sensitive on those coarser surfaces (because he is moving, his soles are stimulated and his hooves are changing), and you can hand walk on those coarser surfaces without boots. This usually progresses to riding on those surfaces without boots too - But it’s all a progressive process of slowly conditioning.

In terms of comfort - if your horse is regularly exposed to any surface that makes him uncomfortable, protect his feet when on those surfaces. Always make comfort your priority and never allow your horse to struggle through the process.

*REPOSTED FROM 2023*

07/06/2025

This applies to all boots and something I regularly recommend ⬇️

24/05/2025

Really worth a read to understand how this rain and stressed grass can affect our equines ⬇️

10/03/2025

This is such a fabulous post to read ahead of Spring coat changes and the moulting season ahead ⬇️

The changing of a horse’s coat in spring (and autumn) can place additional demand on the emunctories, particularly the liver and kidneys. This is because shedding and coat renewal are metabolic processes that involve detoxification, cellular turnover, and increased circulation of waste products.
How Shedding Affects the Emunctories:

1. Liver:
The liver plays a key role in detoxification, breaking down old cells, processing hormones, and filtering out metabolic waste.

Spring coat change is often accompanied by an increase in energy metabolism and sometimes a shift in diet (e.g., from hay to fresh grass), which can further tax the liver.

Some horses may show signs of mild liver overload, such as itchy skin, dull coat, or sluggishness.

2. Kidneys:
The kidneys help remove toxins through urine, and during coat change, there may be an increased need for elimination of metabolic waste.

Ensuring proper hydration is key to supporting kidney function during this period.

3. Skin (as an Emunctory):
The skin itself is a major route of elimination, and as old hair is shed, the body may also release stored toxins.

Horses with a sluggish system might show skin issues like dandruff, itchiness, or even minor breakouts.

🌿How to Support the Horse’s Emunctories in Spring:

🔺Liver Support:
Herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root, and burdock can help the liver process waste efficiently.
Avoid overloading with rich feeds or unnecessary supplements that could burden liver function.

🔺Kidney Support:
Ensure plenty of clean water and encourage movement to stimulate circulation.
Nettle or cleavers can gently support kidney function.

🔺Skin & Coat Support:
Regular grooming aids circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Essential fatty acids (linseed, h**p) can promote healthy skin renewal.
Avoid excessive rugging, which may interfere with the body’s natural detoxification through sweating.

The liver and kidneys are not only essential for detoxification but also play a significant role in the horse’s overall mobility through viscerosomatic reflexes. When these organs become overburdened, they can create muscular tension, postural imbalances, and even restrictions in movement.

🐎Viscerosomatic Reflex & Its Impact on Mobility

Viscerosomatic reflexes occur when dysfunction in an internal organ (viscera) creates tension or discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. This happens because the autonomic nervous system and spinal cord share pathways between internal organs and certain muscle groups.

➡️Liver Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The liver is innervated by the phrenic nerve (C3-C5) and the vagus nerve, and its viscerosomatic reflex is often associated with right-sided stiffness due to its anatomical position. When the liver is struggling:

Horses may exhibit restricted movement in the right shoulder or difficulty bending to the right.

The thoracic sling muscles (pectorals, serratus ventralis) may tighten, affecting forelimb freedom.

There may be tension in the diaphragm, impacting overall posture and leading to compensatory patterns in the back and hindquarters.

Horses might develop a preference for resting one front leg over the other, indicating discomfort in weight distribution.

➡️Kidney Dysfunction & Its Effects on Mobility

The kidneys are located in the lumbar region (T12-L3) and are closely related to the psoas muscles, iliopsoas, and quadratus lumborum. If the kidneys are overloaded:

Horses may experience lower back stiffness or reluctance to engage the hindquarters.

There can be difficulty with collection, transitions, or lateral movements due to a lack of mobility in the lumbar region.

Some horses may develop girthiness or sensitivity around the flanks, as the fascia surrounding the kidneys connects to the diaphragm and thoracolumbar spine.

⚠️Signs Your Horse Might Benefit from Visceral Osteopathy in Spring

🐎Stiffness or discomfort in shoulder mobility (right side for liver, lumbar for kidneys)

🐎Unexplained girthiness or flank sensitivity

🐎Reluctance to engage the hindquarters or bend laterally

🐎Skin issues, itchiness, or a dull coat despite good nutrition

🐎Lethargy or behavioural changes, especially when shedding or transitioning to spring grass

By addressing these organ-related tensions, visceral osteopathy not only helps improve movement and posture but also supports overall health, comfort, and performance.

11/02/2025

This is such a fabulous visual highlighting how the barefoot hoof can flex whilst wearing the Explora hoof boots compared to the shoe ⬇️👠

10/02/2025

My own horses styling their Flex Hoof Boots and Explora Magics 👠🦄

I always say that I think every barefoot horse should have at least one pair of hoof boots. My own are no different.

They’re pretty much foot-perfect on every terrain, yet this ride is particularly stony with lots of hard tracks. Hoof boots offer protection and support, particularly in the middle of a wet winter with softer hooves 🫶🏻

Hoof boots in action over the weekend! 💪🏼💃🏼🕺🏻

This photo was sent to us by Pheobe, who is one of our fitters based in Milton Keynes. She is the most fabulous lady, so go give her a follow Pheobe Fricker Equine Podiatry Student 💖

07/09/2024

This is such an important message. Obesity is dangerous ⬇️

03/09/2024

HOOF BOOT FITTINGS 👠🦄

📍Aylesbury - 8th September

Limited availability for the Aylesbury area on Sunday 8th September for hoof boot fittings.

The consultation includes trying on the different hoof boot fit kits to determine the best brand, style and size for you and your horse. I can then recommended the hoof boots to purchase and provide a £10 off voucher with The Hoof Boot Shop.

💌Get in touch for more info 💌

22/08/2024

6 months 🔄

As always, work to do, improvements to be made and more to learn and adjust for this darling mare.

But I see a more relaxed stance, improved heels, and when we look at the angle of the wall, there is tighter growth coming down.

This will hopefully result in a slightly shorter toe and as we continue to encourage the heels to come back, the back of the foot will develop further and lead to a better hoof morphology 🤞🏼🤩

Progress can be slow to visualise, but little and often makes the hoof trimmer happy 🤓

13/07/2024

⬇️

Regular farrier appointments aren't a luxury, they are a necessity for your equine companion's lifelong welfare.

❔Did you know❔
Every extra 1cm of toe length results in -
🔹an extra 50KG of force acting on the tendons
🔹a -1° drop in sole angle where the DDFT inserts into the coffin bone can lead to a 4% increase in the pressure exerted by the DDFT on the navicular bone

(Credit Dr Renate Weller)

08/04/2024

⬇️

Did you know we have hoof boot fitters all over the UK to help you find the perfect fit? 👟🐴

From the very North of Scotland to the very south of England, and even the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Take a look at the link below for more information and to find your nearest fitter.

👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

🔗 https://thehoofbootshop.co.uk/fitting-appointment

02/04/2024

What a fabulous graphic ⬇️

🌼📚 We're kicking off BETA Feed Fact Fortnight with a bang! 🎉 Check out our cracking graphic: "How much sugar is in…?" 🍬 Huge thanks to SPILLERS one of our fantastic BETA member supporters, for providing this awesome resource! 🙌

Ultimately, horses, just like people, gain excess weight when they consume more calories than they burn, regardless of where those calories come from. A horse stabled 24/7 and fed nothing but a low sugar hay replacer will gain weight if they consume more calories than they need, much like a person will gain weight if they over-consume nothing but ‘healthy’ foods. That said, diets high in sugar and/ or starch increase the risk of insulin dysregulation and laminitis (starch is sometimes overlooked but if your horse needs a low sugar diet, chances are they need a low starch diet too!).

If you’re trying to reduce your horse’s sugar intake, forage is the place to start. When it comes to ‘bucket feed’ (as opposed to forage), remember to consider the feeding rate and not just the percentage of sugar. The amount of sugar (and calories) consumed from any feed will depend on how much of it is eaten!

Did you know? Forage is the largest source of sugar in a horse’s diet!

Spring Feed Fact Fortnight is here, and we're thrilled to bring you a wealth of useful tips, informative videos, live interviews with experts, and exciting competitions! 🌱💡

In this edition, we're focusing on 'Healthy weight management – practical tips based on scientific research,' and we're debunking myths around sugar. 🚫🍭

Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates and announcements—share it all with your friends! Let's make this Feed Fact Fortnight one for the books! 📚💫

🌷🐴