Footloose Barefoot Hooves

15/09/2025

Something has changed in the last week.

This last week, I've had a worryingly high amount of horses snatching, pulling, sideways stepping/barging into me, and a hind foot in motion very close to my face.

I'm not sure what's going on, but I wonder if the drop in temperature and definite change to colder weather has switched on their hangry "need to eat as much and for as long as I can", and also creaky joints are now aching again.
I think we're past the autumn grass flush (from how the last few weeks have been), but it's still in the back of my mind too.

I'll need you guys to help me on this one; every one of those snatches and pulls could have put me out of work.

Please provide fibrous forage (ie hay) for them so they can hopefully settle for the trim. If they are looking uncomfortable or stiff in their movements, think about pain relief prior to the appointment (best to speak to your vet if you are unsure how to approach this one).

Let's see what this week brings - first up I'm in the Highlands covering for a colleague so she can do some research on wild horses in Mongolia, then back to my own later this week.

05/09/2025

As we are coming up to the wetter seasons, this is a great webinar to watch. I found it very enlightening how Ida explains hooves getting very wet and soft as the weather changes and mud season starts - and just how much influence that has on hoof health.

https://murdochmethod.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9ca66bb8cfd7c64aab61ef94c&id=3e1cc5be23&e=471af48513

Webinars with Wendy are a library of great knowledge for all areas of equestrian life. I'd strongly recommend having a browse of the many other webinars she has done over the years.

And if you'd like to have a chat about her Surefoot pads, give me a shout at the next trim and we can have a chat!

29/08/2025

Dear clients, please have mercy with us trimmers! 🙏

THE UNOFFICIAL HCP SURVIVAL KIT: HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOOF CARE PROVIDER ALIVE (BARELY)

(Because apparently rasping 1,200kg of metabolic ambiguity every week takes a toll.)

Your hoof care provider is a resilient species. They operate in silence, kneel in mud, and absorb more equine dysfunction than your average field vet and therapist combined. But even they have limits. Here's how to keep yours from quietly dissolving behind the wheel of their van.

1. Snacks. Always Snacks.
Hoof care providers are powered by caffeine, pocket lint, and sheer will. If you’ve got a flapjack, hand it over. If not, offer haylage or fence post bark — they’ll understand.

2. Clean, Dry Horses.
Nothing says “I respect your spine” like a horse that isn’t caked in five layers of damp archaeology. Bonus points if they’re caught before the trimmer arrives. Double if they don’t bolt.

3. The Sacred Square Surface.
Your HCP has trimmed on gravel driveways, sloped patios, soft bog, and once — by necessity — a trampoline base. A flat surface is not a luxury. It’s a form of love.

4. Don’t Say “While You’re Here…”
They came for one horse. You’ve now released a herd of seven, all overdue and two of them unhandled since 2020. This isn’t a surprise party. It’s a slow-motion ambush.

5. Tea. But Not Too Much.
Yes, a hot drink is divine. But too many offers and you’ve created an obligation loop. Now they’re trimming with one hand, holding a mug with the other, and quietly resenting your hospitality.

6. Speaking of Backs — They’re Broken.
Your HCP currently has:

One shoulder held together by kinesiology tape

Two knees on extended notice

A hip that speaks Latin when it rotates
They will never admit it. Just assume they’re in discomfort. Offer ibuprofen. Or a qualified osteopath who makes house calls.

7. Don’t Ask “Is This Normal?” Unless You Want the Truth.
The white line shouldn’t be black. The frog shouldn’t smell like compost. If you’re not ready for the answer, offer biscuits and a subject change.

8. Eye Contact and Emotional Containment.
Try not to lock eyes during a difficult hind. They’ve seen things. Let them focus on the hoof and mentally detach as needed.

9. Say Thank You.
Just once. No need for a parade. But after the horse has stood like a swaying giraffe on cobbles for 45 minutes, a quick “Thanks, I don’t know how you do it” can keep an HCP emotionally upright for up to 6 weeks.

BONUS TIP:
Never refer to their job as “just a trim.” That phrase alone has driven six of them into full-time goat rescue.

22/08/2025

Preparing a horse for hoofcare appointments/trims can be difficult, and both the prep and the actual appointment can be stressful.
Could you guys help out Janneke who is a great R+ trainer herself and who is currently looking into what horse owners need help with, what has worked or not worked for them in the past, so she can go away and put some serious energy into creating some really helpful content?
A short survey, won't take you more than a few minutes! 🙏
https://jannekekoekhoven.activehosted.com/f/6?fbclid=IwY2xjawMVqJdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBXT3VkRHJ1cWhtZ2JOVmJnAR7Biezocof6waqZIdAQNT9xeVNRkz50CdVylQmyBMv1ejduttBBRBZVqDt8tw_aem_5d40ezki1dgN2SXDP68TKg

Hoof care can be a challenge, especially when you want to stay true to positive reinforcement. I’m curious to learn more about how you and your horse experience trimming sessions. Your answers will help me create better resources. As a thank-you, I’ll be raffling off 3x personalized video feedba...

18/08/2025

Second donkey update - we're making some more progress with this one too. She's been pretty comfortable, and her front feet have come round really quickly (slide 1 from trim 1 to show where we started . Slide 2 trim one LHS, trim 2 RHS)

Her hinds are still quite tricky - they were both completely curled under to the point she was walking on the medial (inside) hoof wall.
They are straightening up (slide 3 shows the change in the left hind), but we will get x-rays for the right hind as things are pretty squint there and it doesn't look like we have much to play with to completely balance the foot.

But not to worry - the more straighter growth comes in, the easier it will become pushing her in the right direction.

Last slide is donkey cuteness tax if you've stayed with me until now!

18/08/2025

You may still remember these feet from recently.
I got to visit them today and I'm so glad to see the improvements.

First of all, her medio-lateral (side to side) balance is so much better after the second trim. She has more even feet to stand on as the foot that's growing down isn't slanted sideways.

But the biggest win is how she loads her heels. She didn't want to lower her heels after the first trim - a lot down to the internal permanent damage she is left with due to the state of her feet. She is adapting and has been moving better, and today I got to lower her heels some more to make her more comfortable.
I was so glad to see her walk like this after the trim (last slide); wish I had a video from before when she was still very toe first.

Onwards and upwards, little donkey!

18/08/2025

A couple of days ago I went out with colleague Heart & Sole - Equine Podiatry by Laura Evans for one of her boot fitting rounds. As much as I only occasionally do fittings for my own clients, it is good to connect with colleagues for information and knowledge exchange - and Laura certainly knows her stuff when it comes to boots.
She's super busy but if you are lucky, she may cover your area (sorry Laura for making even more work for you!)

14/08/2025

Setting up the right environment to allow horses to succeed can be so tricky. I'm so glad that Blairfordel does just that. A lot of thought goes into what forage is provided and how, metabolic conditions are monitored and taken into account. The track provides just the right kind and volume of stimulation. And guess what - we still have long conversations at each visit what will come next to make things just a little bit better for the equines, and what each and every one of them needs to get there.
We so need more places like that for our horses!

Track Win #2 - Hoof Health

Our track is 100% barefoot and many of our track horses have literally had their shoes removed days before they arrive. Owners are always amazed at how well their horses hooves adapt to barefoot living on our track 🙌🏼

The key to healthy hooves is 24/7 ‘hoofing’ over a variety of species appropriate terrain, creating a huge amount of blood flow to the hoof. A track hoof will always eventually become stronger due to 24/7 movement over different terrains.

All our ponies are working hard to achieve the perfect hoof on our track. The aim is a tight hoof wall (no white line separation), firm soles that provide protection from our multi surfaced track but allow our ponies to move bio mechanically correct, plumper frogs and a firm digital cushion, filling the space between the heels, to provide comfort from the grounds impact. Along with diet changes and broad spectrum supplements, hooves can become rock crushers in no time!

One of the most poorly ponies to arrive on the track couldn’t live barefoot, no matter how much their owners tried previously. He suffered many bouts of laminitis over the years of battling to get him barefoot. He had his shoes removed days before arriving last May and has now been living barefoot, without any trouble, for over a year on our track and has THE best hooves around! He also just happens to be one of our 3 EMS Amigo’s who is slaying track life in all aspects! 🌿

8 out of our 12 ponies are trimmed by Footloose Barefoot Hooves who we can’t thank enough for the individual attention to detail each pony & owner receives. Their unwavering aftercare support is also second to none 🙌🏼
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts 🫶🏼

04/08/2025

It's been all about heels this last week for me. Still mulling over loads from the David Landreville- On the Vertical clinic.
So I'm sharing some of the trims from last week, the good and the bad, strong and the weak (the latter includes my picture taking skills, as always!)
Guess I shall revisit in a few months and see if I could make positive changes?

28/07/2025

So it turns out that England can maintain a heat wave for months, just to drop to balmy 15 degrees and some drizzle when a small Scot turns up with little more than shorts and a t-shirt to attend the David Landreville clinic 🥶

And when 3 EP's rent a house together, 24hrs/day aren't enough to discuss all the feet that want and deserve to be discussed - still; what a joy to throw some thoughts together with Vikki and Helen, and also seeing more colleagues and fellow trimmers at the clinic itself and have a good natter about feet and everything feet related!

Also turns out Mr Landreville says I do a nice trim 😳💪
Nothing better than a good clinic to drive that imposter syndrome a little bit to the background 🙂

23/07/2025

Just a 'no more shoes and lots of stimulating movement' slideshow 😍
Look at the developments in those heel bulbs and frogs!

April to July (no trim done in April)