04/07/2025
🙌 A scientific approach and working hypothesis is a valuable corrective to the dogmatic precedent in today’s hoof care as it enables us to weight information on the basis of evidence rather than accepting some kind of dogma… 🙌
There isnt a right or wrong way to trim, other than it should improve or maintain optimum welfare states… and we are able to assess these states objectively, if we have the knowledge to do so.
Trimming horses should be founded upon repeatable application of a working (ever evolving) scientific approach and value independent thinking. Science requires the means to objectively and continuously assess results which can be verified. Science is ever evolving, and provides the opportunity for the hoof care industry to evolve, and therefore the opportunity to improve welfare states in horses, IF welfare is the goal in hoof care.
Dogma is another approach one could use in hoof care. Its literal meaning means “something that seems true”. When dealing with a sentient being, should we use a dogmatic approach, or a scientific approach?
Personally, I believe a scientific approach, with a dash of art (or intuition) is a mix which works well for the horses I work with, according to the objective evidence observed and clients feedback. Personally, I feel a dogmatic approach belongs in religion and well away from horse care.
If you recognise the approach you have chosen, scientific and evidence based or dogmatic… why have you chosen this? Because it SEEMS good, or it IS good? Define ‘good’? What is the metric of success you use to determine if it is good for your horse or the horses you impose this on? Is the evidence for this objective or subjective? Do you even recognise what you are following, implementing, and imposing, and do you know the difference?
Self inquiry, and self awareness, or more precisely, the lack thereof; I believe is the true foundation of suffering in horses (and maybe people). But that’s another topic for another day.
I am a deeply spiritual person and value science and objective evidence as much as I value gut feelings and intuition. But there is a balance to be met, as not all things in the physical world can be explained by physical science… yet… we still need science and a working hypothesis, in which to scrutinise information shared, to help us make the best choices for the horses we all love, and apply hoof care in the safest way, and to optimise welfare in horses, if welfare is our goal.
I have shared my opinion and some facts already about misinformation, propaganda and dogmatic trimming approaches already so feel free to scroll back through the past 2-3 months of my posts to gain some understanding of the scale of the issue horses (and people) are experiencing.
I have been contacted by many people in the past few days after sharing a disturbing experience I had with dogmatic individuals in the industry infiltrating my business and educational resources. They told me stories about their experiences, whereby horses had been hurt following practicing methods which were not based on quality science or practice which promoted optimum welfare states. People are also hurt during these realisations. I have also met horses, many horses over the years who have fallen foul of hoof care practices which are not based on sound science or reasoning.
What fascinates me most of all is why people make the choices they make. What drives them to choose a hoof care provider. Sometimes it’s the most local one, or the cheapest one, but nowadays, marketing seems to be a driving factor. And recommendation. But how many of us actually pause to really scrutinise the evidence behind the claims in the marketing? And how can we do this?
Well now you can learn to do your own scrutiny, by learning how to objectively assess a horse, its welfare state, and use this to form your own working hypothesis and decide which intervention might be most appropriate and why, AND track the results of the implementation of a practice which might alter welfare, over time.
This is proactive. This is prioritising welfare and well-being in horses. This is compassionate action.
I invite you to watch or listen to this fascinating and thought provoking interview featuring interviewer Rick Archer and interviewee Dr Edi Bilimoria, who encourages discourse on the different, but overlapping, roles of science, religion, and practical philosophy: https://batgap.com/edi-bilimoria/
And if you wonder what I do when I’m driving around the UK for up to 1000 miles a week seeing horses and people in need, I challenge my belief systems and invest in my personal evolution and listen to podcasts like these, as I ask the question “who am I, what is my purpose, and how can I be the best version of myself today?” 🤓
Please also consider attending our new 2 day immersive education weekends, which are designed to arm you with the tools to objectively assess the horses you love, and become a more discerning, informed, compassionate horse advocate.
I never want you to believe what I believe.
My desire is for all horse carers and advocates to be able to be discerning, and feel truly empowered to make their own minds up, and to remain flexible, open minded, logical, and also intuitive in their approach to welfare focused horse and hoof care. For this is the seed of new discovery, growth and evolution which is the true nature of science.
https://www.holisticequine.co.uk/events
Science behind the mark ups and comments in the photo are in the comments. Check out this post for potential ideal hoof morphology for the hoof in the image: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1271643034939189&id=100062805141815
Www.holisticequine.co.uk - supporting and promoting compassionate equestrianism for the benefit of all 💚🙏🐴
