Sound & Simple Hoof Care

07/15/2025

A sight for sore eyes 👀💕 Let the healing begin!

06/01/2025

🐢 Slow and steady wins the race in this case! 🐢

This horse had a streak of bad luck, along with some unrelated issues that eventually affected the area near the hoof capsule—quickly becoming a serious problem. At one point, the hoof capsule was significantly compromised, and the hoof became extremely distorted.

When I first met this horse, I was concerned that the misalignment would affect his soundness as the soft tissues began to contract and adapt to the distorted hoof. Over the course of several months, we slowly and carefully adjusted his angles to bring him back to a more appropriate plantar angle—always prioritizing his comfort along the way.

The best news? He’s back in work, sound, and happy!

05/23/2025

I was lucky enough to be a guest on the most recent episode of the Humble Hoof Podcast.

Thanks to the amazing team of trainers and professionals that have helped me with Pablo over the last year and half, my friends who have been a sounding board for me, and my trimmer gals who always let me bounce ideas off of them! Y'all are all amazing. ❤️

Rehabbing horses is rarely ever linear, and you have to keep an open mind to find a regime that works for them.

Here's to listening to your horse, making adjustments, and making progress! 🥂

We all have seen the horses that have mismatched feet. I've even heard people say "wow, it looks like the farrier trimmed the feet completely differently!" as if the high/low appearance came from the trim or shoeing alone. I've even seen that appearance blamed for lameness. But the majority of the time, mismatched or "high/low" hooves are a symptom of something going on the body.

A few weeks ago, I started interviewing for a series of "case study success stories," of hoof rehab cases where things went right. Because we all need a little hope now and then! For this week's podcast episode, I reached out to Rachel Thompson, a hoofcare provider in Georgia, about her interesting journey with a high/low case. We chatted about all the diagnostics and approaches she tried, what they ended up finding in their investigation, and how the horse is doing now.

You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under "The Humble Hoof," or directly at this link: https://thehumblehoof.com/2025/05/23/case-study-high-low-and-not-quite-right/

Thank you to our amazing sponsors:

Cavallo Hoof Boots is offering 15% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN

A special shout out to Grid as New, Mud Control Grids – they are a game changer for any mud issues, big or small! – mudcontrolgrids.com

Also be sure to check out HayBoss Feeders – haybossfeeders.com – for all your slow-feeding needs. I get my Hay Boss feeders from Mountain Lane Farm in NH!

04/17/2025

⏰ Good things take time! ⏰

We pulled this thoroughbred's shoes back in August 2024, and now, in April 2025, I can confidently say his feet have never looked better—but most importantly, he’s feeling tons better, too. 🙌

This has been a slow and steady process, especially after years of compromised hoof structures from excessively long toes and crushed heels. Healing takes time, patience, and a whole lot of trust in the process. There’s no quick fix when it comes to restoring strength and function in the hoof.

To anyone starting this journey: don’t rush it. The internal structures need time to rebuild and adapt. Give the horse what they need, and you’ll see the transformation from the inside out.

02/26/2025

Taking a horse barefoot isn’t just about pulling shoes and hoping for the best, leaving them to gimp around for weeks—it’s about setting them up for success! 🐴✨

This horse had multiple failed attempts at going barefoot in the past. Her owner was told she would always need shoes to stay sound. But with a tailored game plan, she’s now more comfortable than ever!

Through diligent thrush treatment, careful comfort monitoring, and strategic use of transition tools, her owner has helped her thrive barefoot. She still is a few months out from achieving her optimal hoof- but now that she is loading her hoof more correctly, improvements will continue to fall into place. 🧩

The right approach makes all the difference! 💪💚

02/15/2025

Where we started... ❌

🐸 Pinched frog & weak digital cushion
⚡ Major flairs & cracks
🔄 Zero concavity
⬇️ No heel height
😣 Sore for days after trims

Where we are going... ✅

💪 Relaxed, robust frog & digital cushion
✨ Flairs & cracks are clearing up
🌀 Gaining concavity
📈 Plenty of heel height
🏇 Moving well throughout the entire cycle!

01/19/2025

✨ Progress Over Perfection ✨

This horse came to me with a severe hoof crack that extended all the way to the hairline—wide and deep enough to compromise the integrity of the white line. The owner had been told the crack would never improve due to a small scar at the coronary band that affected hoof wall growth.

Fast forward about 5-6 months, and while the crack hasn’t disappeared entirely, the transformation is exciting! It’s now much thinner, far less unsightly, and the hoof capsule is noticeably more stable. The white line has healed significantly, greatly reducing the risk of abscesses and white line disease. 🐴

No fancy methods were involved—just a thoughtful trimming approach focused on balance, leverage reduction, and proper biomechanics.

Here’s to celebrating progress over perfection, one hoof at a time!

12/31/2024

Reminiscing on an amazing year of working with amazing clients and their incredible horses! 🐴 Thank you for trusting me with your horse’s hoof care – it’s an honor to be part of their journey.

Here’s to healthy hooves and a bright future ahead in 2025! 🥳✨

11/10/2024

Building a strong, healthy digital cushion takes time! ⏰

This sweet young OTTB (yes, a thoroughbred... in full work... barefoot 😱👻❤️) had been out of metal shoes for a while, but her heels were still run forward and her digital cushion was lacking.

She transitioned to a more 'barefoot' style trim about six months ago. As her digital cushion developed, her heels were able to inch back and become stronger and straighter.

Stay patient and trust the process!

09/30/2024

🪐 Three trims over 15 weeks between these two photos. 🪐

This beautiful horse has made great progress, building heel height, increasing sole depth, and improving the digital cushion in her hind feet. These changes will benefit her body in the long run!

It’s important to remember that plantar (hind) angles are just as critical as palmar (front) angles. Unfortunately, plantar angles are often overlooked when evaluating the whole horse, but they can be key contributors to hock, sacroiliac (SI), and lower lumbar pain.

Don't forget to give those hind feet the attention they deserve!

Accepting new clients in NE Georgia, from Athens to Augusta.

08/23/2024

👻 White Feet & Strong Hooves 👻

There’s an old wives’ tale that claims light-colored hooves are weaker than dark ones.

However, this fancy horse—and science—proves otherwise! Adequate movement, a balanced diet, and routine hoof care are the true foundations for strong hooves, no matter their color.

08/01/2024

💖 Drab to Fab! 💖

When I met this horse, she was sound and had been barefoot without any major issues. However, I noticed a few areas that could use improvement. Her digital cushion was a bit weak, and her toe had been allowed to get a bit too long, causing everything to be pulled forward.

A few months later, we're seeing some incredible changes. While there are still some improvements I'd like to see, the foot is functioning much more correctly so it's just a matter of time now!

These seemingly small adjustments can make the difference between a horse simply "being barefoot" and "thriving barefoot."

Accepting clients from in North East Georgia, from Athens to Augusta!