05/21/2026
***Who wins in the hoof care battle?***
“If you have never changed your mind about some fundamental tenet of your belief, if you have never questioned the basics, and if you have no wish to do so, then you are likely ignorant. Check the lights you allow. You might learn something.”
“People need to value the education and information you bring them. If they do not, remove yourself from their equation.”
2 great quotes from neuro-surgeon Dr Jack Kluse, and very apt for the hoof care industry right now.
My affirmative answer to the opening question - There should be only one “side” and one “winner” in the “who is right” debate, and that is the horse.
How do we ensure “our” horse wins?
1. Understand what is optimum welfare in equines and how to assess welfare parameters objectively
2. In the field , use objective assessment of welfare parameters to assess a horse BEFORE hoof care interventions are IMPOSED
3. In the field , use objective assessment of welfare parameters to assess a horse IMMEDIATELY AFTER hoof care interventions are IMPOSED
4. Repeat on regular intervals.
This welfare focused and evidence based approach removes confusion, anxiety, and any doubt about the consequencies of the IMPOSED hoof care method.
Get it WRONG however, and the losers are EVERYBODY - the horse, the owners, and if they self realise - the trimmer.
Because horses do not have a choice and they rely on YOU to make the right one for them.
Be truly informed which means let the horse truly inform you, not another human.
*if there is anyone feeling they want to spend your time defending a hoof care approach which doesnt prioritise objective assessment of welfare parameters, please instead spend some time reading all the small sample resources shared at the bottom of this post below and apply critical thinking to what it is you were feeling the need to defend and how this truly helps the horse in the short, or long run. If you have any questions after this, i am happy to answer them! If you wish to make an untrue, unkind, or propaganda statement in the comments, you will be banned and the comment removed *
How do you trim yours?
You get to decide…
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GENERAL SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND EVIDENCE:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/d/rspca/equine-crisis-research-report
https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/d/rspca/2099_equine_welfare_crisis_report_rgb
Clements, P.E., Handel, I., McKane, S. A., R. P. Coomer, R. P. (2019) An investigation into the association between plantar distal phalanx angle and hindlimb lameness in a UK population of horses. Equine Vet J. 2020, Volume 32, Issue S10, pages 52-59
Dyson, S., Berger, J., Ellis, A. D., & Mullard, J. (2018). Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23, 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.008
Dyson, S., & Pollard, D. (2020). Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses. Animals, 10(6), 1044. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061044
Dyson, S., Ellis, A. D., Mackechnie-Guire, R., Douglas, J., Bondi, A., & Harris, P. (2020). The influence of rider:Horse bodyweight ratio and rider-horse-saddle fit on equine gait and behaviour: A pilot study. Equine Veterinary Education, 32(10), 527-539. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13085
Dyson, S.J.; Tranquille, C.A.; Collins, S.N.; Parkin, T.D.H.; Murray, (2011) R.C. External characteristics of the lateral aspect of the hoof differ between non-lame and lame horses. Vet. J. 2011, 190, 364–371.
Eliashar, E. (2012) ‘The Biomechanics of the Equine Foot as it Pertains to Farriery’, Veterinary Clinics of North America – Equine Practice, 28(2), pp. 283–291. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2012.06.001.
Eliashar, E., McGuigan, M. P., & Wilson, A. M. (2004). Relationship of foot conformation and force applied to the navicular bone of sound horses at the trot. Equine veterinary journal, 36(5), 431–435. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044868378
Gelman, K DVM, PhD. (2010). Living With Gravity: Posture And The Stomatognathic System: www.equinesportsmed.com/Equine_Sports_Medicine/Articles_files/Gellman%20IAED%202010.pdf
Greve, L., & Dyson, S. J. (2014). The interrelationship of lameness, saddle slip and back shape in the general sports horse population. Equine Veterinary Journal, 46(6), 687-694. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12222
Hall-Bromley, A., & Dixon, L. (2025). Education and Licensing of Horse Owners: Addressing Poor Horse Welfare in the UK. Animals, 15(7), 1037. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15071037
Jones, E. (2024, October 4). Half of owners cannot identify equine lameness, research finds. Horse & Hound. https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/half-owners-cannot-identify-equine-lameness-873518
Lesimple, C. (2020). Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals, 10(2), 294. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020294
Mansmann, R.A.; James, S.; Blikslager, A.T.; vom Orde, K. (2010) Long Toes in the Hind Feet and Pain in the Gluteal Region: An Observational Study of 77 Horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2010, 30, 720–726.
Mellor, D. J., Beausoleil, N. J., Littlewood, K. E., McLean, A. N., McGreevy, P. D., Jones, B., & Wilkins, C. (2020). The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human-Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare. Animals, 10(10), 1870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101870
National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) 2018 :https://www.bluecross.org.uk/sites/default/files/d8/2022-01/NEHS-results-2018.pdf
Rendle, D. I., McGregor, C., Bowen, M. E., Carslake, H., German, A. J., Harris, P., Knowles, E., Menzies-Gow, N., & Morgan, R. (2018).Equine Obesity: Current Perspectives.ÊUK-Vet Equine,Ê2(Supp 5).Êhttps://doi.org/10.12968/ukve.2018.2.S2.3
Sharp, Y. (2021). Can we Locate the Centre of Rotation from a Lateral Photo? https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/can-we-locate-the-centre-of-rotation-from-a-lateral-photo/?
Sharp, Y. (2024). Reliability Test of an Application for the Assessment of Hoof Balance https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/reliability-test-of-an-application-for-the-assessment-of-hoof-balance/?
Sharp, Y. & Tabor, G. (2022). An Investigation into the Effects of Changing Dorso-Plantar Hoof Balance on Equine Hind Limb Posture. Animals 12, no. 23: 3275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233275
Sharp, Y. (2023, November 10). The quantification and definition of a new hoof balance paradigm. The Equine Documentalist. https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/the-quantification-and-definition-of-a-new-hoof-balance-paradigm
Stuart, J. (2022, September 18). The Angles of the Horse’s Foot: Is there a consistent relationship between the coronary band and the hoof capsule and to the distal phalanx? Assessing Strasser’s Angles [Video]. The Equine Education hub. https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/Assessing-Strassers-Angles
Torcivia, C., & McDonnell, S. (2021). Equine Discomfort Ethogram. Animals, 11(2), 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020580
Walmsley EA, Jackson M, Wells-Smith L, Whitton RC. (2019) Solar angle of the distal phalanx is associated with scintigraphic evidence of subchondral bone injury in the palmar/plantar aspect of the third metacarpal/tarsal condyles in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J. 2019 Nov;51(6):720-726. doi: 10.1111/evj.13086. Epub 2019 Mar 19. PMID: 30793363.
