Namaste Barefoot Trimming

10/25/2025

The Humble Hoof Podiatry Clinic day 1, an amazing day of lectures and demos by Dr Jenny Hagen and Celeste Lazaris

10/23/2025

Lots of progress in 2 4 week trim cycles for these little elderly donkeys. Lots of old compromised wall to grow down yet and I may need to open up more infection pockets as it grows out, but already seeing improved lamina connection and healthier frogs and soles.

10/23/2025

This foundered mare has made significant progress this year, it is great to see freer movement in her shoulders and more willingness to move out.

10/17/2025

Molly, 17 year old draft cross mare, mid-rehab comparison to now. Yes, those photos are post trim. Yes, the feet were ugly. I didn't get many photos of her feet due to her being a tough case to work on. She was a horse with trust issues and her body riddled with pain and tension. She does still have a small crack in her right front that comes and goes which may be due to a bit of bone loss in her P3. Since her last 2 trims in which I have finally been able to get after her distortion, she's been more cautious over gravel but is now able to bend under saddle and canter freely in the pasture. As always it's a balance of preserving comfort and promoting proper function. She is moving soon and I'll be sad to see her go but I'm very happy to have played a part in her journey to bigger and better things.

10/15/2025

Neutral posture before and after trim, 5 week cycle. This pony has a twisty left front so I will be tracking any changes in her posture with the corrections I'm making.

Excited to deep dive into the effects of posture and conformation on hoof balance at the Podiatry clinic hosted by The Humble Hoof later this month!

10/14/2025

A big abscess blowout almost grown out. 5 week trim cycle.

10/12/2025

Carlos the donkey made an appearance at farrier night and got some fresh radiographs confirming he is on the healing path! It was a great event to be a part of, we appreciate Dr Lara bringing farriers in the community together for discussion.

10/11/2025

I still get people wanting to extend the trim cycles in winter (or skip altogether). While growth rates do generally slow down and in some cases we can get away with going an extra week, the longer I do this the more I see the repercussions of "getting away with" longer cycles. If we want to truly build good feet we need to take advantage of the slower winter growth to really make some gains. And winter is an excellent time to make progress on rehab.

Contrary to some beliefs, horses need regular hoof care in the winter just as much as the warmer months. 4-6 weeks is an ideal trimming and shoeing cycle.

10/08/2025

Stops today. Beautiful fall colors and this smartest bestest girl joined the "trimmed at liberty" club.

09/28/2025

Setup trim on an elderly donkey. He and his companion both have some white line infections which should grow out without complications with treatment and 4 week trims for the time being.

The purple is from Durasole and Artimud.

09/22/2025

Latest trim on Carlos the donkey, growing out nicely almost 4 months post resection

09/08/2025

The smallest details mean a lot to a horse. If they can feel a fly land on any part of them, they can also feel any inconsistencies underfoot.

This little mare has really nice feet now but she didn't always have the best feet and she has also struggled with balance issues and anxiety while being trimmed.

This latest trim I was able to apply what I've recently learned. Her trim itself changed only very subtly, but I was able to understand and receive her communication when she was asking to put her foot down. We got into a nice rhythm of allowing her to check her balance midway through each hoof after which I would double check and do a little more detail work. She was very happy with this new arrangement and with her mind at ease she willingly had the next foot ready each time.

Horses think and react quickly, but they process slowly. We need to slow down and quiet our mind if we want them to come "online" and communicate with us.

I am finding that by intentionally slowing down, it most often doesn't take any longer to do the work and in many cases like with this sensitive, anxious girl, the trim actually went quicker.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.