Toes to Tails

06/23/2025

So true, and so sad. It's supposed to be about what makes the horse feel better, NOT which trim method was used. Some days, I can't even read through the threads I used to learn from because the venom is so unhealthy for my soul.

The Hoof Care Wars: When Helping Horses Became a Battlefield

There was a time when the hoof care world was split simply: shoes or no shoes.
But times have changed.

Today’s conflicts are far more… evolved.

Now we have schools vs schools.
Or more accurately — one or two very specific schools versus…
well, everyone else.

Veterinary surgeons?
“Brainwashed by outdated models.”

Farriers?
“Still stuck in the dark ages.”

Independent trimmers?
“Unqualified. Dangerous. Actively harming horses.”

Yes — welcome to the world where if you’re not trained by their method, using their terminology, applying their trim, and chanting their jargon — you’re a threat to equine welfare.
An obstacle. A danger.
A hoof butcher.

And it’s getting poisonous.

What do these wars actually look like?

Online groups policed like secret societies, where dissent is flagged faster than a loose shoe.

Case studies weaponised to prove “everyone else is incompetent.”

Vets, farriers, physios and other professionals shut down or publicly shamed for not subscribing to “The Method.”

Emotionally charged accusations:
“That trim is abuse.”
“You’re setting that horse up to fail.”
“You’re killing horses.”

Not... “I disagree,”
but:
“You’re endangering lives.”

Meanwhile, in the real world...

Owners are caught in the middle, more confused than ever.

Horses are left without consistent, collaborative care.

Practitioners feel under siege, walking on eggshells rather than sharing knowledge.

Thoughtful discussion dies a slow death, buried under dogma.

And those who try to build bridges?
Mocked, blocked, or labelled "fence-sitters."

The horse does not care which school you trained with.

He cares whether he can land heel-first.
Whether he can move freely.
Whether his posture is improving.
Whether his pain is being addressed.

Horses don’t need ideology.
They need clarity.
Competence.
Care.

So let’s drop the slogans and the sanctimony.
Let’s stop declaring war on anyone who doesn’t echo our training manual.

No single school owns hoof care.
No method is universally right for every horse, in every context.
And if your training can’t stand up to scrutiny, open discussion, or collaboration with other professionals —
then it’s not a method.
It’s a religion.

And horses deserve better than that.

04/19/2025

This is an amazing illustration and explanation of what can happen inside the hoof due to laminitis. (It makes my stomach hurt to think about the pain associated with it, and will hopefully convince some to get more serious about putting on those grazing muzzles.)

A beautiful and rare macro shot of a Sagittal section (through the middle) of a horses foot with rapid onset laminitis.

This is at the coronary groove/ coronary band area. The wall grows from cells in the coronary groove. It’s usually a distance “U” shape but in this case it’s dragged out to more a straight line.

Why?

Because the laminar bond suspending the coffin bone has been destroyed and the weight of the horse has drives the bone down due to gravitational force.

The bond is strong to support a galloping horse when healthy. But when it looses its connection it can fail catastrophically.

Note the wall growth at the coronary groove- it’s kinked.

Why?

Because it’s been pulled down with the plunging coffin bone. The bone takes all the soft tissue associated with it as it drops.

The wall has almost folded itself up on the inner wall side can you see it? Again it’s being dragged down with the bone due to gravity.

Look at the periople. It’s usually a nice sliver of stretchy soft material sealing hood wall to skin. It’s usually a plump line. Notice its shape like a triangle

Why….. you know the drill.

Gravity always wins.
Body weight - is subjected to gravity.

Heavier horses will have more risk of distal descent than lighter horses.
Minis are quite immune to distal descent- they may get a few mm drop but uncommon to see the coffin bones literally comming through the sole.

How to come back from this?
It depends on how many laminar attachments are left. That’s it

The more unscathed attachments the better the prognosis.

No one knows the outcome.
There are too many variables
It’s only you and your horse that needs to answer those questions.

Peace ❤️

03/30/2025

Wow, this is spot on and so important! I missed this when Corrie (she is an amazing writer as well as hoof care provider) posted it 3 years ago, but I am sharing now as I hope everyone reads it and understands.

Once, a client remarked how good their horse was standing for me because she had bit and kicked the last farrier. I was on the third hoof.

Once, a client told me their horse had "gone through a few farriers." Another farrier told me later that horse kicked their tools halfway down the barn aisle.

Once, I finished trimming and the owner said "wow, I didn't want to tell you this until we were done, but he kicks."

Once, I had a horse kick out while I was working on their front feet. Owner was upset I wouldn't trim the hinds. I told them to go pick up a hind and show me how they do it. They got kicked in the process.

Once, or twice, or ten times, I asked a potential client upfront if their horse stood well for the farrier, scheduled a first appointment, and then found out that is a lie.

These are the stories that flash through my head when people complain about farrier prices or difficulty in finding farriers.

Our job entails a lot of work - administrative work, continuing education, hoofcare, communication, our own inner work to remain present and soft in the presence of horses....

I place my safety in the hands of other people to a certain degree every time someone holds a horse for me. The horse(s) and owner are a package deal. If you don't have your farrier's safety and best interest at heart, you should understand what really goes into this career.

It is never, ever worth it to work in conditions that give you a bad feeling. I have made mistakes and nearly gotten seriously injured a few times when I ignored my gut instinct and kept on going.

If your horse is struggling to stand safely for your hoofcare provider, ask them for suggestions. Have the vet out. Hire a trainer. Handle their feet regularly yourself. Offer pain meds or sedation for appts if needed.

Farriers need to work smarter, not harder, for our work to be sustainable and we can only do that if the client is interested in being a part of the team.

~Corrie

08/15/2024

Hey Y'all, Can we talk soaking? 🪣

I consider myself pretty strong, my nippers are sharp, and my rasp is new - but I am still running into hooves I can't get through. This has been a DRY summer, so for horses not on irrigated pasture, or out in an area with morning dew, or getting some type of hoof conditioner painted on daily, their hooves are like rocks...or in some cases almost like glass and breaking.

Here are a few pictures showing how some of my awesome clients are making sure I can still do a good job for their horses. Ashaya is standing in a puddle the barn owner created, where each horse stood while waiting for their trim. Nova stood on a wet rug eating a snack for 30 minutes while awaiting my arrival. Dakoda stood on wet towels wrapped around his hooves - nice improvising. Nala stood in the overflow from her trough, and last but the most amusing, was the splash pad! Onyx is modeling how each of the 8 of them stood when they were on deck.

I don't have photos but others have tied their horses in grass with a sprinkler or hose wetting the area, some put wet boots on all four hooves, and some are diligent with daily hoof conditioner.

The summer heat and flies make things hard enough, so I REALLY appreciate my client's help with this - it makes a world of difference!❤️🙏

07/21/2024

This makes me sad. We always need to assume a horse isn't just "mean" or "bad," and look for the WHY. We talk about this a lot when I'm working with your horses - there is often a reason why your horse isn't "behaving" for their trim. Sometimes they have fear, sometimes pain, sometimes it's misunderstanding, and on some (probably more rare) occasions they are bored, tired, lazy, or naughty.