05/14/2026
Here’s what my brain sees-
Pink: Mapping the foot around the center of rotation for finding optimal balance (not a trim line, just a guide line) *also doing this one thing has helped vets that do rads on my client horses love me
Blue: finding the white line. It’s the junction between the wall and sole, and is your most consistent landmark, which is important when managing distortion in the hoof capsule. It also lines up with the shape of your cornet band. When shaping shoes it helps to line up your nail holes with the white line (and then also leave room for expansion, to try to reduce possible contraction)
Orange: center line of the foot following the central sulcus (center/middle crease in the frog) This helps me see if there’s more foot medial/lateral (either “side” of the orange line), I then cross reference this with the (blue) white line to see if there’s excessive wall/flare/distortion that needs to be trimmed.
Yellow: the right (medial or side closest to the middle of his body) hoof wall is worn in a more rolled pattern, whereas the lateral (outermost side of the foot) is more flat in the wear pattern. To me this says the load of the foot is heavier or more loaded on the medial side of the foot, which also lines up with the bar fracture circled in green. (Most horses load medially and flare laterally)
Not marked is the collateral grooves, which help me determine about how much sole depth I have to work with. Most barefoot horses on my books self manage their own soles so it’s rare I have to use my knife on them.
Taking all this into consideration within seconds of picking up the foot and assessing what and where to trim doesn’t happen overnight. This is also a healthy, sound horse with plenty of movement and good nutrition.
Continued education and taking everything with a grain of salt, complimented by asking your own questions, listening to the horse, and educating clients has helped me be so successful in the 8 years I’ve been doing this.
