Many common hoofcare practices, both barefoot and shod, focus on the idea of increasing the overall heel height through leaving heel horn height. This excess heel horn crushes forward under the horse, makes the back of the hoof uncomfortable to load, the horse then leans on their toes, wearing out their coffin bone, further atrophying the caudal soft tissue through lack of use, and inevitably creating an even lower heel once all the structures break down.

The alternative approach that has gained momentum in the last decade, is to add artificial height, through the use of firm wedge pads, usually paired with steel shoes, dental impression material or casting. This method is not sustainable, as it tips the horse up onto their toes and creates all the same issues as the previous example - coffin bone wear and soft tissue atrophy, which increases wear on the joints and the prevalence of all manner of pathology. Some horses can cope longer than others, but in the long run the process is degenerative for all. The focus is usually on bony column alignment, at the expense of soft tissue health and development. It also comes with a high price tag for materials.

The only silver lining to this chronic toe loading caused by many common trimming and shoeing practices is that the back of the foot is in storage, so to speak. Once the majority of the weight bearing is comfortably transferred to the back of the foot, the horses can heal themselves with their own weight. This is what I refer to as, “using a horse’s weight for them, instead of against them”.

By paying close attention to the spring-like palmar contours and shaping them in a way that builds the soft tissue over time, you can increase the overall heel height in a way that is sustainable, comfortable and as mother nature intended. The internal structures become suspended through the strength of arches and curves, the capsule grows in straight and centered around the coffin bone, and the whole horse gets continually and sustainably more sound. The regeneration of depleted hooves can be achieved by anyone who is willing and able to learn to use a rasp and a loop knife, take accountability for themselves and let the horse take the lead.

When learning about hoof form and function and how to successfully rehabilitate a damaged hoof and build a healthy one, many people get stuck in no mans land when addressing the back of the foot. There is a lot of fear about trimming this area, and this is justifiable. Soft tissue development relies on properly shaped, aligned, and loaded solar structures, and this intertwined system of curves and springs takes time to understand.

I build hooves by rolling the heels from the widest part of the frog to the calloused live sole at the seat of corn. I use the contours of the central sulcus as a guide to shaping the contours of the heel horn. Respecting these landmarks reduces discomfort and risk of tendon strain while rebuilding damaged soft tissue and live sole.

I trim off the hard dead retained frog tissue and smooth it down to the outermost insensitive (but supple) layer to give the back of the foot optimal comfort for load bearing. I’m always trying to trim for maximum comfort without compromising continual development.

If the trim schedule is frequent enough to be making progress, it’s not the same trim every time. The feet should be gaining live tissue depth. Frog clearance should eventually come from sole and soft tissue depth. You should not be merely cutting the frog out of the picture or leaving the heels just long enough so that you don’t have to touch the frog to get clearance.

When the frog, bars and heels come together in the right relationship to one another and the shapes relate to their corresponding inner structures, the horse will be confident in bearing weight in the back of the foot where it belongs. It’s all in the curves, not the angles.

Hoof building cannot be taught with words alone. We have over 150 videos available in the Video Library, and almost 10 years of documentation on my facebook page. I believe that consistent, long term photo documentation will prove whether your trimming is regenerative or degenerative, and train your eyes to see the difference.

In order to hold myself accountable for making improvements, I don’t train horses to stand, I don’t tie them, and I’ve never had to sedate a horse for a trim.

They can always have their foot back, and they can walk away if they want to. When they like what I’m doing they come right back. This creates a horse that is free and able to express themselves through movement.

I am always looking for what I can do to make the hoof feel better before I put it down, and this dictates how I trim. I find the quickest way to connect with a horse and show them I am there to help them feel better, is by quietly and effectively trimming the frog on each hoof.

I pay attention to where the horse leans and what hoof they offer to me, or which ones they don’t want to give. I take note of when the horse asks for their foot back, and how they ask, and I make sure to give it back to them before they have to yell. I take all their feedback as valuable information, not a personal insult, and I don’t get into a fight with them.

I also take responsibility for myself. I don’t put it on the horse, or the owner, to keep me safe - that is up to me.