Over the years Ivanhoe has had issues with his feet, we never seem to get past his separation. I tried on several occasions to trim his feet myself under guidance of other professional hoof trimmers, I bought books and watched video’s.
It is very daunting to start trimming your own horses feet, it terrified me. I was lucky to have very supportive people around me that encouraged me to keep going.
With the Equine Circle of Influence we organised a hoof trimming workshop held by professional hoof trimmers. I did a hoof trimming course with HGM (hoof guided method) and qualified in that. Last year I started following David Landreville and signed up to his on-line hoof library and submitted photos to get checked and joined his workshop in August this year.
You don’t not have to do all that but what I would recommend is to educate yourself about your horses feet.
There are many different ways of trimming out there and I am not here to tell you what is the best way to trim as I don’t know. I am so far very happy with the Hoof Building method by David Landreville and I like that he has years of documentation with great results.
Your horses feet are very important and will influence everything. If your horse is in need of body work all the time you might need to have a good look at his feet as if his feet are not supporting his horses body well, the body will not be able to correct itself and he will revert back to his old posture quickly after the treatment. Body work however can be helpful while you get the feet in order and for other issues.
They are on their feet most of their life, not like us who lay down for 8 hours to sleep or sit down most of the time. Their feet are their lifeline.
Are Ivanhoe’s feet great now, no by all means they are not but I do feel we are on the right track and he has changed a lot in his body and is looking great now.
I still find it scary sometimes to trim my own horses feet and it is bloody hard work, but it is so important. I also need to learn so much more and continue to educate myself.
Building great feet is a process that can take many years and after that it will be an on-going maintenance with ups and downs.
If it feels scary to start trimming your own horses feet, don’t yet. But start watching some video’s, read articles, buy a good book and talk to your trimmer or farrier and ask questions.
Pick up your horses foot and look at it with the question “does this look like a well balanced hoof”, “does this look like a comfortable foot to walk on”? It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what that means, just ask the question, an answer will pop up.
After a while you might be able to start doing some little trims in between your trimmers visits. Again, talk to your trimmer and ask for some help, tips or plan of approach.
Don’t just assume that all is good because they get their 6 weekly trim.
Educate yourself.
