03/06/2026
From Broken to Barefoot Again 🐴
A great reminder that not every horse that ends up in shoes needs to stay in shoes.
This horse presented with significant hoof wall separation, cracking and loss of structural integrity. The feet had reached the point where they could no longer comfortably support themselves barefoot, so therapeutic shoeing was used to stabilise the hoof capsule, protect the damaged wall and allow healthy growth to come down.
Over time, with consistent farrier care, correct trimming, protection where needed, and a lot of patience, the hoof quality improved dramatically. The cracks grew out, the wall strengthened, and the feet regained the integrity needed to function without mechanical support.
Today this horse is back barefoot and maintaining sound, healthy feet.
The goal isn’t “barefoot” or “shod” the goal is a comfortable, functional horse. Sometimes that means shoes, sometimes it doesn’t. Good hoof care is about giving the horse what it needs at the time, not forcing a philosophy.🐴
