A good looking hoof-Photo update

We just got our girls trimmed (barefoot trimmer) and they looked so nice we took photos. Here is what a good barefoot trim should look like after a fresh trim.
Fras and Vida:

Here is a bottom shot. Notice no sole or frog has been knifed off except there necessary

That ragged sole should have been removed. It's the perfect place for bacteria and fungus to thrive.

Also, the bars look laid over. That means they're overgrown and should have been trimmed.

I'm all for leaving frog, sole, and bars alone, but they do need to be touched up when they're not "healthy."

Vidaloco, thanks for posting. I am esp. Happy to see Vida's(?) feet (the black one). Her feet are so short and tiny. Every time I do Lisa's front feet I think I'm risking her having too tiny a hoofprint, but the shape just doesn't look right. Seeing Vida's foot makes me think I *am* on the right track and Lisa just has small feet.

I do agree that the bars are overgrown and should have been trimmed. A very nice wide foot though and good triangles!

Oops, I meant ragged FROG, not sole.

I just love seeing a great looking barefoot hoof! Thanks for sharing. I don't really think that it is such a big deal to trim the bars and you can see on the one side it already self maintained. I don't think it is such a big deal as long as they are getting enough movement to do so- Just my opinion though- not hurting anything.

Our trimmer will remove any major ragged tags/flaps off the frogs. We travel on lots of rocky areas so they will wear them off in no time. I've been known to take a knife or even a pair of scissors to any major tears in the frog if we get any large flaps.
Not just my farrier but I personally do not want anything taken off the frog. Unless its a bad flap.

I've had farriers that only took off bad flaps of the frog, and my Paint constantly had thrush and just nasty heels in general. You used to be able to stick a pen in his heel, it was so nasty.
Needless to say, my new farrier trims the frog every time and those horse's feet haven't ever looked better, and he hasn't been this sound in a long time. But, to each his own--when it comes to hooves, no two things work the same on a different horse.

Most of the time our girls frogs are hard as nails. I just snapped a photo today of the type of terrain we ride on most of the time. I think if your horses live in a wet climate or you have sandy soil the frog needs more care.
This is across the road from our house. That's Fras who was trimmed on Friday. She never took an off step.

actually, this is not always needed. It really depends on the horse's situation. From what I have learned about natural balance research, it has been discovered that the way the hoof and frog naturally grow, it is designed to have dirt pack in under the frog....the ideal for support, padding, protection

But...paddocks where poop rather than dirt are packing into the hoof are a different story. If it is working for Vida's horses, I think it is great. :)

Here is a neat site:
Natural Balance Hoof Care on Television