Natural Hooves - w/Photos

I am attempting to get Java's hooves the way they are supposed to be, think Pete Ramey's wild hoof model.

Anyways, he has been barefoot for quite some time, but just with regular trimming. For the past four months, we have been working on getting a good hoof on him. However, now that he's in North Carolina, we don't have a natural hoofcare professional to trim. I have a guy who comes in and he is very good and has been listening to what I ask. He is coming on Monday to trim once again.

I believe I will start trimming Java's feet on my own after Monday. I feel as if I am capable of it.

However, I want to know your opinions. I want to make sure that my eye is telling me correctly, and I know that many of you are natural hoofcare people. So tell me what you would do or have done to get Java's hooves to where they should be.

Photos are of his front right and his front left, respectively. His back hooves are pretty much exactly where I want them, with trimming.


When I go to the barn today, I will rinse his hooves and take more photos. These photos were taken on 5/25/2009 approximately three days after his last trim. His hooves aren't wearing like they were in Michigan, due to the softer ground on the Carolina Coast here. So we're doing a trim at the three week mark as they are self-trimming at the quarters already. I believe I will be trimming Java's hooves every two weeks once I start doing it on my own.

All I can say is make sure you know what you're doing . Read as much as you can about trimming - don't just go by one persons advice either as there are many different views out there, look at different models and decide for yourself which you think is best for you.

I don't trim my own at a regular interval - I keep an eye on them and trim when necessary. Some times they go 6-8 weeks between trims, it all depends on the horse / diet / weather .

Also although I trim my own ( I have 8 so saves a lot on the bills ) I do get my own farrier to look them over at least twice a year to check the overall shape and balance, and to answer any questions I may have .

Yours look to be a bit long in the heel, (? Do they appear to be getting a little upright ) . Also they look to be a little off balance, the hoof wall appears to have a greater distance on the outside of the hoof to the inside, this will make Java put more pressure on the inside which will inhibit the growth there ( make it more upright ) and less on the outside , which will make the hoof flare. The length to the toe looks good . It may just be the photo's though as they are not square on.
If you can photo looking down the foot from the heel to the toe so we can see the length of the heel and the balance of the foot.

Thanks! I've had to trim before when a farrier was unable to get to us, and he was fine. I will most definitely have a farrier look at him probably every other month. They're at the barn anyways, so why not? Haha!

I am hoping to find a natural hoof professional in my area, and if I have to pay $100 to get them out here, that's fine. But somebody who knows what I want to achieve to come out and look and/or trim along the way.

Java was a 6-8 week trim. I'm not sure if it's just the spring or the really soft ground that he is not used to, but his feet are growing out of control! Haha!

They look pretty good! I'm hoping my filly will be a candidate for natural hoof care. I've surprisingly found a farrier with 20yrs experience that will work on difficult drafts at $35 a shot. Just waiting for references. Your bridle-less riding videos are awesome, by the way.

Thanks! I'm really hoping I can even up his hooves a bit - the outsides somewhat flare out and I think it may be because his inside heels are a bit too long. We'll see!

Every horse is a candidate for natural hoof care!

And that's a really inexpensive farrier! I'm jealous! I'm charged $35 for literally five minutes of work. A 1/8" trim and a mustang roll. And I hand over cash. Haha!

I just borrowed the Pete Ramey DVD set from a friend...they are SO worth the money. It could be just the pictures but I would like to see a smidge more mustang roll. Still looks a little flat to me. And the inside heel looks a little high to me also.

Oh and I trim every 2 weeks...1 because I'm OCD and like the hooves "perfect" all the time...and 2 because my hands and back aren't strong enough to let the hooves grow much longer than that. :)

Thanks! You're seeing what I'm seeing then. That makes me feel comfortable about my judge of a hoof.

I have Pete Ramey's book, but I think I will look into the DVD set!