After initial observation and assessing a horse and its hooves, hoof care begins with trimming.

When starting any work, you should have a plan that leads to successful results. If you are going to attach shoes after the trim, that’s another step to consider. If not, the hoof that’s left shoeless will be trimmed slightly differently from the one that receives shoes. When not applying shoes, the extra hoof wall length that remains should be approximately less than half the thickness of a shoe (2-3 mm) to relieve sole pressure. This may vary depending on situations.

There may be several factors to think about when considering how to manage feet without shoes.

• Breed or type of horse. Thin-walled, thin-soled Thoroughbred-type hooves may be less durable than heavier boned crossbred horses.
• Weather and moisture conditions. Consistently dry or wet environments affect hooves differently and their trimming frequency or durability. A constant snowpack produces beautiful hooves, whereas frozen mud causes excessive wear and damage.
• Intended use or work of individual horses. More miles equal more hoof wear. Pasture pets may hardly wear at all. What…