Hoof Care, Boot Fitting & Trimming: Equine Podiatry
Fear of the Farrier or Going Barefoot? Let’s Get Hoof Health Back on Track
Does your horse struggle with farrier visits, become anxious or fearful during hoof handling, or show signs of discomfort with shoeing? Whether your horse has developed negative associations with shoeing or you’re transitioning them to barefoot, supporting their hoof health and comfort is crucial for long-term soundness and performance.
This 12-week program is designed to help horses overcome farrier fear while keeping them balanced and comfortable, or for those looking to make a safe, successful transition to barefoot with trimming and boot fitting.
Your horse’s hooves are the foundation of their health—let’s get them back on track, without the stress.
This is where I come in. 👋
My Solution: A Structured, Supportive Approach to Hoof Care
Whether your horse is nervous about farrier visits or you’re ready to go barefoot, this service provides everything you need to support your horse’s hoof health. For horses with farrier-related behavioural issues, we focus on breaking the cycle of fear and negative associations, allowing your horse to feel more comfortable and relaxed during handling. During this 12-week process, I’ll also provide hoof trims to keep your horse balanced while they build trust.
If you’re transitioning to barefoot, I’ll work closely with you to provide correct trims and fit your horse with boots, ensuring they stay sound and comfortable throughout the process. Along the way, I’ll conduct movement analyses to track your horse’s progress and make any necessary adjustments.
What’s Included In This Package?
12-Week Hoof Care Program
- Initial Consultation (Week 0): We’ll begin with a thorough movement analysis and hoof assessment, where I’ll evaluate your horse’s current condition and identify any imbalances or issues. Shoes should already be removed by your farrier prior to our first session. If needed, I’ll perform a boot fitting at this stage to ensure your horse is comfortable while transitioning to barefoot.
- Trim and Balance (Week 5-6): After the initial assessment, I’ll trim and balance your horse’s hooves. We’ll continue building on the behavioural support to ensure your horse stays calm and cooperative throughout the process, breaking negative associations with farrier visits.
- Follow-Up Assessment (Week 12): At the 12-week mark, I’ll re-assess your horse’s movement and hoof health, tracking progress and making any necessary adjustments to ensure long-term soundness. We’ll also review the behavioural progress and make sure your horse is ready for farrier visits or continuing barefoot.
- Behavioural Modification: For horses with farrier fear, behavioural modification is included throughout the 12-week program. We’ll work on building your horse’s confidence and reducing anxiety during hoof handling to make farrier visits a stress-free experience.
- Boot Fitting: If your horse is transitioning to barefoot, I offer boot fitting services to ensure their comfort. Boots (typically ranging from €230-310 for endurance boots) will be properly fitted and reviewed during our follow-up sessions.
3 Steps to Healthy Hooves and Happy Horses
1️⃣ Initial Assessment and Planning (Week 0): We’ll begin with a movement analysis and hoof assessment to understand your horse’s hoof health and create a plan tailored to their specific needs, whether it’s behavioural support or transitioning to barefoot.
2️⃣ Trim, Balance, and Build Confidence (Week 5-6): At the halfway point, we’ll trim and balance your horse’s hooves, continuing behavioural support or boot adjustments as needed. Your horse will be calmer, more comfortable, and better balanced as they progress.
3️⃣ Final Assessment and Adjustments (Week 12): We’ll re-assess your horse’s movement, hoof health, and behaviour. This final check ensures that we’re on the right track and allows us to make any final adjustments for long-term success.
Is This the Right Fit for You?
This Package is Perfect For You If…
- Your horse struggles with farrier visits or becomes anxious during hoof handling.
- You want to transition your horse to barefoot and need proper support and trimming during the process.
- You’re looking for a structured 12-week program that includes behavioural support, hoof trimming, and boot fitting to keep your horse comfortable and healthy.
- You want to improve your horse’s hoof health, balance, and overall movement, while addressing any fear-based behaviours.
Let’s reduce fear and increase hoof health! 👇
Recommended By Vets
“Performing nerve blocks during a lameness assessment on horses with behavioural issues can be a dangerous undertaking leading to injury of the veterinarian or the horse, or both. In most of these cases where needle placement cannot be performed utilisation of advanced imaging techniques such as gamma scintigraphy or bone scans are then required, and in horses with mild chronic lamenesses the sensitivity of such diagnostics is usually reduced. Thus, blocking is best but fighting with a 500kg horse is always going to end with one winner.”
“Barbara’s ability to reduce the behavioural issues of these cases and improve the horse’s acceptance of needle placement for nerve blocks has made the blocking process possible and safer in some of these cases. Her patience and effort has allowed us to do more thorough diagnostics and definitively identify sources of lameness in horses that would otherwise have been impossible to deal with. This again highlights the value of multi disciplinary cooperation within the veterinary community and respecting the skills and areas of expertise of our fellow professionals.”
Simon Hennessy MVB MSc Cert AVP(ESO)(ESST) MRCVS DipECVS EBVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Surgery at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital
Ready to Support Your Horse’s Hoof Health?
How it works: Simple & Stress-Free
Get in Touch: Tell me a bit about your horse’s hoof health and any behavioural concerns. We’ll determine if this service is the right fit and schedule your initial consultation.
Assessment and Plan: We’ll begin with a movement analysis and hoof assessment, then follow up with regular trims, balancing, and boot fitting as needed. Throughout the program, I’ll provide ongoing behavioural support to ensure your horse feels comfortable and confident during farrier visits or the barefoot transition.
Ongoing Care: Over the 12 weeks, we’ll monitor your horse’s progress and make any necessary adjustments to keep them healthy, balanced, and happy.
Ready to improve your horse’s hoof health and break the cycle of farrier fear?
Contact Me Directly