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Rant: I used to think every horse needed a full trim every time, but now I'm not so sure.
For years, I'd take off a quarter inch from every hoof, no questions asked. Then a vet in Boise showed me an old ranch horse that was sore from too much trimming. Now, I check the wear and growth first, and sometimes I just rasp a little. It goes against what I was taught, but the horses seem better for it. Anyone else find themselves trimming less than they used to?
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eric_price7mo ago
Yeah, you're on the right track. I've seen the same thing. Some horses on good, dry ground just don't grow much hoof. I had a mustang that I'd just clean up the flares on and maybe touch up the toe. Taking off a set amount every time made him sore and chippy. Now I look at the foot on the ground first, not just when it's in the cradle.
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danielgonzalez7mo ago
Ever read that old book "Horses Never Lie"? It talks about watching how they move and stand to figure out what they need. Your point about looking at the foot on the ground first totally lines up with that idea. Makes way more sense than just going by a schedule.
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beth_hunt6mo ago
Totally get what you're saying, but I'd be careful calling it "good, dry ground." Really hard, dry dirt can actually slow growth and make hooves brittle. My guy lives on dry clay and his feet are like rocks, but they still need regular trims to keep the balance right.
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