Phebes Bare Hooves

A NATURAL TRIMMED BAREFOOT HOOF (NOT A PASTURE TRIM)
These are this mornings photos of Phebe's right front, and right hind hooves post trim. The frogs look dark because the hooves were very wet from the melting snow. Her hoof is pretty well self-maintaining at present. All Doug did was refresh the roll which is hard to see because of the lack of contrast in the photos, and balance the heels with a rasp. You will notice that the sole plane is almost level with the hoof wall. This is because she has been walking on the frozen surfaces. If she were being kept and ridden on a soft dry surface you would see more of a lip on the hoof wall. Notice the well developed frog, this occurs when you have a good heel first landing. Concavity is built by the horse, the sole of her hoof has not been touched with a knife. You cannot trim in concavity, the hoof has to build it through proper hoof function. Concavity will also change with the season, and walking surface. Phebes has never been shod, nor have any of our horses. Looking at the hind hoof you will see a swoop at the quarters, this is also not created by a hoof knife, but by proper trimming and hoof function. Perfect hooves? Nope. Next time I will photograph her left front. Phebes is slightly pigeon toed (toes in) on her front left, that hoof is also a very slight club foot, but not enough to alter her way of going. So far she has not been booted either, but as I've said in previous posts, I want to get her used to boots just in case we have to do those graveled park access roads like I had to do with Puddin. Those type of rocks really chew up the sole, and batter the roll, unlike a normal dirt trail that doesn't affect the hoof in a negative way. I'll post up the rest of the photos here in a minute.