Montgomery Equine

Montgomery Equine Appraisals

Hoof Trimming
Text Box: I have recently, within the last two years, found myself learning how to do the barefoot trim on my own horses. I love doing it and my horses have really benefited from this new style of trimming. It mimics the wild horse and how they naturally self trim. I have found that my horses are not only sound but move better and can go just about anywhere. I searched the internet and found a Yahoo! Group called barefoothorsecare and I would read and follow the instructions on the sites they recommended and then went and tried it on my own. I would rasp what I thought was good and then take pictures and then email them to the group for them to critique. They would email me back and have lines drawn all over the pictures showing where I had missed and how much more to take off. I started out slowly and began trimming just my mares who were willing to let me take as much time as I needed. I only used the rasp at first and was very clumsy. It was a huge learning process and I just learned over time what I was looking at and how to deal with various issues. Now I trim all of my own horses. I also signed up to the Equine-founder Yahoo! Group since I thought Gabe had possibly foundered back a around the same time. I read and read and was amazed at how all these doomed horses were getting much needed help from the people on that group. Even though Gabe only ended up having a stone bruise, I still stayed signed up with the group since the information they provided was unlimited. Over the last year or so, various people I have talked with over the internet have had horses with varying degrees of founder or lameness issues and I have helped them understand their horses’ feet and to know what the cause of the problem was and how to fix it. Recently this past July 2007, Kristi, from one of my Yahoo! Groups asked if anyone knew how to help a foundered horse. I spoke up and started helping her. After a few short conversations, Sunny was on her way to my house so that I could take over the care of her feet. It has been a huge roller coaster ride for sure but one that is smoothing out. Sunny is improving daily and we hope to maybe have her back to sound within the next year. If anyone would like to learn more about the barefoot trim and how it benefits foundered horses please feel free to contact me. I have been keeping a documented journal of Sunny’s trims on my message board. The pictures to the right are only a few that I have taken over the past months she has been here. She is far from being sound but she has come a long way.

Last updated 12/17/2007

Sunny in good condition late 2006 in between laminitis attacks. This is my goal for her!

Sunny when she arrived July 29, 2007

Sunny 11/17/2007 soaking with CleanTrax.

Left front Oct 2007

Left front 12/2/2007

Right front 12/2/2007

Right front 10/23/2007

This is Purdy’s foot 1/4/2008. I love trimming and know that is it helping my horses remain sound. :)