Using the tough, polished-looking hooves of the Great Basin mustang as the picture perfect model of health and soundness, wild horse expert and veteran hoof care professional, Jaime Jackson, discovered he could consistently stimulate natural growth patterns in the hooves of domestic horses simply by mimicking the natural wear patterns of these wild, free-roaming equines. Rooted in the fundamental laws of nature, these Guidelines use elements of math, science, art and common sense to provide exact trimming and measuring instructions—and get excellent results!
- Identifying and mimicking key natural wear patterns to generate naturally shaped hooves.
- Never “soring” or over-trimming any hoof.
- Why a corrective trim—isn’t!
- Trimming in harmony with a horse’s natural break-over, conformation, and gaits.
- Trimming laminitic hooves or a club foot.
- Activating key structures to stimulate growth in over-shortened or ‘invaded’ hoof capsules.
- Restoring “run under” and “slipper toe” hooves to their natural shapes and angles.
- Taking precise angle and length measurements.
Table des matières
Foreword by Jill Willis i
Author’s Preface x
Part I: Principles
Introduction to Part I. What is natural hoof care (NHC)? 13
1 The perfectly natural hoof 31
2 The Four Pillars of NHC 39
3 Major Structures of the Horse’s Foot 53
4 Wear Characteristics of the Naturally Shaped Hoof 65
5 What Is a Natural Trim? 83
6 The Healing Angle (H°) and Other Critical Measurements 97
7 Hoof Form and Function 127
Part II: Practice
Introduction to Part 2. Readying Ourselves to Trim 159
8 Trimming the Biodynamically Balanced Hoof 177
9 Trimming the Laminitic Hoof 195
10 Trimming the Laminitic Hoof with Dropped Sole 223
11 Trimming the Clubfoot 235
12 Trimming the Wry Foot 255
13 Trimming the Bull-nosed Foot 275
14 Trimming the Donkey (Burro) and Mule 285
15 Notching the Hoof 289
16 Shoe Pulling 295
Image Credits 304
Bibliography 306
Chapter 6 Quiz —Importance of Measuring 307
Chapter 6 Quiz Key 308
NHC Tools and Equipment 310
Glossary of NHC Terms 316
Become A Natural Hoof Care Practitioner 321
About the Author 322