Horse & Hooves – Naturally Balanced Hoofcare

WELCOME

About

I am a fully insured HM Barefoot Professional based in Bedfordshire.

Horses and their hooves are my passion and I feel very fortunate that I am able to turn that passion into my profession. As a HMB Pro I am dedicated to helping horses and their owners go barefoot.

My own barefoot journey began over twelve years ago, during which time I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. including recognising the importance of the correct diet, management and trim for barefoot success.

I work with horses and their owners, in a holistic way, using positive reinforcement and natural horsemanship techniques to create a calm, safe working environment.

My horse and hoofcare services are available throughout East Anglia.

Naturally balanced hoofcare

The natural trim is based on lessons from the wild, seeking to emulate the wear patterns observed in the hooves of wild horses. By replicating the horse’s natural behaviour, this approach ensures that only the necessary amount of hoof material is removed, mirroring what the horse would naturally do on its own.

When we adhere to nature’s guidelines in trimming, we achieve a state of perfect balance in the hooves. This alignment allows our horses to move in a more harmonious and balanced manner. When a horse moves correctly and possesses a balanced posture, the risk of injury and lameness decreases significantly.

As horse owners, we need to understand that when we subject our horses’ hooves to unnatural practices, such as trimming techniques that deviate from nature’s guidelines or the use of metal shoes, we compromise not only the hoof mechanism but the overall well-being of the entire horse—both physically and mentally.

Diet

Horses (Equus ferus caballus) are mono-gastric hind gut fermenters and have adapted to a lifestyle centered around foraging for fibrous grasses and plants.

Fibre is the cornerstone of the horse’s diet and should be readily available at all times. Providing horses with unrestricted access to mixed-species meadow hay enables them to meet this fundamental requirement. Unfortunately, in regions such as the UK, where pastures consist of lush green lowland grasses or sparsely covered paddocks, horses often suffer from insufficient fibre intake.

Over the course of 55 million years of evolution, horses have developed the remarkable ability to self-select their dietary needs. By offering them free choice of vitamins, minerals, and salts, we allow them to exhibit their natural behaviours and enable them to seek out the specific nutrients they require, precisely when they need them.

Adopting a species-specific approach to feeding ensures the health and vitality of our horses. By understanding the unique dietary requirements, we can provide them with nutrition that aligns with their evolutionary needs. This approach takes into account their digestive system, foraging instincts, and nutrient requirements, allowing us to optimise their well-being. By nourishing our horses in a manner that is specific to their species, we can support their overall health, enabling them to thrive in their environment.

Management

Horses as a species are designed to move, and in their natural environment travel significant distances each day over varied terrain – an aspect that distinguishes them from the majority of our domesticated horses. Managing our horses in a more species specific way should be the driving force behind how we keep them.

Track systems encourage horses to exhibit many natural behaviours, including travelling on well defined tracks, as they would in nature, foraging and browsing along the way. By catering to their fundamental needs -freedom, friends, and forage – track systems enable horses to thrive.

Fortunately, the availability of track livery yards is on the rise, granting horse owners greater flexibility in the ways we choose to care for and manage our horses. If, like me, you are renting land or have the privilege of owning your own, I can offer assistance and guidance in establishing a track system.

It is crucial to recognise that movement plays a pivotal role in promoting the health of horses and maintaining the well-being of their hooves.