In this edition of Expert Picks: Essential Reads for Horse and Hoof Care, we’re thrilled to share recommendations from Anna Deli, a certified barefoot hoof care professional working in the Mediterranean region.
Anna is recognised for her holistic, horse-centred approach—combining precision trimming with careful attention to each horse’s health, history, lifestyle, and conformation. With advanced training in equine orthopaedics, metabolic disorders, and thermography, Anna brings a wealth of scientific insight to her practice, making her reading suggestions invaluable for any horse owner.
📚 Anna’s Top Book Recommendations for Better Hoof Health
1. Lifetime of Soundness – Dr. Hiltrud Strasser
Why It’s Worth Reading:
Anna calls this a “must-have and must-read” for every horse owner. Dr. Strasser reveals the deep connection between a horse’s management, hoof health, and overall soundness. Topics include turnover rates, proper hoof care, and the risks of overused leg protection—which, in modern equestrian settings, can often do more harm than good. By applying these insights, you can help your horse maintain lifelong soundness and mobility.
🔗 Learn more about Lifetime of Soundness
2. Shoeing: A Necessary Evil? – Dr. Hiltrud Strasser
Why It’s Worth Reading:
This thought-provoking book challenges readers to reconsider the long-accepted practice of shoeing. Dr. Strasser explains, with scientific evidence, how metal shoes alter the hoof’s natural shock absorption, restrict blood flow, and affect the entire locomotor system. Anna recommends reading with an open mind—using the knowledge to make informed, compassionate hoof care decisions.
🔗 Learn more about Shoeing: A Necessary Evil?
3. Laminitis: A Horse-Centred Approach – Richard Vialls
Why It’s Worth Reading:
Anna values this book for its practical, easy-to-apply insights—especially its chapter on low-grade laminitis, a condition often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Vialls clearly links issues such as seedy toe, white line disease, retracted soles, and chronic hoof sensitivity to low-grade inflammation. This guide empowers horse owners to spot early warning signs and take proactive steps to prevent long-term damage.
🔗 Learn more about Laminitis: A Horse-Centred Approach
💬 Anna’s Advice for Horse Owners
Anna believes knowledge is the foundation of better hoof care. By reading these books, owners can deepen their understanding of hoof anatomy, function, and its connection to overall equine health—leading to better-informed, more humane decisions for their horses.
👉 Have you read any of Anna’s recommendations?
Share your thoughts or suggest a book you think belongs on our Essential Reads list.
Related Reading
- Pioneers and Innovators in Barefoot Hoof Care
- Science Behind Barefoot Trimming
- Expert Picks – All Recommendations
