At Go Barefoot Horse, we often emphasize the connection between a horse’s environment and the health of its hooves. In a recent letter from Dr. Tomas Teskey, DVM, an advocate of holistic equine care and author of Insight to Equus, he shared a powerful insight: the best hoof trimmer a horse will ever have is itself.
“I remember when I first started trimming. I had a set of pictures in my head about how a hoof should look, and I would do my best to achieve that shape. Often times this wasn’t in very close consultation with the horse that was attached to those hooves. Thankfully I took it to heart and quickly learned this important lesson:
I am not nearly as good of a hoof trimmer as a horse is! Unless I could see at least a little bit of natural wear or the beginnings of a wear pattern, I was dictating too much versus complementing the hooves when trimming.
So, I realized that movement matters, and then I realized that QUALITY movement really matters, and then I realized that we must provide the horse with an environment and lifestyle that invites this quality movement.
The prettiest, most sound, and highest performance hooves are attached to the horses that SELF TRIM, which means they are putting serious time into quality movement.
I spend serious time and effort stressing the importance of creating a great equine “habitat.” So it turns out that horse owners are the best at getting their horses at least started on the trail to a great hoof trim. I have learned that a professional trimmer can only bring hooves to their best health when the horses are allowed the herd life they deserve, as demanded by their nature.
I hope this will spur you forward into keeping your horses together in bigger spaces, perhaps designing a track system, and adding safe obstacles and dimensions into your horses’ habitat. The predictable results will show up in their very foundation–their hooves!
Dr. Tomas Teskey”
Final Thoughts
Healthy hooves are the foundation of a healthy horse. By creating a habitat that encourages natural movement, horse owners not only support barefoot care principles but also contribute to their horses’ overall well-being.
For more insights on holistic equine health, check out Dr. Teskey’s book, Insight to Equus— Holistic Veterinary Perspectives on Health and Healing. Learn more at www.insighttoequus.com.
Let’s work together to give our horses the lives they deserve—where healthy hooves are a natural outcome of a fulfilling and enriched lifestyle.
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