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The feral hoof of the southwestern United States is a model of health and soundness, but we cannot force that shape onto our domestic horses. It is a result of their lifestyle; their reality.

However far away from healthy hoof form your horse may be, can be proportionate to how far out of balance their lives became.

Here is something to think about, it's my truth when it comes to hooves, and something that I feel very passionately about:

The hoof is a SYMPTOM. The most perfect trim in the world can only do so much if your horse is eating a diet that does not respect his physiology, or if his tack is causing chronic pain and resulting compensation, if his lifestyle does not reflect his needs as a creature of movement and a social herd life, or if what he is being asked to do as his job does not respect him biomechanically or even psychologically.

Hoof specimen photos below taken of mustang cadaver hooves belonging to Jaime Jackson

Natural (nach'er-el) adj. 1. Present in or produced by nature. 2. Of, relating to, or

Not acquired, inherent. 4b. Having a particular character by nature. 5. Characterized

Wild horses shape their hooves by traveling an average of 15-20 miles a day over rugged terrain.

They vary somewhat horse to horse and by terrain differences, but all have the same general characteristics.

Each of these forms have a specific function, and we strive to obtain that form and function over time with all of the parameters in place - trims, lifestyle and diet. Hooves are amazingly adaptive -- given the right care for the horse and treatment for the feet, they can change so much in a short period of time. It might take a couple years in bad cases, but what is the alternative? A strictle palliative approach that bandaids the issue? Sometimes that IS the best we can do, but ideally we would rehab the feet and get a sick foot healthy again. We have to think of it as physical therapy for the feet -- padded boots, heel first landings, time measured in miles rather than minutes.

With the natural trim and hoof rehabilitation where needed, you are helping to mimic nature with a frequent trim (not more than 6 weeks with most horses!) which respects the internal structures and mechanism of the hoof. You are allowing your horse to develop the amazing healthy and natural hoof it was born to have.