Hoof Care Provider/ Farrier Services

Documenting trimming progress

Denys Antonenko • Apr 21, 2023

One Minute Discussions #62


Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care


DOCUMENTING TRIMMING PROGRESS


One thing that I regret not doing when I first started out trimming is not taking good progress hoof photos. I’m trying to improve

But honestly, good progress photos are a gem! Why do we need them?

It’s always beneficial & satisfying to see improvements and track how the horses feet are developing. If we’re trying to do the best job we can with horses, how would be know if the hoof improved from the last trimming/shoeing job? We can’t know if we don’t have before and after pictures. And especially for beginner trimmers, there would be a lot of times when you would take good quality hoof photos, then come back home and while scrolling through the photos you’d notice that you missed something in the trim!

It can happen, that’s how we learn.

Also, a lot of people ask me about my little blue pill bottle in the photos. I place it in a specific place near the hoof in order to have an idea how big the hoof is and to keep track of the changes, size, length, etc.

So taking good quality hoof photos, from different/proper angles and with good lighting, is a very powerful tool in hoof rehab!

Post a before and after picture that you’re currently working on!


Denys Antonenko

How to build a dry lot

By Denys Antonenko • 23 Apr, 2024
Click on the button below to download the free PDF step by step guide to building a dry lot or scroll to look at the guide below!

Leave or remove the lamellar wedge?

By Denys Antonenko • 21 Apr, 2023
One Minute Discussions #66 Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care LEAVE OR REMOVE THE LAMELLAR WEDGE? The lamellar wedge is the adaptation of the hoof to internal problems. And although it’s a sign of inflammation, it may still serve a purpose during rehab. It’s still responsible for “glueing together” the wall and sole, but that “glue” is not as strong as it’s supposed to be. So how do we address it in the trim. Everything depends on the horses comfort level and the condition of the lamellar wedge. It won’t be a wise decision to totally remove the lamellar wedge if it is soggy, weak and not fully keratinized. But in a lot of cases it is safe to remove most, if not all of it, if the lamellar wedge is keratinized, dry and sturdy (especially if we’re putting the horse in therapy boots). In some cases it is a good idea to trim the bottom, flared growth evenly with the well connected top growth in order to reduce leverage on the lamina as much as we can. Denys Antonenko

What causes lamina separation?

By Denys Antonenko • 21 Apr, 2023
One Minute Discussions #65 Discussing Natural Hoof & Horse Care WHAT CAUSES LAMINA SEPARATION Yesterday on my group I posted a question… what causes lamina separation? And although we’re used to hearing the most common things that separate the lamina, such as poor diet, metabolic problems, excessive toe leverage, etc, we don’t often hear about the less common things that can lead to a path of lamina failure without us noticing it. You’ve heard me say it many times before that lamina failure is not a result of just one thing. There’s always multiple factors contributing to the problem. As an example, bacterial and fungal infections weaken the foot, and that can result in lamina separation. Mental and physical stress can increase hormone levels which may result in poor hoof health. Many different problems happening elsewhere in the horses body (skin issues, allergies, dental problems) can be a factor that leads to a weak lamina. Denys Antonenko
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