Hershey II (dbL)
November 2015 - 2nd trim. Lives in an 8 acre pasture in Southeastern AZ. 3 week trim cycle.
Straightening out pigeon toes: Top - pre trim Nov, 2015 | Bottom- post trim Jan, 2016
Right hind - dry weather /wet weather
Left hind, pre trim - 3 week trim cycle - living on 8 acres of rocky hillsides.
Right hind - 3/11/2016
Some hoof care practitioners reject hoof mapping as a viable method for determining hoof balance. I agree that there is only so much you can do at one trimming interval, however, I've found this to be a good way to familiarize myself with the hoof structures that are visible from the solar view. I also found it to be an inexpensive way to try and judge where the coffin bone may be positioned. Over time I realized that with a good memory for detail I could track the progress that I was making from trim to trim. I found that in order to transfer this information to the horse owner I had to take photos at different trim intervals and teach them how to read the lines and witness the structures coming into better alignment. From personal experience, I feel that learning to hoof map is an invaluable skill that can be continually developed but if it's being used to establish confidence before applying a rasp or nippers, that it's a pretty good indication that there's a lot more to learn.
January 2017
February 2017
July 2017
September 2017
January 2019
September 2020
May 2021
August 2021