The domestics included the quarter horse shown in the trim feature that had stifle problems and experienced some stumbling, a quarter horse that for years had tender soles and chronic low heels, and an aged appaloosa that experienced significant and constant stumbling. The BLM horses were typical scenarios where people had adopted these horses, kept them on soft ground, took weeks before they were gentle enough to trim and showed excessive toe growth. Additionally we took a draft horse barefoot to see how he would do in the four point trim.

Typical overgrown mustang foot

What we learned was that by taking the toe back horizontally and therefore shifting the balance back as well as trimming the underneath so that the heel struck the ground just slightly ahead of the toe, this horse's flight of foot significantly improved and the stumbling problems diminished. Later we got even more aggressive with the hinds and we haven't experienced any further stifle/hock issues.

Used sensibly the horse remains sound

With this horse we actually used an EDSS appliance for a short time, Natural Balance Shoes (or similarly shaped forged shoes) until we could see some more natural hoof growth. The horse is now going barefoot after what I would consider a rather radical blunting back of the dorsal areas of the toe but leaving virtually all of the sole callous, and the horse has yet to show any signs of tenderness or lameness. (2003 update: The horse has been successfully barefoot for two years except when doing heavy trail work.)

A nightmare eliminated

We applied Natural Balance Shoes or hand forged equivalents. When barefoot the horse was given a radical 4-point trim. Nowadays his stumbling is limited to times when we don't get him trimmed on schedule and toes get too long (our fault). His former usefulness is restored.

Back to work in the Obstacle Course

The approach I took was to focus primarily on overgrown hoof wall on the first trim, cutting back horizontally the overgrown toe and excess sidewalls. The horses were left basically walking on their bars and toe callouses and only minor corrections were made to the sole plane in order for the hoof to strike the ground level and slightly heel first.

To my amazement, when I checked the feet about 2 weeks later, the excess sole had either exfoliated on its own or could easily be peeled out, revealing a very healthy sole and a virtually perfect plane to trim to. Thus within 2 to 3 weeks, these horses went from severely overgrown to level and never exhibited any signs of soreness.

Taking off grossly overgrown toes

Front feet after second trim