Welcome to my web site!
Last Updated 9-8-14

Jan 2010 photo courtesy of Caroline Young
HI! I am a horse owner, turned hoof trimmer and I really love horses. (click here for questions concerning my competency and credibility) Since I created this site myself, it contains my own thoughts and conclusions based on my education and experience.
I ride my mare barefoot and bitless. I raised her from a baby;had her mother and two brothers. She's now 18 and was shod from 3 to7 years of age before I found out the benefits of barefoot hoof care. Her feet were a mess when I started. I also had 2 Hanoverians, 3 Holsteiners, 2 Tennessee Walkers, two Paso Finos, a TB, A draft cross, a quarter horse and various other horses throughout my life.
I also love to paint pet portraits, especially horses! Please look at my art.
I have written several articles for Suite 101 and The Horse's Hoof magazine.
If you have questions about your horse's particular problems. I am happy to help with photo consults too.
NEWS FLASH!! I'm RETIRING effective Sept. 29, 2014
I had a riding accident when a careless rider galloping around a blind curve almost ran into me! I jammed my right hand and must have torn some tendons in my fingers. I have been struggling with the pain and ineffective grip for some time. I appreciate all my clients and I hope you will keep up with letting me know how you and your horses are doing. I will keep this web site up for updating my own case study, Moses and for blogging. Thanks, Sandy
I ride my mare barefoot and bitless. I raised her from a baby;had her mother and two brothers. She's now 18 and was shod from 3 to7 years of age before I found out the benefits of barefoot hoof care. Her feet were a mess when I started. I also had 2 Hanoverians, 3 Holsteiners, 2 Tennessee Walkers, two Paso Finos, a TB, A draft cross, a quarter horse and various other horses throughout my life.
I also love to paint pet portraits, especially horses! Please look at my art.
I have written several articles for Suite 101 and The Horse's Hoof magazine.
If you have questions about your horse's particular problems. I am happy to help with photo consults too.
NEWS FLASH!! I'm RETIRING effective Sept. 29, 2014
I had a riding accident when a careless rider galloping around a blind curve almost ran into me! I jammed my right hand and must have torn some tendons in my fingers. I have been struggling with the pain and ineffective grip for some time. I appreciate all my clients and I hope you will keep up with letting me know how you and your horses are doing. I will keep this web site up for updating my own case study, Moses and for blogging. Thanks, Sandy
NEW! 3D Anatomy of the horse's foot
Check out navicular case study "Moses"
I'm trimming and taking photos of Moses every 4 weeks so be sure to follow his case study. He has joint adaptation as well as M-L imbalance and contraction on all 4. Last update and trim 10-19-14.
"Navicular No More"
Look for my case study in Dr. Strasser's new book, "Navicular No More" just published! Buy it at The Horse's Hoof web site.
Video of two horses I used to trim
Articles in The Horse's Hoof Magazine
"Going Too Long Between Trims" Summer issue 47 The issue is a fantastic one with some controversial findings on wild horse feet! Please consider subscribing to The Horse's Hoof!
Here is the PDF file of my article for my readers: /uploads/2/7/4/2/2742461/sandyjudy3.pdf
Also don't miss my article titled, "Transition = Resurrection" in issue 44 of The Horse's Hoof Issue!
Here's a comment from FB:
"I think your article, "Transition = Resurrection" is the most important thing about barefoot care I've ever read!" B. Goldberg
Here is the PDF file of my article for my readers: /uploads/2/7/4/2/2742461/sandyjudy3.pdf
Also don't miss my article titled, "Transition = Resurrection" in issue 44 of The Horse's Hoof Issue!
Here's a comment from FB:
"I think your article, "Transition = Resurrection" is the most important thing about barefoot care I've ever read!" B. Goldberg
Check out one horse thru 5 years of trimming
Juste
Draft cross
This Section on the Coffin Bone is filled with important info
Please explore all my pages! There's lots and lots of info on each one.
About Balanced Conformation & Head-low position...

This is an illustration I did to show people the balanced skeleton of the horse in the most natural position: with the head low and legs perpendicular to the ground. This posture is so important! Horses should be eating and drinking from ground-level because that is the most natural posture for the teeth alignment and for the soft tissues of the throat to be able to swallow and breath properly. It is also important when riding the horse so that breathing and bone alignment can best cope with the rider's weight. As you see, the coffin bone (P3) is nearly ground parallel (positive palmar angle of 3 to 5 degrees), and the joints of the limbs are in harmonic alignment. This combined with the ligaments which run forward from the withers and the ligaments which run back over the spine carry the horse much like a suspension bridge. This is all part of the "stay apparatus" which allows the horse to sleep standing up with little to no muscle tension as the extensor and flexor systems are in balance.
For a pretty cool art video of the ligaments of the lower limb, click here.
Other side of the same cadaver foot above. This side is untrimmed and you can see the heel, having grown only about an inch and a half, is now directly under the navicular bone and the coffin bone is tipped forward. You can also see that the coffin bone is tightly up against the dorsal hoof wall and in this position, would tend to shear the attachment and not allow blood to flow properly through the openings in the coffin bone to the dorsal laminar corium. The bone alignment in this high-heeled foot would cause the extensor system of muscles to work harder to keep the horse balanced on his toes.
Arrows show how the point of impact in the heel would affect the navicular area. Also, the angle of the heel, due to it being long, pushes the hoof capsule forward causing: eventual heel collapse (under-run heels); quarter cracks; reduced circulation and coffin bone damage. |