What makes "barefoot" work?
Dr. Robert Bowker has repeatedly emphasized that the malleable hoof horn responds directly to the trim applied to it, and to any permanent fixtures applied to it, as well as to the ground surface. When we trim, we are actually changing the internal structures of the hoof itself, including the bones. This can be positive or negative.
Historically, all methods of natural barefoot hoofcare have emphasized the importance of healthy living conditions as an active part of the process (originally taught by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser and Jaime Jackson). This crucial part is overlooked and downplayed by nearly all traditionally derived hoofcare methods right up to the current day. Instead, horse care "traditions" continue on unchallenged, even when they have been proven in various European studies to be detrimental to the horse (i.e. full time stabling; isolation stalls; stabling of young horses, etc.).
This is CRUCIAL because the barefoot hoof when in optimal conditions - or even "a little bit better" conditions - will adjust itself. When trimming errors occur, and they do, the horse can then self-trim just a bit to improve things. This "co-trimming" of the horse is so important to the success of barefoot trimming! This does not mean long intervals between trims; this means that the interval between trims, whether 2 weeks or 6 weeks, for a horse in good living conditions will lead to even further hoof improvement (remember that shorter intervals of 3-4 weeks are important when changing a problem hoof; not quite so applicable to stable, healthy hooves in very excellent living conditions).
The BETTER your horse's living conditions, the less important your trimming details become, as long as the hoof form is approximating a natural shape (physiologically, that means short toes and lowish heels so that the frogs kiss the ground and can correctly function and do their proper job). Conversely, with poor living conditions, your trim itself better be smack-down perfect, because there is little room for error (no self-adjustment).
When a fixed device is placed upon the hoof which allows for NO natural wear, such as any form of permanently attached horse shoe, there is zero opportunity for the hoof to adjust itself. Therefore, the farrier/trimmer takes full and total responsibility for the entire foot of the horse, its angles, its function, etc. Seriously, that is a little too much responsibility, being as there is no consensus on what is truly healthy or truly correct. Nature always wins. Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz
