"While I agree that rasping near the bottom of the foot may be necessary,
there is no point in robbing the hoof of the protection afforded it by the
natural coating."
There is a point -
"...check the outer wall for any unnatural growth
irregularities. This would include bulges, flares, unnatural wall angles,
or any other irregular growth salient which compromises the natural conformation
and functioning of the hoof. These generally result from insufficient
natural wear of the outer wall, unnatural trimming practices, and certain
lamenesses such as laminitis. They are important to remedy since UNNATURAL
GROWTH, in addition to impacting hoof balance, the gaits, and the general
comfort of the horse, also INFLUENCES NEW GROWTH. In this respect, working
the outer wall is tantamount to "aiming" the hoof and setting the stage for an
improved foundation for the horse to move upon." Jaime Jackson - Horse Owners
Guide to Natural Hoof Care
This is only one of many well known and well
respected hoof practitioners who has spent many years studying the feet of wild
and domesticated horses.
>And, IMO, if a horse has a long toe, if you
just take the toe > back without rasping down the wall, the toe will
continue to grow > long [and thick]. By rasping the hoof wall one
takes off the > excess and that will begin to allow the hoof to take a
better form.
"Um, only up to a point. And again, this involves
rasping the flare off the bottom--NOT removing the protective coating from
the entire hoof wall, as the original poster was describing.
Additionally, one accomplishes this by LEAVING heel (once one has undershot
heel trimmed off) and trimming back the toe, a little more each time, until
the foot comes back under itself. Again, this involves only rasping
hoof wall off of perhaps the lower quarter of the toe--NOT the entire surface
of the hoof!"
I don't think I ever said to rasp the entire hoof wall, IMO one
should never rasp the periople. And, if there is flare at the bottom, the
thickness of the hoof wall at that flare goes up the hoof. The wall needs
to be thinned in that area (below the periople) so that it will grow in
properly.
"Additionally, SHOEING can frequently correct the growth
pattern if done right--have done this more than once! One shoes with
the heel of the shoe back where the heel of the hoof OUGHT to be, to give the
foot proper support--and after a few shoeings, one finds that the foot is
actually growing where it should be. This also involves not putting in
the heel nail (unless the feet are quite large) so that there is adequate
expansion and contraction of the foot when it is in motion. (We do
this anyway--even if the feet ARE already well-balanced.)"
And here I totally disagree with you. But this forum is not about
shoes vs barefoot and I only spoke up because the question was about
rasping. Anyone that would like to know about riding barefoot can contact
me outside this forum and I will be happy to share my thought, results,
etc.
> It is far more complicated than that, but my whole point
was that > it is not a bad thing to rasp the wall. Since Mother
Nature can > not intervene in most cases, we have to as stewards of our
horses.
"I agree--and part of that stewardship is not interrupting nature
any more than it already is--but rather trying to return the foot to
the functionality that it WOULD have in a better setting. Retaining as
much of the protective coating is a part of that."
I disagree -- again a quote from Jaime Jackson -
"...in the thousand or so wild hooves I have
examined....the thickness is the same [around entire hoof]...For me, this is
ample justification to abrade the outer wall, either all at once if possible, or
gradually in multiple trimming sessions, until such time that all unnatural
growth irregularities are removed. Another objection one commonly hears in
conventional hoof care circles is that we shouldn't be rasping or "thinning" the
outer wall at all. That this removes the periople, causing the hoof not
only to dehydrate, but to weaken from the loss of horn...Again, evidence from
our wild horses -- and, ever important, practical experience -- proves that
neither concern is justified."
Happy Trails Everyone,
candy
Candace Kahn Naturally Bare Hoof Care www.boaboots.com authorized dealer of Boa
Hoof Boots, Barefoot Treeless Saddles, Supracor and Equipedic Saddle Pads,
Best Friends Grazing Muzzle Painted Sky Ranch PO Box 639 Jacksonville,
OR 97530 541-899-0149
