Alicia Mitchell AANHCP Certified Practitioner Natural Hoof Care for the South East of England. Tel: 07912601604

About the Trim

Q)  What is the difference between a NHC trim and the trim my farrier would do?

A) It may sound obvious but it depends on your farrier. Generally speaking though most unshod horses trimmed by the farrier recieve a pasture trim. The quality of that trim and its suitability for working a horse barefoot can vary.
Generally though these seem to be the main differences:In NHC the healing angle must be the same before and after the trim. Where as angels can be altered / "corrected" with a pasture trim.In NHC we only remove excess material which is not being used. Where as excess material may either be left or material which is being used may be removed.In NHC we bevel the outer wall only. This is called the Mustang Role. Where as the bevel may not even happen with a pasture trim. Sometimes the bevel may also come within the inner wall and into the white line such as when trimming a laminitic hoof. Thinning of the hoof wall is prohibited in NHC.In NHC we allow angel changes to be made by the horse and are dictated by the horses healing process. Where as heels or toes may be altered independantly with a traditional trim.I feel though that the main difference isn't the actual trim it's self as some farrier do follow the wild hoof as a trimming model. The difference is more to do with how each "trimmer" reacts when faced with a problem. People tend to resort to what they know. A farrier will be more likely to turn to shoes to remedy a hoof problem, this is their training. Where as an NHC trimmer will be more likely to look at environmental factors such as diet, exercise and living conditions to locate the cause..

Q) There are several types of barefoot trim. What are their differences?

A) There are three main groups of barefoot trimmers.
1.AANHCP ~ Jaime Jackson.                                                   Trimming based on how wild horses trim their own hooves. Simulating the wear pattern of the free roaming horse. However the ultimate goal is to achieve genuine natural hoof care done by the horse by simulating natural environment and living conditions through systems such as paddock paradise. ie. A holistic hoof care system.Concavity grown by horseMustang Role. Strict copy of natural wear patterns. Corrective trimming techniques prohibited. The healing process is dictated by the horse.The wild horse is our model for whole horse health.

This technique is the least invassive, both as a trimming method and human interferance. The technique is simply what the horse does himself when given the room to do so. Natural hoof care practitioners simulate natural wear.

2.Equine Podiatry ~ KC le Pierre.                                                                                       Trimming based around wild horses model but not strictly adhering to it. Simulation of natural the wear patterns. Concavity grown by horse.Mustang Role.Corrective trimming techniques allowed but in moderation.The fit domestic horse is the their model for horse health.

3.The Strasser Technique ~ Dr. Hildrud Strasser.Wild hoof model. Re creating the ideal hoof shape, angels and dimensions. Achieved by altering the angels and dimensions of the hoof. Can include removing material being used by the horse and sometimes even purposeful weakening of the structure to achieve ideal hoof shape. Big emphasis on increased circulation to force the healing process,Concavity can be carved out.No Mustang Role.Corrective trimming techniques allowed and encouraged.*PLEASE NOTE* Horses may bleed with this invassive technique.