Services How much? Where to? Milk or sugar?
A healthy, functional foot that can perform on all surfaces is achieved by allowing the foot to act as nature intended.
What to Expect
Equine Podiatry is a different approach to farriery, and as such the interaction at a typical visit will be different too. Whilst I may be trimming the foot, it is you, the owner, who will be in control of making the daily changes required to improve foot health. I may suggest, for instance:
- A simple but specific exercise regime of in-hand walking to strengthen weak structures
- Change in environmental conditions, such as turnout arrangements
- Regular disinfection of the sole, frog, and white line
- Changes to diet
- Involvement of other equine professionals if required, such as equine dentist, bodyworker, saddle fitter etc.
As there are many influences that affect a hoof, each of these will be discussed and evaluated during a typical consultation.
At the first visit, photos are taken of the foot before any work is done, so a starting point is recorded. With the amount of feet I see in day it, I am vey likely to forget the changes made during visits (unless extremely noticable), so documenting the changes in the hoof is always interesting. It also serves as a reference point for changes that occur, such as change of season, visit from bodyworker correcting upper body issue, change in nutrition etc.
Following the trim, photos will be taken again, and a written report provided that indicate what levels of performance you can expect to achieve with the feet in their current state, and recommendations on how to improve them.
Please allow between 1½ to 2 hours for the first consultation. Subsequent visits are typically around 1 hour.
Areas Covered
I cover the majority of Dorset, with no surcharge within 25 miles of Wimborne.
I also visit surrounding areas, such as Southampton, Salisbury, South Wiltshire, South/East Somerset.
Outside of 25 miles, there is a small surcharge on top of the consultation fee to cover the added fuel costs and time travelling.
I am happy to travel even further, although please contact to discuss.
Some Examples
Here are some working, barefoot horses (and one recovery from navicular, see if you can spot it!). Top row is before, bottom row is after.
