1. This series of photos shows the feet of a horse appx. four weeks after the shoes were pulled and the hoof trimmed.

2. This view shows connected hoof growth at the top. As the hoof flares out the sides, the wall pulls away from the hoof capsule. All that hoof has to grow down connected before you will have a healthy hoof.

3. The quarters are self trimming. This area wants to be just off the ground, which is why the quarters on shod horses are thin and chip away on their own; they don’t want to carry the load. This hoof needs to be trimmed all the way to that sole peeking out behind the messy quarters.

4. This hoof shows the curved lines of growth that occur when the shod quarters compress the hoof upward. This will straighten out when it is allowed to be naturally a little hollow.

5. When the hoof wall stands above the sole, it acts like a shoe and prevents the sole from callousing. You can see how the bars grow high on the left, and forward as the foot gets too long.