It is about time I created a web presence relating to my various business activities, so here's a start!
My main business activity is Barefoot Hoof Trimming.
I also am a certified Equine Myofunctional Therapist (horse masseur) but am currently not doing much in that area.
During Hairy Horse season, I am also an Equine Hairstylist - yep, I clip 'em too!
I trimmed a couple of ancient Welsh ponies when I was visiting South Australia in January 2006, so have some pictures for you. The pony in the picture was a 31 yo stallion who had a history of foundering. I just applied a barefoot trim, based on the natural living horse's hoof model - see links for details.
| Here is a front hoof before trimming. Note the excessive length. This
front view does not show the significant dishing in the profile (concave) which is an
indicator of white line separation at the toe.
|
Trimming the bottom of the foot. I am removing excess frog, and have
started to reduce the bars, and other buildup of dead, crumbly material due to excessive
wall length.
|
| This is a view of the ground surface, showing the reduced wall length,
excess bar removed and largely untouched perimeter of the sole. There is considerable
separation still evident at the white line, but to trim more would have made the pony
sore, which is definitely not desireable. This foot still needs considerable
rehabilitation, but is on the way to proper form. This isn't the same foot as above, but
gives an indication of where we're going.
|
Here is a view from the front showing before trimming (left of picture)
and after (right). Hoof form is still far from ideal, but a step in the right direction.
You can't expect significantly deformed feet such as this to be rehabilitated in one trim.
Bear in mind it takes up to a year to grow out a new hoof.
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This is only a bit of content I threw together to get started, so please check back regularly to see what's new. In the meantime, I'll list a few links to other Barefoot sites to give you something else to look at!
This is only a start, in no particular order. These sites have information and links to other sites too.
I live at Lancefield, Victoria. My usual Area of Operations is the Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, though I may travel further afield if I can make a day of it. My current clients range from Gisborne in the south, to Macedon and Taradale in the west, Wallan in the east and Redesdale to the north. I may be contacted at any time:-
email: steele105 @hotkey.net.au (this is a disposable address, for as soon as I list it on this site, it will start to flood with spam. After you contact me, I'll use my 'normal' email address) I've deliberately included a space for purposes of obfuscation, so please remove it when you copy the address.
Telephone: 0427 287 380
Fax: 03 5429 1113
Again, this is the barest start of a 'business' website, so stay tuned for more content.
Luke Steele
Lancefield, Vic.
12 February 2006