Heart & Sole Natural Hoof Care LLC

06/15/2026

What is a Laminar Wedge?

Inside the hoof, thousands of tiny structures called laminae act like Velcro, securely attaching the hoof wall to the coffin bone. When a horse develops laminitis, these laminae become damaged and weakened. As the connection between the hoof wall and the bone begins to separate, we hear things like rotation or founder. This is very painful to the horse who's now walking on a bone that's detached from the hoof wall. A "gap" is then formed between the bone & hoof wall. Over time, this gap fills with inflamed stretched, distorted horn, creating what we call a laminar wedge. That's what can be seen in the pictures, observed as a "dished toe".

A laminar wedge is often a visible sign of chronic laminitis and indicates that the hoof wall is no longer tightly connected to the bone as it should be. This separation can contribute to hoof distortion, discomfort, and reduced stability within the hoof capsule.

The goal of therapeutic hoof care is to support the internal structures, reduce mechanical stress on the damaged laminae, and encourage healthier hoof growth over time. How do we know when we're achieving this? When a full new hoof capsule grows in (6 months to a year) reveling improved angles (less "dish" = better internal connection). This can be seen in the pictures I've attached. I've been working on this horse for over 6 month's now and I'm very happy with the progress! We're definitely achieving a better internal connection and this is only the beginning! He's been trimmed every 4-5 weeks. The owner made the necessary diet changes and followed vet recommendations for metabolic related treatment. We now have a healthier hoof and a happy trail horse. 🥰 Did I mention- I pulled his shoes, did a couple rounds of casting, and he's now barefoot! ❤️🐴

06/15/2026

What is a Laminar Wedge?

Inside the hoof, thousands of tiny structures called laminae act like Velcro, securely attaching the hoof wall to the coffin bone. When a horse develops laminitis, these laminae become damaged and weakened. As the connection between the hoof wall and the bone begins to separate, we hear things like rotation or founder. This is very painful to the horse who's now walking on a bone that's detached from the hoof wall. A "gap" is then formed between the bone & hoof wall. Over time, this gap fills with inflamed stretched, distorted horn, creating what we call a laminar wedge. That's what can be seen in the pictures, observed as a "dished toe".

A laminar wedge is often a visible sign of chronic laminitis and indicates that the hoof wall is no longer tightly connected to the bone as it should be. This separation can contribute to hoof distortion, discomfort, and reduced stability within the hoof capsule.

The goal of therapeutic hoof care is to support the internal structures, reduce mechanical stress on the damaged laminae, and encourage healthier hoof growth over time. How do we know when we're achieving this? When a full new hoof capsule grows in (6 months to a year) reveling improved angles (less "dish" = better internal connection). This can be seen in the pictures I've attached. I've been working on this horse for over 6 month's now and I'm very happy with the progress! We're definitely achieving a better internal connection and this is only the beginning! He's been trimmed every 4-5 weeks. The owner made the necessary diet changes and followed vet recommendations for metabolic related treatment. We now have a healthier hoof and a happy trail horse. 🥰 Did I mention- I pulled his shoes, did a couple rounds of casting, and he's now barefoot! ❤️🐴

06/12/2026

05/27/2026

Today's trim of the day ❣️
Removing flare, restoring balance

05/20/2026

Three months ago, when I first saw this horse’s hooves, I was honestly shocked. I’ve worked on hundreds of horses, and this was by far one of the worst cases of underrun heels and a severely forward-shifted hoof capsule I’ve ever seen.

I knew right away this would be a challenge — but hoof rehabilitation is one of my favorite parts of this work. While the cosmetic changes are SO satisfying to see, the most important part is helping the horse move and feel better= healing.

His heels are still underrun, and we still have a long road ahead of us, but the progress made in just 3 months is huge.

Cases like this are a reminder that real hoof rehabilitation takes time, consistency, and patience — but the horse is absolutely worth it.

Trim cycle: Every 4 weeks

05/20/2026

Three months ago, when I first saw this horse’s hooves, I was honestly shocked. I’ve worked on hundreds of horses, and this was by far one of the worst cases of underrun heels and a severely forward-shifted hoof capsule I’ve ever seen.

I knew right away this would be a challenge — but hoof rehabilitation is one of my favorite parts of this work. While the cosmetic changes are SO satisfying to see, the most important part is helping the horse move and feel better= healing.

His heels are still underrun, and we still have a long road ahead of us, but the progress made in just 3 months is huge.

Cases like this are a reminder that real hoof rehabilitation takes time, consistency, and patience — but the horse is absolutely worth it!

Trim cycle: Every 4 weeks

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05/15/2026

At first glance this just looks like a tiny cavity at the toe.
But look closer…. This is x 10 magnification

This is a sagittal section through the very tip of the hoof, and that cavity is packed with paddock debris, fibres, dirt and organic material that has been physically forced up inside the hoof over time.

The hoof is not a solid block of horn. It is a dynamic structure constantly subjected to loading, deformation, moisture changes and mechanical stress. When tiny separations or weaknesses develop, environmental material can gradually become compacted into those spaces with every step the horse takes.

So why might this happen?

One possibility is mechanical stress at the toe. Excessive leverage, stretching of the white line, chronic flare, or instability within the hoof capsule can create microscopic separations that gradually enlarge.

Another possibility is weakening of the keratin structures themselves. Moisture fluctuations, metabolic compromise, chronic laminitis, white line disease, microbial invasion, or reduced quality horn production may all contribute to reduced structural integrity.

Sometimes the defect begins internally long before we see obvious changes externally.

What fascinates me is that these tiny hidden spaces can become little “time capsules” of the horse’s environment, packed with fibres, soil and debris that slowly migrate upward into the hoof over weeks or months.

The hoof tells a story if we are willing to look closely enough.

And I will tell its story!!

05/15/2026

This Mustang was trimmed two days ago and is now showing some soreness and reluctance to canter… and when a horse suddenly changes the way they want to move, it’s always worth paying attention.
He’s on a regular 6-week trim cycle, so the question becomes whether this is simple post-trim sensitivity as his feet adjust, or if something in the trim may have pushed him beyond what his hoof was ready for. Sometimes even small changes in balance, heel height, toe length, or taking just a little too much can leave a horse feeling uncomfortable enough to tell us loud and clear through their movement.
The hoof is always communicating. Every angle, every wear pattern, every response after a trim is feedback if we’re willing to listen to it. What looks “tidy” to the eye doesn’t always translate to what feels right for the horse.
This is exactly why watching the horse after a trim matters just as much as the trim itself. Their willingness to move, stride out, and carry themselves comfortably tells the real story.
Does anything stand out to you from this hoof angle?
Would you consider mild soreness after a trim normal, or a sign something may be off?
And how often do we focus on how a trim looks instead of how the horse actually feels moving on it?

05/15/2026

People always say thoroughbreds don’t have the best hooves… and honestly, transitioning them barefoot is not always easy. These two needed some extra support and management during the process, but watching them now makes every step worth it.

Seeing them galloping full speed through the fields — comfortable, confident, and happy barefoot — makes me smile 🐎💨

Barefoot isn’t always a quick fix or one-size-fits-all, and transitions can take time, patience, a dedicated owner, and careful attention to the individual horse. But these two are proof that with the right approach, it can be done.

I'm so proud of how far they’ve come. ❤️

05/09/2026

I got the honor of pulling his shoes.

Ditched the metal, kept the performance. 💁‍♀️🐎
Still athletic. Still powerful. Still doing the job. Barefoot. 🐴✨

The barefoot transition is a process. It takes time & patience. The goal is to support the horse in rebuilding a healthy, strong hoof from the inside out. When given the opportunity, horses are often incredibly capable in their own feet. ❤️

I’m not the only one who can help horses succeed barefoot, but not every trim — or every approach — is the same. Keeping horses sound and performing barefoot takes knowledge, good management, and thoughtful trimming over time, and it’s become one of my favorite parts of this work.