Barehoofcare Spring 2018

Barehoofcare Australia 

www.barehoofcare.com 

“Mayfield”, 470 Middle Creek Rd, Yarck, VIC 3719 

Ph: 03 5773 4306 Fax: 03 5773 4307 

Email: admin@barehoofcare.com 

Spring Edition 2018 – Volume 42 

Current circulation – 7868 

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G’day, 

Apologies for the delay getting this newsletter 

published (having already missed the Winter 2018 

edition and now Spring 2018 has well and truly 

sprung). 

No excuses, but our indispensable newsletter editor Glyn has 

flown the coup and now resides with her family in Canada. 

Glyn has been our technological rock for a decade and an 

integral part of team Mayfield and we miss her drive and 

experience in office operations greatly. 

Fortunately, Glyn is still able to collate and publish for us, it’s 

just that not having her here to kindly nudge us along to our 

quarterly deadline has resulted in us prioritising everything 

but the newsletter. Not that we have been slacking off. 

CONTENTS: 

What’s happening at Mayfield ........................................3 

ACEP NEWS ....................................................................9 

News from the anatomy school ....................................12 

Bassoli rasp evolution ...................................................15 

Dogs in the workplace ..................................................17 

Jim Masterton ..............................................................19 

Hosting hoof trimming workshops ................................23 

The best hoof pick in the universe ................................26 

Safety with hoof stands ................................................29 

Jayne) recently reminded me that it is 20 years since we first 

began that journey. Where did that time go?! 

By the way, Jayne has long been maintaining the hooves on 

her mob (of about 10) and I marvel at how well their hooves 

always look considering the often adverse environment they 

reside in. 

Glyn, above, exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains. 

Anyway we are back on track and to make up for our 

tardiness, this newsletter is brimming with useful hoofcare 

information. 

And thinking about how time gets away…… 

One of my original clients who helped nudge me towards the 

barehoofcare concept back when I was shoeing horses all day 

every day – none other than Jayne Glenn (aka Wrangler 

Her horses are a great example of the sustainability of 

maintenance trimming, the regular touch-up-as-needed that 

keeps hooves in optimum functional balance and therefore 

health. Equine hooves evolved and existed within a regime of 

constant wear – or wear equals growth – so this is still the 

blueprint that is most suited for the equine hoof. 

This year also marks a decade since we began delivering the 

diploma of Equine Podiotherapy. And what a journey that 

has been. 

We first began writing the course several years prior to commencement 

when we were delivering trimming workshops to 

horse owners alongside Mike and Chrisann Ware under their 

Equethy banner. There was an obvious need for a course that 

could help amateur owner trimmers become fully fledged 

professionals. 

Barehoofcare Australia Page 1

G’day from Andrew—continued. 

In our first year of 2008 we sub contracted to the National 

College of Traditional Medicine and for a campus we used the 

facilities and horses at Chris and Fiona Dunlop’s High Country 

Horses in Merrijig. That was a great start but we had to call off 

the following year’s intake in the aftermath of the enormous 

bushfires. 

We bounced right back in 2010 with two intakes for the year 

when we began setting up and using a campus at Mayfield, 

with the course continuing to evolve, being constantly rewritten 

and upgraded and tweaked to finally become 

nationally accredited in 2016 (after an expensive and 

exhaustive process) when we began sub-contracting to our 

local RTO (registered training organisation) the Continuing 

Education and Arts Centre of Alexandra. 

Currently we are in the process of becoming our own standalone 

RTO (after a very expensive and even more exhaustive 

process). As the Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy 

enters this new phase of governance, our long term partners 

Mike and Chrisann Ware from Equethy have officially retired 

from the partnership. We would like to take this opportunity 

to thank and acknowledge the long miles they have ridden 

with us since the early days of barehoofcare. Mike and Chrissann 

pioneered the concept of keeping horses barefoot for 

longevity. It would be countless the number of horses that 

have benefited from there foresight and passion to speak out 

on behalf of horses. 

Demand for the course gets stronger with each passing year. 

Fortunately we have had Tamara Fox in the driver’s seat. Talk 

about the right person for the right job. Her organisational 

skills have been amazing to pull it all together. We couldn’t 

have got this far without you Tam. 

Somewhere along the way, our past students have formed an 

industry body – the Equine Podiotherapists Association of 

Australia – and for continued professional development they 

gather for master classes and conferences that are facilitated 

by the college. Phew! 

It’s been hard work, long hours, more than a few stressful 

moments, but with about 250 students having passed through 

the college since its inception, we are slowly but surely 

spreading marker pins around the huge map of Australia. 

There is no doubt that the two year diploma course digs some 

deep holes in the students’ collective calendars, but equine 

hoofcare is a huge and evolving subject. 

We have found the best way to package a working lifetime’s 

knowledge and experiences but still keep the course within 

time constraints is to spread the 28 days of contact teaching 

into four blocks spread over the first 12 months with external 

studies for the second 12 months. Any less of a course would 

simply produce deficient practitioners. Judging by how well 

past students are doing in their respective corners of the 

hoofcare industry, the course and the college are proving their 

merit. 

There are times when we have a body of students together 

(usually when they are breaking bread together at the 

customary social night at the famous Yarck Hotel) when we 

get to sit back and ponder how the course brings together 

people from all corners of Australia (and now internationally), 

of all ages and from all corners of society. So very different, 

but so very bound by the desire to learn more to give horses a 

better deal. And all bringing something unique to add to the 

collective knowledge or the ever increasing student body. 

A fine example of one of our past students is Liz Inder from 

the hinterland of South East Queensland who is a practising 

law professional and maintains her own mob of barefoot 

horses (they have hooves as good as any you will see in 

Queensland) and as it turns out she is a fabulous public 

speaker. Those lucky enough to have heard Liz talk at this 

year’s Bowker Lectures or at the Podiotherapy Masterclass the 

previous year would be nodding in agreement about her 

ability to convey what could be a very heavy subject into one 

for the masses. 

Lucky for us, Liz has kindly agreed to write a couple of articles 

for our newsletter along the lines of law as it pertains to 

equine industry professionals (with particular reference to 

hoofcare professionals). 

2018 is an Equitana year and also marks the 20 th year since 

Equitana began. I think we began having an involvement at 

the second one (with the Horse Rush team), so no wonder we 

are feeling a bit aged. 

Equitana has grown into an institution of the equine industry. 

Apart from the cutting edge retail opportunity for horses 

owners to see (and of course buy) everything new that jangles 

and spangles, Equitana has created an interface between 

educator and student in all aspects of equine management. 

Equitana just keeps rolling along and the calendar now gets 

set around it. This year we are delivering a couple of power 

point presentations on laminitis and sustainable hoof protection 

(on Thursday and Sunday). 

As usual we will have a combined stand for both the 

Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy and the Barefoot 

Blacksmith. If you are going to Equitana, be sure to come and 

see us; even if only to show us some brag photos of how good 

your horses’ hooves are. We will of course have our full range 

of trimming tools and equipment and will try and have some 

enticing specials. Hope to see you there.. 

Cheers - Andrew 


What's Happening at Mayfield 

by Nicky Bowe 

On the Farm 

The seasons have not been kind to us on the farm this year. 

We have had just enough rain to keep things green but not 

enough moisture for growth as well as low temperatures and 

low sunlight due to cloud cover also affecting growth. 

better. Most of the ewes held their condition well even whilst 

feeding lambs. The Australian White lambs grew well and we 

have already sold over half of them at just 5 months of age 

due to their exceptionally fast growth rates. 

And then there are the horses. 

Last year’s Mates babies have all just been in and handled at 

weaning. We are especially happy with the colt foal out of 

Mate and Rhiannan (our WB) mare. He has such lovely movement 

and conformation and a temperament you cannot beat. 

There have been a few comments about his large ears but I’m 

sure he will grow into them! 

Our drought effected land under a beautiful sky. 

We are also currently in the process of changing our cattle 

herd over from older to younger cows so we have much higher 

stocking rate than normal in a harder year than normal, so 

things are very tight. We have used all of our hay reserves and 

are currently buying in fodder for our cows. About all we can 

find locally is silage as all of the districts spare hay has been 

sent up to the drought affected areas in NSW. Normally we 

sell vealers (fat young cattle still on their mums ready to 

butcher) but this year we might just be sending to the store 

market (young cattle not ready to butcher, being bought by 

other farmers to grow on). 

Our sheep have not suffered as much as we lambed and fed 

out grass hay and Lucerne hay intensively in the paddocks 

around the house. The Poll Dorsets had a great lambing 

percentage and are growing out very well. Local farmers have 

also been recognizing the quality in our rams and we have 

already had people buying early for joining this November / 

December. We are also very happy with our new crop of 

lambs out of a new ram from the Coledale stud. 

The shedding sheep we have which are Dorpers and 

Australian Whites are particularly good doers. Unfortunately, 

the new ones we bought in, which are beautiful ewes, did not 

lamb well. We are putting it down to a change in environment 

and hope things will be better next year. The young Dorper 

ewes we bought in locally had to go due to lack of feed which 

is sad. 

This year we have observed that in the current environmental 

conditions it seems the sheep handle the tougher times 

Our first lot of Mate babies are finally ready for starting under 

saddle. Owen has already been sold and is at Allan Collett’s 

now. He is going very well, taking everything in his stride, he is 

also such a friendly cool dude and very handsome, just like his 

father. 

This summer we will have to start selling a few, to make room 

for the five new ones we are expecting!!! so anyone looking 

for a new buddy with a great temperament and an excellent 

start to life please get in touch. 

I hate selling horses, there are so many “tyre kickers” around. 

A few years ago when we were selling Jester, I honestly 

believe people were just wanting to get a free ride on a horse 

with a free lesson! I’ll also never forget the day a lady came to 

ride one of Joker’s babies I was selling, and as she mounted 

and started walking around I noticed she was shaking. I said 

what is wrong ? She said the last time she rode was two years 

ago with her sister who was bucked off and became a 

paraplegic. I took a big breath and quietly walked up to her, 

held the young horse and asked her to please dismount. I suggested 

she go and find an old horse, a schoolmaster. 

I believe one cannot successfully take on and train a 

youngster unless they are 100% confident and a good kind 

leader. 

We are just about reaching maximum capacity for our 

retirement horses unless we make a few more paddocks!!! As 

happens with the really old ones, some did not make it 

through the winter. Vale Red, Nina and Cheyenne who were 

all in their late 20’s. Some of the other oldies seem to have a 

new lease on life here after settling in Splash, Mr Moose, Blue, 

Stormy, Dusty, Woody and Chief are all blooming and full of 

cheek!!! 

There have also been quite a few rehabs coming through. I 

keep repeating myself that it is so much easier on the horse 

and the owner and the owner’s pocket if they come here 

immediately once they become sick. The longer they are left 

shod or someone is “trying something else” then it is far more 


likely damage is done that we cannot repair. 

Recently we had a 4 yr old that had penetrated come to us immediately in a float on a mattress and she was up and being ridden 

again in 5 months. Yes you heard it a recumbent filly that had penetrated in all 4 and she is now very well. 

The damage to her hooves very minimal. This also can be attributed to her getting the correct trim when she penetrated by 

one of our graduates. 

I am also helping an increasing number of people with rehabilitation cases over the phone or email or via text that are overseas 

or cannot travel their horses. 

PS: Guess what it took to get this newsletter out of us !!! 

Yes a Holiday in Fiji !!! We are so busy at home that getting away 

from it all just for a week allowed us some time to write. 

Some time away allowed us a moment to reflect and write 

the long awaited newsletter. Left, my desk in fiji ! 

Horses in Fiji 

The gelding mob at Mayfield 


Alan Collett, above, working Owen - one of Marksman's first crop of foals to be started and sold under saddle. 

The Bowker Lectures 2018 

What a feat, what a success, what a great 

opportunity for professional development and 

networking. 

We had 17 different presenters presenting 26 topics and at 

times had two lectures running concurrently to fit everything 

in. We tried to have two streams of subjects to help professional 

development for hoof care practitioners and musculoskeletal 

therapists. 

WOW what a job to do mostly on your own along with everything 

else still running! 

There are some people I need 

to thank, particularly Sharon 

May Davis and Dave Leigh 

who helped me find the 

venue. Thanks also to Tamara 

fox who helped when she had 

a spare moment in the office 

(which is a bit hard to find 

nowadays!) and to Danni 

Grummont and Faith 

Robinson who helped with 

the local info and flyers on 

accommodation and travel. 

Thanks again to Dave Leigh for being the very competent MC 

with the “hot South African accent” and Glyn O’Keefe, Lynnda 

Heard and Sophie Bowe for helping to compile and print the 

proceedings. And finally thanks also to the lecturers who were 

great to organize and understanding of everyone’s tight 

schedules! We only had good feedback from delegates. The 


conference centre was great despite a few teething problems, 

but that’s how it always goes. 

The idea of the expert panel on “The Vexatious Club Foot” 

went very well. It is such an important subject affecting so 

many horses (many more than people realise). Having such a 

gathering of intellects was very helpful in furthering our understanding 

of this subject. It was good to see that there are 

so many ways to tackle this problem and how important it is 

to consider all modalities and treatments. 

With regard to the club foot, Dr Ian Bidstrup talks about birth 

trauma and how it can affect a horse for life. We witnessed an 

example that could have been birth trauma during the recent 

anatomy school with Sharon May-Davis. A TB mare with 

serious angular deformities in her front legs who exhibited 

unusual gaits. When we uncovered her thoracic vertebrae and 

sternum, we discovered that on the off side she had previously 

had about 5 fractured ribs which had re set and her thoracic 

cavity was totally deformed causing her brisket to be deviated 

to the near side quite badly. This caused her spine to be quite 

bent, no wonder her legs were confused! 

Thank you finally to all who helped make the conference a 

conference by attending. We all were thinking of the others 

that could not make this once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Images from The Bowker Conference 2018 

Nerida Richards, above, lecturing 

on protein digestion in an 

interesting class prac. 

Liz Inder, above, talks about 

protecting yourself and insurance 

policies. 

Professor Bowker, above, talking 

about the importance of the 

position of the sulcus of the frog. 

Kirsty Swinton, above, dazzling 

everyone with a look at Equine 

osteopathy. 

An afternoon tea break. 

Who’s hiding in the corner of the 

trade show? 

The "Vexatious club 

foot panel" 

Sharon May-Davis 

showing good humour 

again ! 

Ian Bidstrup 

covering one of 

the many important 

topics 

Andrew and Albert 


New products and Black Healer 

We have been working on some new products and updating 

some branding/labels for old ones. There will be 

new labels for black healer and magnesium chloride and 

a few new products on the horizon. 

untreated? Seedy toe cannot be healed by ignorance ! 

Seedy toe needs to be resected to be treated effectively. 

People who are ignoring this fact are doing this at the expense 

of the horse’s future soundness/lifespan. I have seen several 

horses with seedy toe abscesses that have turned into bone 

infections. And recently witnessed euthanasia due to severe 

bone infections from seedy toe. 

Seedy toe is to be addressed early and taken seriously. 

Medicinal history of Potassium 

Permanganate 

Also known as Condyleys crystals or gention violet. 

Black healer is still a leading treatment for seedy toe and a 

great defense against re infection/invasion of pathogens. 

This product was developed out of necessity and it is here to 

stay as it works. BUT it needs to be used properly. 

Once the symbiosis of anaerobic bacteria and fungi are nestled 

in the perfect environment, encapsulated by the strong outer 

hoof wall and fed by highly vascular corium in a nice warm 

environment plugged off from the outside world by dirt or 

beeswax! Do you really think they are going to die? 

They have just been given the perfect environment. How can 

some people say that seedy toe will grow out over time if left 

A little bit of history on Potassium permanganate, the active 

ingredient in our black healer. Potassium permanganate is an 

inorganic chemical compound that combines manganese oxide 

ore with potassium hydroxide. It has been used for 1000’s 

of years as a disinfectant. It is anti-Bacterial, anti-fungal, and 

also helps to treat auto immune resultant skin infections such 

as pemphigus and canker. It has very strong Oxidative properties. 

Therefore is highly combustible and has been used to 

light fires. 

Multi use at different concentrations 

At an extremely low concentration (dilution of 1: 10,000), it 

can be used as a water purifier and mouth wash for ulcers. 

Made into a deep purple/ red solution with water its main use 

is as a disinfectant for skin conditions. 

Used neat, it can be used to light fires and cauterize wounds 

as its astringent properties help to stem bleeding on heavily 

bleeding wounds. 

A recommended read - 

The First Vet by 

Linda Chamberlain 



Last time I was writing an update on college 

happenings I was happy that Summer had 

come…..well it seems like it is back. And it is only 

October! 

In fact we have had a dry but cold winter, practically no rain 

for the last month and nearly 30 degrees a couple of days ago. 

Hay making is not looking like it will eventuate. Not what you 

need when you donated a truck load of rolls up to farmers in 

drought stricken NSW. Here’s hoping we get a dash of rain 

that will kick on the fertilised hay paddocks before they have 

completely gone to seed. 

As usual, a lot has been happening at the Australian College of 

Equine Podiotherapy since our last newsletter. 

As Nicky mentioned, we held the bi-annual “Bowker Lectures” 

at the magnificent Hawkesbury Racecourse in NSW. The first 

time we have run it interstate. If only those driving behind us 

could have seen under the “rugged horses” in the float on the 

way up. They would have been quite surprised to see a 

skeleton and a plastic horse! 

second student study block. I had my first time lecturing to 

the students on horse conformation. Quite interesting when 

you use your own horses for examples in your lecture notes. It 

really highlighted their faults (and good bits). Many horse 

owners would rather not know what conformation issues 

there are with their horses. I on the other hand believe that 

by knowing your horse’s conformation you are able to train 

and manage them better for longevity. Which is something I 

would like, particularly since one of mine is a 15y/o 13.2hh 

Welsh pony of cob type with a 85 kg rider heading into 

competing elementary/medium dressage. 

Nicky Bowe talked about Anatomy and physiology. Once again 

delivering a most informative and interesting lecture on how 

muscles, ligaments and tendons are put together and how 

they work. The more you learn the more you realise that equine 

hoof care needs to have a holistic approach. 

Professor Bowker wowed the students with his lectures on 

equine limb anatomy and physiology and how it integrates 

into equine hoof care. Bob delivers with such enthusiasm 

from not only a scientific perspective but also that of a bare 

Part of the 

contents of 

the float 

revealed! 

Looks can be deceiving. 

The conference saw the return of the ever impressive 

Professor Robert Bowker , Sharon May-Davis, Ian Bidstrup, 

Andrew Bowe (of course), David Leigh (MC with the “cool 

accent”), and the introduction of many new and impressive 

lecturers. We are so very grateful for the time these amazing 

industry experts put back into the industry. Their passion is 

inspirational and encourages us all to keep learning and strive 

for better equine care. 

We followed up immediately after the conference with the 

hoof trimmer and horse owner. The students always come 

away simply awed by this new knowledge gained and are 

always keen to put this into place. 

We then followed up a week after the block with a horse 

anatomy discovery (dissection) with the ever enthusiastic Sharon 

May Davis. Every dissection is just that a discovery of what 


and why. You learn what has happened to the horse’s musculoskeletal 

system to explain why the horse mentally or physically 

presented to us how it did whilst alive. This is a valuable 

tool to understand, and to again, manage horses better to 

achieve longevity. 

treatment. This is proven by the many horses that return to 

work after being rehabilitated at his home ‘Mayfield’. The 

book ‘The pony that didn’t die’ written by Andrew and his wife 

Nicky is a testament to this and can be purchased from their 

website www.barehoofcare.com 

Dave Leigh was once again lecturing at the block, going 

through the ‘heavy’ subject of pathologies. Their cause and 

treatment is discussed in depth. We were also pleased to 

have Sarah Kuyken come again for the day to demonstrate 

and discuss with the students an alternative form of hoof 

protection and hoof mapping. Sarah is well known for her 

knowledge and use of various glue on shoes. Something that 

is controversial but yet at times a necessity in rehabilitation 

and barehoof care. 

Needless to say after all this finished I was more than happy to 

spend the first week of May by a pool in Bali! 

Coming back from my break, saw the organisation of two 

standing dissections, one in QLD and one in VIC along with the 

third study block for students and the start of a very intense 

and lengthy process of setting up our RTO application. 

We experimented first with a ‘past and present student only’ 

standing dissection. By this we mean that we had the cadaver 

standing upright, suspended by a frame. Andrew revelled in 

the challenge to build the frame and with some ingenuity 

devised a frame that worked! Having the cadaver standing 

enabled the attendees to move the legs freely. Giving a 

greater insight into the biomechanics of our equine friends 

and how issues with the musculoskeletal system influence 

this. 

Block 2 Diploma students trimming minis & donkeys 

We then followed this up with another in QLD hosted by past 

students (mother and daughter team) Jean and Angela 

Koek. Congratulations to all involved in creating such an 

amazing experience for attendee’s. 

The third student study block was held mid August. Andrew 

gave lectures on laminitis and horse shoeing principles. Both 

very controversial subjects when it comes to traditional 

farriering and modern day bare hoof care. Even though the 

bare hoof care of horses grows there are still many out there 

that just cant see any other way then ‘metal shoes’ on horses, 

even if they are just paddock ornaments. Andrews lectures on 

laminitis, explains in depth what happens to the hoof when a 

horse has laminitis and how his many years of rehabilitating 

laminitic horses, his great depth of scientific research and his 

huge bank of knowledge has enabled a more effective way of 

Both Sarah and Dave are graduates in the Diploma of Equine 

Podiotherapy and are exceptional role models in where the 

course can take you. They both run their own very successful 

hoof care businesses, along with lecturing around Australia on 

various aspects of barehoof care. 

We have just had another standing dissection, this time open 

to any interested people, with the ‘bone lady’ Sharon May 

Davis. Sharon travels the world sharing her horse anatomy 

discovery dissections, so we are truly blessed that she keeps 

us high on her priority list! 

This last dissection was a horse we at Mayfield knew well and 

had all had something to do with over his life span. Albeit not 

good that he was on the ‘stand’, it again enabled us to understand 

why he behaved like he did. Sometimes no matter how 

hard you try you just cannot ‘fix’ them all. Most dissections 

show defects from birth. So if you have one of those ‘just 

can’t get them better’ kind of horses, maybe it’s time to delve 

deeper. I am not saying you need to euthanise them. Just 

explore with veterinary diagnostics, the 

possibilities of why? 

• Why is he so lovely on the ground but terrible under 

saddle? 

• Why does he try to bite or kick when I do certain 

things? 

• Why can’t I get near him? 

• Why won’t he go on the float? 

• Why will he canter on one lead but not the other? 

• Why is he perfect to trail ride but misbehaves in the 

arena? 

• Why does he pigroot going down hill? 

• Why is he reactive with a bit in his mouth? 

There are multitudes of questions along with many different 

answers. Horses are not ‘bad’, ‘mean’ or ‘naughty’ animals. 

Maybe theirs behaviour is created by something we as 

humans have done or tried to do with them that has created 


pain and discomfort. This may cause a variety of responses 

from a variety of causes. 

On a much brighter note, we are now taking enrolments for 

the 2019 intake of the course 22290VIC Diploma of Equine 

Podiotherapy. If you would like information on the course 

please contact us on admin@equinepodiotherapy.com.au 

Places fill up fast, so don’t delay! 

With preparations almost complete for another study block, 

our RTO application, and Equitana, I will leave you with the 

memory of my why question. There is always a reason. It may 

be hard to discover, but there is always an answer. You just 

need to be prepared to delve deeper and accept the answers. 

Enjoy your journey with your Equine partners, 

Cheers, 

Tamara Fox, College Administration. 

Student practical sessions with Professor Robert Bowker 


News from the Anatomy School ... 

Recently, Sharon May Davis has begun conducting Standing Frame equine anatomy workshops. 

These are – as the title suggests – full body 

dissections with the specimen held in a standing 

position by a specially made frame and supported in 

a way that allows limb movement. 

This may sound a bit gross or even gruesome to some, but I 

firmly believe that anyone who sits on a horse and controls it 

should see the anatomy of what they are sitting on and 

steering. All in the name of getting a better deal for horses. 

With the specimen held in this position the learning outcome 

seems superior compared to when the specimen is laying on 

its side on the table. Information retention and understanding 

seem to go to another level. 

Standing dissections have enabled a greater study of bio 

mechanics, including: 

• The reciprocating apparatus of the equine leg 

• Stay apparatus 

• Suspensory apparatus from hoof to body 

• Showing how certain muscle hypertrophy or atrophy 

can be related to distal limb issues 

• The origin and effects of conformational defects and 

the cascading effects of incorrect treatment 

• Flexural issues including club foot and locking stifle 

• The origin of various hoof wear patterns 

• The vexatious subject of saddle fit 

• The even more vexatious subject of bitting 

The standing frame has also allowed a more detailed study 

into fascial connections (from top to bottom and front to 

back), especially the strong connection that reaches from the 

hyoid all the way down into the digital cushion and the 

connections from the front hooves to the hind hooves. 

With the standing cadaver we can see when the legs are at full 

extension, how the incredibly strong fascial sheets pull on the 

digital cushions and increase their volume; the driving force 

behind the vacuum effect that creates fully turgid blood 

vessels within the digital cushion immediately prior to ground 

contact. This is the front line of shock absorption, otherwise 

hidden from sight deep within the hoof and traditionally misunderstood, 

neglected and dismissed as irrelevant. 

When there has been a sustained dogma within traditional 

realms of hoofcare to discredit the value of the frog and 

dismiss it as an evolutionary left over and downplay its 

importance to hoof function, it has been good to observe 

evidence to the contrary on the standing cadavers which lends 

credence to the teachings of the late Dr Kerry Ridgeway and 

backs up the science that Prof. Bowker is bringing us from the 

lab. 

If you ever get the opportunity to attend one of Sharon’s 

standing frame anatomy workshops, you will be rewarded by a 

learning experience second to none, even if you have already 

done one (or more) of Sharon’s ‘table’ dissections. She is a 

remarkable clinician. 

Please note that these workshops are not just for equine 

professionals. Progressive horse owners also get a huge 

amount of anatomical information that is directly applicable to 

how they manage their own horses; for the benefit of their 

horses. 


Training hoof care specialists for the 21st century 

The Australian College of Equine Podiotherapy is a private college dedicated to the 

ongoing education of professional equine hoof therapists. 

Our Diploma Course is Nationally Accredited. This exclusive course is the only 

accredited Diploma of its kind in Australia delivering the stand alone modality of 

functional equine hoof care. 

The curriculum is based on years of “in the field” experience by hoof care industry 

professionals, in collaboration with the findings of veterinarians and leading research 

scientists who have been at the forefront of rehabilitative hoof care practices and 

education, both in Australia and overseas. 

The college embraces an holistic approach aimed at enhancing equine biomechanics by 

applying hoof care methods that 

promote lifelong soundness. 

How long is the Diploma Course? 

The course runs over two years and involves on campus and external study. 

In the first year the course is delivered in four blocks of 6 days spread throughout the 

year. During these blocks students are expected to complete face to face lectures and 

practicals. Assignments are to be completed between the blocks. 

Students then have an additional 12 months to complete a series of case studies to 

attain their Diploma. 

Where is the college located? 

The college campus is based at Mayfield, near Yarck in North-East Victoria. Mayfield is a 

working beef, sheep and horse breeding farm and lameness rehabilitation centre for 

horses with serious hoof issues such as laminitis. The campus provides a comfortable air 

conditioned classroom, student amenities, accommodation and camping facilities. 

There is also a full range of off-campus accommodation within easy driving distance. 

Your therapeutic hoof care career starts here 

www.equinepodiotherapy.com.au 


Mayfield Farm Facility Hire... 

Home of The Barefoot Blacksmith 

Mayfield Farm is not only a working Sheep and Cattle farm, Horse Agistment 

and Rehabilitation Centre, it is also a fully accredited Equine Podiotherapy College. 

This means that we have some outstanding facilities that we are now offering for hire. 

Mayfield boasts a fully functioning Dissection Room with stadium style seating, for better viewing. A classroom 

for holding lectures and power point presentations is right next door. Our Ablutions Block includes a washing 

machine for slightly longer (and grubbier) stays. 

The Shearing Shed has been renovated to include bunk room accommodation with various layouts to suit 

different needs. In the Shearing Shed you will also find the communal kitchen which can cater to almost all of 

your meal requirements. 

The inside lounge area has a Coonara for warmth during our colder months and there is also an extensive outer 

deck with tables and chairs for our stunning Spring /Summer days. We also offer powered/un-powered 

camping on the grass area adjacent to the shearing shed. 

If you are bringing horses, we have steel yards with water right at the fence so you don’t even have to lug 

buckets very far! There are some big shade trees located in the middle of the yards too for the comfort of your 

equine friends. 

For outside demonstrations we also offer the use of our Rehabilitation Shed which is fully covered for any kind 

of weather protection. Right next to the shed is our fully fenced 60x20 dressage arena and on the other side of 

the driveway is a slightly smaller, open jumping arena. 

So, with all of this on offer, why not consider Mayfield Farm for your next workshop or event? 

For more information, please call Nicky Bowe on (03) 5773 4306 or email 

admin@barehoofcare.com 

Dressage arena Round yard Living, dining room Single room Outdoor deck 

Dissection room Class room Self contained unit Double room Kitchenette 

Covered rehab shed Safe, secure yards 


Bassoli Rasp Evolution ... 

We have updated and expanded our range of 

Bassoli Rasps. 

Fifty: 

Bassoli is an Italian company that makes high quality tools and 

is continually improving and expanding its range of equine 

hoof rasps. Our current batch which is better than ever and 

still has the established favourites such as the Blade, Doppia 

and Sixty (the trade name of the extra wide rasp because it 

has 60 teeth per inch), has been expanded to include the 

‘magnum’ models which are wider than standard rasps but 

still narrower and lighter and easier to push than the extra 

wide rasps. 

Being 25% wider than standard rasps, they cut significantly 

more hoof per pass which makes the trimming task more fuel 

efficient for the person doing the work. Remember, any little 

thing to make a hard job easier. 

At the same time they are thinner in cross section than 

standard rasps, so are not much heavier. (670g as opposed to 

the standard rasp 630g). 

Above. With the same A side as the Costanza, but a B side 

that cuts quick and leaves a mirror finish (the same as the 

blade) This is a rasp that professionals will love. 

Doppia Plus: 

The secret to their ease of use lies with the newly engineered 

teeth that are designed to cut keratin fibres very easily, even 

on hard hooves. 

There are three new models to choose from: 

Costanza: 

Above—Perfect for owner trimmers who are wanting to trim 

more efficiently and spend less time under the horse and 

more time in the saddle. 

Above— a wider version of the popular Doppia rasp, but with 

slightly less aggressive teeth on the A side for ease of use, but 

with the same B side that goes forever. Like its standard sized 

cousin, the Doppia Plus is the longest lasting magnum sized 

rasp in existence. Another one for the professionals who want 

to trim large numbers of horses in a short time (wisely thinking 

about wear and tear on their bodies) and also want to look 

after the bottom line of tool expenses. 


How to Choose the Right Rasp for You … 

There are numerous rasp makers who each have many 

different models of rasp on the market. There are different 

widths and lengths and weights and ‘a’ side tooth designs 

layouts and ‘b’ side designs. Different rasps vary greatly in 

performance and ease of use depending on how fast and how 

much downward pressure the operator applies. 

And then there is longevity, with some rasps beginning life 

with a razor edge but dulling very quickly, whilst others may 

not have that razor edge to begin with but last forever. 

So which rasp is best for you? 

Choice of rasp is a very individual thing. Far be it from this old 

institutionalised farrier to tell anyone which is the right rasp 

for them. Rather, a good idea is to try numerous different 

models of rasp (why not try them all, they are a consumable 

item) to find which one feels the best for your very individual 

trimming style. 

What about rasp handles? 

Bending a wrist when pushing on a rasp is not biomechanically 

good. You won’t feel the pain today, but it’s amazing how 

quickly today turns into next year and the aches and pains 

start to bother your wrists and elbows. Take that from someone 

who has learnt the hard way. 

The most efficient way to use a rasp is to have a relaxed grip 

with a cupped hand, allowing the rasp handle to pivot around 

your palm just like a ball and socket joint. Easy on the wrist, 

but this also produces the best trim because the rasp will flow 

more around the curvature of the hoof. To this end the most 

ergonomic rasp handles are conical. 

The next aspect of rasp handle choice to consider is the size 

and that is logically dictated by the size of the trimmer’s 

hands. It is far less taxing on the hand and wrist if the handle 

is smaller rather than larger. 

Rasp handles are also better if they are not totally rigid. A 

slightly soft, flexible handle will dampen some of the vibration 

before it gets into your hand, wrist and possibly your elbow. 

On the other hand, a hard handle will simply become a vessel 

for transferring vibration. 

Probably the humblest of any piece of gear in the hoof 

trimming kit, rasp handles actually have quite a bearing on 

ergonomics; one that far out reaches their purchase price; 

helping to make a hard job as easy as possible. For this reason 

a rasp handle needs to be both comfortable and nonfatiguing. 

Rasp handles come in many different sizes and shapes and 

hardness. As with the choice of rasps, the choice of rasp handles 

is also an individual thing. Rasp handles are not exactly a 

huge 

investment, so some sage advice from a seasoned campaigner 

who has tried them all and found what suits best in his hands, 

is to try them all and work out what feels best in your hands. 

Some food for thought: 

The wrong handle held the wrong way is literally damaging 

your wrist. 

It is very important to be able to keep a straight wrist as much 

as possible when pushing a rasp across a horse’s hoof. 

Much like working a rasp with a bent wrist, the damage from 

vibration is not felt at the start, but it will be perniciously 

working away at the joints and connective tissue. 

There was a time when rasps were used without a handle. In 

fact rasp handles were considered the same as hoof stands – 

toys for ‘sissy boys’. Yep, that’s how it was. 

And there are some owner trimmers who still don’t use a rasp 

handle, (but here’s a clue….you won’t ever see a professional 

using a rasp without a handle in these enlightened times!) 

Can one rasp handle be made to fit all rasps? 

The one great challenge for manufacturers of rasp handles is 

to find a way to accommodate tangs of different dimensions, 

as in get a handle to fit over the tang and stay firmly attached. 

Without having to make a different handle for each individual 

model of rasp. 

As with so many of life’s 

little problems, the solution 

can be found within the 

exalted ranks of the famous 

three: fencing wire, duct 

tape and blu tac. In this 

case it is blu tac to the 

rescue. It fills any and all 

spaces and helps to create a vacuum seal. It works a treat. 


Proper Professional Conduct: Dogs in the workplace 

By Liz Inder LL.B(QUT) 

Welcome to the first of a series of articles I will be penning to hopefully assist all of you out there in the equine professional 

world to stay safe, out of court and under the horse. Those of you who’ve survived one of my lectures in person should be 

familiar with these topics and hopefully I can help refresh your memory and still keep you, and any new audience members, 

entertained whilst covering some very dry areas. 

One of the most hotly debated topics at the Bowker Lectures this year was…no not ‘PLD’s’ unless you were sitting next to Prof 

Bob…but dogs. I had every justification known thrown my way as to why it’s okay to take your dog to work with you when you 

are an equine professional. Seemed to be a bit of selective hearing happening when I kept repeating that I wasn’t responsible 

for the law being the law! So here’s a 60 second recap on what your responsibilities are, and potential liability could be, if this 

is something you are currently doing so that you’re doing it forewarned and with eyes wide open…and to get you to seriously 

think about not doing it. 

Statutory and Common law – two areas of exposure: Legislation pertaining to dogs is different across Australian States with 

some imposing strict liability. And as the dog owner you may also be found liable for negligence under the common law if you 

have failed to exercise reasonable care, and this has allowed your dog to cause an accident. 

Workplace obligations: Additionally it is your duty to ensure a safe workplace under Workplace Health and Safety laws. 

Remember it’s your workplace, you are the PCBU (Person conducting a business or undertaking), and you are responsible for 

doing a risk assessment before you commence working. 

So it is up to you to ensure you have taken all reasonable steps to prevent an accident occurring to avoid liability under the 

statutory and common law. 

Here’s a quick checklist of key questions to ask yourself:- 

1. Is your dog vaccinated, free of fleas or parasites, kennel cough, not carrying ticks? Biosecurity 101! 

2. Is your dog registered with Council? 

3. Do you have the property owner’s and your client’s permission? In writing? 

4. Have you checked if there are any areas off-limits to dogs including any food prep areas, bathrooms etc.? 

5. Does your insurance cover include liability for your dog being with you in your workplace? 

6. Have you checked that no one you will visit has an allergy? 

7. How you are ensuring you dog is supervised at all times whilst you are trimming? 

8. Are they contained in a crate/vehicle or on a secure leash? 

9. How well behaved/trained are they to being around people, children, horses, other animals? Do you have professional 

dog training qualifications or have had them professionally trained? 

10. Have you conducted a risk assessment? 

Score yourself honestly and if you can’t confidently tick off all the above then be prepared for what may happen in the event of 

an incident courtesy of your dog. Remember that a number of Australian states place dog owners under ‘strict liability’, 

meaning that even if your dog has never attacked before and has never displayed any aggressive tendencies, you may be liable 

for any damages incurred. And if you are negligent, you’ll be liable at common law. Cases in Australia have seen damages 

awarded exceeding $100k and these are cases without potentially expensive horses or property damage being involved. 

So if you didn’t score 10/10 above, and you don’t have a very large bank account, it’s time to seriously reconsider that decision 

to take your dog with you to work...that trim may just become the most costly one you’ve ever done. 

Until next instalment… 


Masterson Method Weekend Seminar Workshops 

Yarck, VIC and Blanchetown, SA 

Jim Masterson will be teaching two Weekend Seminar Workshops at the 

Mayfield Barehoofcare Rehabilitation Centre on November 10-11 and 

November 24-25, and another at Steve Halfpenny’s Silversand Horsemanship 

Centre on November 22-23. 

In these clinics you will learn how to help the horse 

release accumulated tension in key junctions of the 

body that most affect performance using a method 

that reads and follows visual responses from the horse 

that tell you where the horse is holding tension, how 

much pressure is needed to release it, and when it is 

released. 

Horses survive by covering up or blocking out pain and 

discomfort. If you know what to look for, you can 

by-pass this survival-bracing response and access that 

part of the horse’s nervous system that releases rather 

than braces against tension. 

What goes on in the horse’s foot affects what’s going on in the body, and vice versa. These 

techniques are easy to learn and are especially relevant when working with the horse’s 

feet. 

Jim will also be presenting at Equitana in Melbourne on November 15-18. 

See you there, along with The Barefoot Blacksmith, Andrew Bowe, and Steve Halfpenny! 

For more info, or to register for courses, go to www.mastersonmethod.com 


area. And things, such as dental issues, bit issues, sore back, external trauma, or riding style can cause soreness and tension 

in the poll and atlas. It can take some sorting out. If you have, for example, three indicators; soreness at the girth on 

the right side, soreness at the poll on the right side, and soreness in the gluteal/hip joint area on the left hind, then those 

three things together show a compensation pattern that points to the possibility of a sore right front foot. If, in addition, 

while searching for the pattern, the horse bites you while palpating at the right girth, and kicks you when you poke him in 

the left gluteal, then the chances are good he’s pretty sore on the right front foot. 

The point here is that the horse compensates in the body for pain in the feet, and it will show up somewhere and somehow. 

Residual tension in the body due to compensating for foot issues. The horse can be compensating for soreness in a 

foot or leg for a long period of time before starting to show obvious signs of lameness. This will create pain and tension in 

related areas of the body that will eventually affect the horse’s movement, often even after the primary source of the 

lameness is found and treated. 

If, for example, there is pain in the front foot due to an issue such as inflammation in the coffin joint, a navicular issue, or a 

long-term abscess, the horse will naturally compensate in a way that creates a spasm at the junction of C7/T1 on the opposite 

side. This becomes a secondary issue that is created by the primary issue in the foot. 

This is a common scenario: the horse is diagnosed with a specific foot issue, the issue is treated, and after the treatment 

the horse is on and off again sound, or not quite fully sound. In this case the primary issue may have been resolved but 

the secondary issue, the residual tension resulting from compensating for the foot over time, has now become the primary 

issue that is affecting the horse’s movement. When you release this then the horse is sound. 

A similar thing can happen behind. Tension in the hamstrings and other muscles that the horse uses to compensate for a 

sore hock for example, can put tension and torque on the sacrum and sacroiliac. If you treat the hock and the apparent 

problem does not go away it’s possible that the long-term effect of compensating for the hock has now created pain and 

tension in the sacroiliac. This is often something that the horse cannot let go on its own. There are other major muscles 

behind that are also involved when there is any discomfort behind that have to be addressed. 

In addition to being aware of the effects that the feet may be having on the body, it helps to be able to recognize where in 

the body the horse might be holding tension (or covering up pain), and also to learn some simple bodywork techniques 

that you can use to help the horse release accumulated tension related to the feet. 

I’ll describe an exercise here that helps to release tension in of the neck/shoulder/withers junction that is related to front 

foot issues, and one that helps release tension in the hind end and lower back related to hind foot issues. 

1. Scapula Release Technique. 

This exercise releases accumulated tension in the muscles that attach the fore-limb to the trunk or thorax, by allowing the 

horse to move the scapula through a range of motion in a completely relaxed state. It is based on the principle that when 

you move a joint or junction through a range of motion in a relaxed state it will release tension in the muscles and connective 

tissue associated with the joint or junction. This is not a stretch, but a relaxed drop of the scapula downward and 

back. 

a. Stand at the horse’s left shoulder facing forward, and pick up the foot. Hold 

under the fetlock with your right hand, and under the knee with your left. Support 

the weight of the shoulder with the “knee hand”. You may have to lift up on 

the leg slightly to get the weight of the shoulder in your hand. 


. While using your knee hand to continue supporting the weight of the shoulder, slowly lower the foot down and 

back. Do not pull the leg down, but support the weight of the shoulder in your hand as you lower the foot to the 

ground. The goal is for the horse to relax the scapula down in the back position. 

c. When the foot is down, encourage the horse to rest in that position as long as he is able by keeping your hand on 

the leg or foot. 

d. Step back and see “what the horse has to say”. If he has released tension in these muscles he may tell you by licking 

and chewing, snorting and sneezing, shaking the head, or yawning. You have to give him some time, at least thirty 

seconds or so. 

2. Hind End Release Technique. 

With this exercise we’re releasing tension in the sacroiliac, lower back, hamstrings and gluteals by asking the horse to 

drop one side of the pelvis at a time in a completely relaxed state. This is achieved by supporting the weight of the 

limb and pelvis as you lower the foot slowly to the ground. 

a. Stand next to the horse's hip facing rearward and pick up the foot, as if going to clean the hoof. Bring the foot forward 

and support the weight of the limb and pelvis by holding the foot up under the belly by the toe. Do not lift too 

high. You’re looking for the most relaxed leg position for the horse, where you can hold the weight. 


. When you feel the horse is relaxed in the pelvis, continue to support the weight of the leg as you slowly lower the 

foot down to the ground. Take your time with this. Note: Do not grab or pull on the leg if the horse tries to pull away. 

c. Once down, keep your hand on the foot to encourage the horse to rest in this position. 

d. Step back and see what the horse has to say. Again, give him some time. 

You may repeat both of the above techniques until you feel the limb - and the horse - has become more relaxed. Do 

both sides. 

3. Hind End Release Points. This simple exercise uses very light pressure on two points under the tail that help to 

relax key muscles and ligaments that put tension on the sacrum and sacroiliac. This may almost seem too simple to 

believe it works. Be patient and try it anyways. 

a. Stand on the left side of the horse facing forward. Rest your right hind on the right butt bone, with the tail resting 

on your arm. 

b. Slide your thumb gently all the way up under the center of the base of 

the tail, and slightly to the right side. 

c. Slowly soften your thumb, hand and arm so that you are putting no 

pressure on this point. Watch the horse’s eye as you do this. When the 

horse’s eye softens or blinks, stay at this level of pressure. The horse is 

telling you this is a level of pressure that he is not internally bracing 

against. There should be less pressure than it would take to indent an egg 

yolk. The goal here is only to bring the horse’s awareness to the point in a 

way that his body cannot brace against it, and to stay there long enough for the horse’s nervous system to start releasing 

it. 

d. This is the hard part: Wait… and wait… and wait - maintaining this level of non-pressure - until the horse starts to 

show signs of relaxing the muscles that pull on the sacrum. These signs might be licking and chewing, shaking the 

head, yawning, or relaxing one leg or the other. This could take 30 seconds, or two minutes. Be patient. You can continue 

this until you feel the horse is done releasing. 

e. Change hands and sides and repeat on the left side. (f. Wash your hands before eating any chips.) 

Instructional bodywork video clips, including techniques for finding tension in other areas of the body can be found 

on our website at: https://mastersonmethod.com/free-educational-videos/ 


Hoof Trimming Workshops... 

Why not consider being a host? 

Have you ever wanted to attend one of our Hoof Trimming Workshops but there are 

simply none happening anywhere near you? 

A recent workshop held at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and bottom right, one of the resident Zebra 

Perhaps you should consider hosting one yourself? 

There are benefits for Workshop Hosts, not only in 

the form of being close by and therefore easier to 

get your horse there but also as a host; you are 

allocated one free FULL participant placement! 

What’s that saying about never looking a gift 

horse in the mouth? 

We offer extensive assistance to all of our 

hosts; by managing the bookings and 

advertising in newsletters, magazines and of 

course, our own website. You are given a list 

of requirements for the venue and are asked 

to help set up/pack up and to supply some 

light refreshment for everyone. You are also 

supplied with workshop flyers so that you 

can advertise locally in feed stores, pony 

clubs, sporting complexes to name a 

few. 

If you don’t have your own facilities that fit the 

bill, perhaps you can source a local showground 

or recreation facility or even the local Pony 

Club. There are many options! 

In our Standard one day workshop format, you 

will learn the basics of trimming, the 

mechanics of the hoof and how it has evolved 

to become the amazing instrument that it is 

today! 

You will be guided by Andrew and the Barefoot 

Blacksmith crew how to trim a hoof using a 

Cadaver Hoof first and then, after a trimming 

safety demonstration and if you have brought 

your horse along, you will get ‘down under’ and 

have a go on your own horse under the very 

watchful eyes of the instructors. Auditors will 

observe only at this point. 

We’ve had some wonderful feedback from our 

past participants, both Full and Auditor saying 

that what they learned was highly valuable and 

that they and their horses are now happier as 

they can stretch out their professional hoof 

care practitioner visits just that bit longer, 

while they maintain the hooves themselves. 

At the workshop you will also have the opportunity 

to purchase our Bare Essentials tool kits at a 

‘workshop only’ price as well as other tools 

from our store. Limited to what we can fit in 

the car of course! 


Why not consider hosting your own workshop? 

Continued... 

Once you have attended a Standard Trimming 

Workshop you will have the opportunity to come 

along to our Advanced Hoof Management 

Workshop which runs over 2 days and is much 

more intensive. You will have a full day of 

lectures on day one and then on day two as a 

group case study each attendees horse and 

discuss each individual before moving on to the 

trimming. 

You will learn to recognise the normal hoof and 

the variations of normal. You will discuss the 

effects of shoeing versus trimming. We revise 

tool selection and how to best utilise them in 

your trimming. 

Lateral slow motion footage of the horses moving 

is taken and played back to show you how each 

hoof works as it does what it’s designed to do 

(with and without hoof boots on some). You will 

discuss the variations between breeds and 

equestrian disciplines and talk about how certain 

hoof management changes with the different 

needs/pressures on the hoof. With all this 

information at hand, you’d be mad to not have a 

go yourself! 

The Barefoot Blacksmith team are currently 

seeking expressions of interest from prospective 

hosts to set up some dates for 2019 from February 

onwards. Please note that we DO travel interstate 

to run Workshops, so don’t let being across the 

border stop you from enquiring with us! 

So we invite you to email us at 

admin@barehoofcare.com and ask us for our 

Hosting Information pack so that you can get 

started on your own journey into the Hoof, its 

form and function and how to properly maintain 

the delicate balance required for a happy horse. 

Left—Andrew demonstrating safe trimming 

at a home standard trimming workshop. 

Current Workshop Dates for 2018…. 

• Yarck Advanced Hoof Management 

Workshop – November 3rd and 4 

Workshop Dates for 2019…. 

Stay tuned, 2019 calendar coming soon. 

• Myrtleford Standard Hoof Trimming 

Workshop - December 1 


Alexandra pony 

club recently 

took advantage 

of our great 

venue and, after 

lessons, Nicky 

took some 

riders out for a 

trail ride. 

Sharon May-Davis 

“The Bone Lady” 

If you’ve never attended one of Sharon’s dissections before, 

don’t miss out again. 

You will be amazed at what you will learn about equine 

musculo skeletal functionality. 

Bookings being taken now for 

3 Day Anatomy Course 

26 th – 28 th April 2019 

5 th – 7 th October 2019 

Phone or email to register or for more information 

03 5773 4306 - admin@barehoofcare.com 


The best hoof picks in the universe? 

Ah, the humble hoof pick. 

Take the author’s ongoing experiences as a working example. 

He will go through an average of two rasps a week but only 

one pair of nippers per year. That is a bit under $200 for the 

cost of nippers, but a whopping $4500 (give or take) in rasps 

per year (90 rasps @ $50 per rasp). No wonder the author 

likes a good hoof pick to clean as much grit, gravel and mud 

out of a hoof before touching a precious rasp to it! 

For too many years the humble hoof pick has been the poor 

cousin of the trimming tool kit. 

This author was fed up with crap hoof picks (sorry there is just 

no other word in the enormous English language to describe a 

bad hoof pick). He has seen it all: handles that break, picks 

that bend like a bad spoon and plastic brushes that wouldn’t 

scrub the skin off last night’s custard. 

So team Mayfield set out to make the best hoof pick ever in 

the universe. 

You don’t realise just how handy this piece of gear is until you 

don’t have one in your reach. 

Or you have a crap one (excuse the anvil language, but there 

are no niceties required when venting the frustration of a 

sub-standard hoof pick). 

A hoof pick is very important, whether you are just cleaning 

your horse’s hooves prior to riding to see there are no foreign 

stowaways poking into the hoof or whether you are about to 

trim the hooves and your nice rasp would appreciate all hoof 

and no dirt. Or maybe you are a proactive horse owner and 

regularly cleaning out hooves to detect or monitor hoof 

infections. 

Actually, just back to the nice rasp for a moment. It may have 

only cost you around $50, but it is actually the most expensive 

tool in your trimming kit. Despite only costing the fraction of a 

good pair of nippers, rasps are the main consumable in the kit 

because they wear out quicker, much quicker than anything 

else. You are always up for a new rasp…….have I got a deal for 

you......! 

This hoof pick has a high tensile steel pick that is sharp enough 

to scratch out any foreign body and strong enough to use as a 

crowbar to lever out a black soil sole plug after it has set to 

concrete hardness. Without bending or breaking. 

It has a handle that is ergonomic bliss for all sized hands and is 

exceptionally strong. 

Then there is the wire brush that is stiff enough to scrub the 

most stubborn mud and grit off the flight deck. 

And let’s not forget all the funky bright colours so you have to 

try very hard to lose one. 

Sure, wire brushes are a consumable item because they sure 

do cop a pounding in their day job and they eventually wear 

out. But if you are occasionally replacing a hoof pick for $10 

because you have worn out the wire brush, you are obviously 

using it often and with enough vigour to clean a path for your 

expensive rasp, so you will be saving a lot of $$. 

The best hoof pick in the universe? Why not try one and see 

for yourself? 

Watch this space for a green hoofpick, coming soon! 



Retirement Agistment... 

at Mayfield 

Hardly a week goes by that we don’t hear about another outer suburban paddock lost to 

development. We can’t stop progress, but where do all of the horses go? 

An acute undersupply and over-demand for new agistment places in close proximity to the city has seen a huge 

increase in the cost of agistment. In so many cases, there simply is not enough agistment space for horses. This 

means owners are increasingly being forced to relocate their retired horses to wide open spaces further away 

from the cancerous sprawl of the suburbs. But out of sight agistment requires peace of mind; knowing that your 

old horse is living out its days in peace and comfort. 

At Mayfield we have been offering retirement agistment for quite a few years now. We have quite a sprinkling of 

retirees amongst the various mobs. The home paddocks spread over about 300 acres of flat to undulating country 

and we are fortunate to be able to open further paddocks to horses as the need arises. We are currently opening 

up more room for retirees. Hence this little advertorial. 

Why choose Mayfield for horse retirement? 

Company of the mob, a temperate environment that is mitigated in the Summer by huge shady gums and valley 

breezes and the Winter is short and with few bleak days. There is plenty of shelter besides. Large paddocks that 

vary from flat to undulating with solid and safe fences. More importantly, there are no ticks, no fruit bats, no 

midgeys and no Paterson’s Curse. But there is a professional team that is well trained and experienced with 

equine aged care; everything from diet to hooves. 

All up, Mayfield is a kind climate for old bones and peaceful surrounds for old minds. And very affordably priced. 

Full details on the website - www.barehoofcare.com 


Safety with hoofstands 

Modern hoofstands 

which incorporate both 

a post and a cradle take 

much of the hard yakka 

out of hoof trimming. 

They are embraced by 

both owner trimmers 

and professionals alike. 

But, as with any piece 

of equipment used in 

the vicinity of horses, 

hoof stands add to the 

inherent work place 

risk, especially when 

holding a leg for 

trimming. There is a 

certain trade-off 

between optimising 

ergonomics to reduce the likelihood of long term musculoskeletal 

disorders whilst managing the clear and present risk of 

trauma. 

In addition to this, any piece of equipment is only ever as safe 

as the person using it. 

Fortunately there are some fundamental rules of safety that 

apply to hoof stands, whether they are being used as a post or 

as a cradle: 

Keep your hands clear of any crush points. If you are 

holding a hoof on top of the post it is vital that you 

keep your hands well clear of getting caught between 

the bottom of the hoof and the top of the post. Never 

hold underneath of a hoof, not even just around the 

edges. Rather, it is best to keep your fingers straight 

and steady the top of the hoof with the palm of your 

non-rasping hand. Again, do not curl your fingers 

under the hoof. 

To ensure a horse’s compliance with having its hoof on 

top of the post without it trying to pull it away, check 

for any sensitive surfaces such as thrushy frogs and 

avoid putting any pressure on them. 

Keep at least one of your feet on the hoof stand base for 

stability. You will need to judge which side of the 

stand is most likely to lift if the horse puts pressure on 

it or tries to pull its foot away. 

Keep a constant contact with the hoof at all times when it 

is on the stand. Hopefully your contact is interpreted 

by the horse as the requirement to yield to your 

pressure, but be sure to keep a constant light contact. 

Don’t ever leave a hoof unattended on a hoof stand. 

Don’t totally ‘lock’ the horse onto the stand so that it 

cannot pull its hoof away if it really wants to. You 

don’t want the horse to feel trapped and then panic. 

If you are leaning onto the hoof in order to use your arm 

as a bridge to divert pressure from your back muscles, 

be sure to have a balanced stance so you don’t fall 

down if the horse takes its hoof away. 

Don’t get yourself tangled up (somehow) in amongst the 

hoof stand and the horse’s leg. 

If the horse is fidgeting or agitated or wanting to snatch its 

hoof away, don’t just ignore it and hold on tighter. It 

is far safer to put the foot down and investigate the 

issue and sort it out and then recommence using the 

hoof stand. 

When you have finished trimming a hoof be sure to put 

the hoofstand well out of the way before letting go of 

the leg. 

Setting up the job for success 

Make sure you have a compliant horse that acknowledges 

it is required to yield to your pressure, no matter if 

you are in the saddle or holding its leg. Noncompliance 

usually results in a horse pulling its 

hooves away from the trimming positions and can 

potentially lead to a conflict between trimmer and 

hoofstand. 

If your horse fails in the compliance department, the best 

solution is a sweaty saddle cloth, which translates to 

either riding or lungeing your horse until it is quite 

happy to stand still and yield to your hoof holding 

commands. 

Place the hoofstand in the correct position. This needs to 

consider the most comfortable place for the horse to 

have its leg held, both vertically and laterally. When a 

hoof is placed ground side up in the cradle, it needs 

to be low enough to remain within the horse’s 

comfort zone, but when the front leg is pulled 

forward the post needs to be about knee height for 

the operator. In terms of lateral positioning of the 

cradle or post, the best place is wherever the leg 

chooses to hang when the horse is relaxed. Sometimes 

this is right under the barrel of a horse with 

tight forequarters. The position of the hoofstand also 

needs to swing the pendulum of mechanical 

advantage in favour of the trimmer, so when a front 

leg is pulled forwards, it is best to position the stand 

so that the leg has a nice curve. Avoid trying to hold 

onto a straight front leg. 


Visit our College web site at www.equinepodiotherapy.com.au for comprehensive 

information about the only nationally accredited hoof care diploma course in Australia. 

The students only pages are now live and we will be launching our lecturers pages shortly. 

If you are a current student and don’t have your login, please contact administration 

admin@equinepodiotherapy.com.au 



Need a Trimmer? 

Visit our web site 

www.barehoofcare.com — and follow 

the links from the main menu, left. 

Select Barehoofcare > Need a trimmer? 

from the drop down box to view a 

comprehensive, state by state list of 

barefoot trimmers, including Qualified 

Equine Podiotherapists. 


Advanced hoofcare workshops 

… two days of theory and practice ... 

Yes, we know it is harder for people to organise around this and the number of 

participants is likely to drop, but due to the ever growing body of science pertaining to the 

equine hoof, it is no longer feasible or fair to cram the information into just one day. 

A two day format allows us to cover in great detail the following subjects: 

• The paradox of modern hoofcare (athletic performance versus life long soundness) 

• Recognizing functional hooves 

• Recognizing and restoring dysfunctional hooves 

• Barefoot rehab for pathological hooves 

• Dealing with common hoof management problems 

• Equine hoof development 

• The merits of different trimming philosophies 

• Ergonomic trimming 

• Tool selection and maintenance 

• Sustainable hoof protection (overcoming the paradox) 

Participants receive a comprehensive 145 page book of Powerpoint slides and notes and an accompanying data 

stick containing approximately 50 hoofcare articles that we have published. 

The two day format allows us the time to thoroughly analyse your horse’s hooves and then supervise your trimming 

to assist and further develop your ergonomic trimming skills. 

We also demonstrate the very latest ideas in the rapidly evolving field of sustainable hoof protection, including 

boots, tips and polyshoes. It’s not just hoof boots anymore. 

There is often scope for participants to bring two horses, especially if they have problematic hooves that will further 

enhance the collective learning experience. 

The second day finishes at a civilised hour to accommodate those who have a long way to travel home. 

Who are these workshops for? 

For past participants of our standard workshops or hoof trimming workshops of affiliated instructors. 

Also for anyone who may have already undertaken a one day advanced workshop of ours in the past because the 

information has evolved and expanded. We can give you a huge amount of theory and practical in two days. 

Please visit our web site for full details of all upcoming workshops. 



Sharon’s 55+ minute ‘Equine Muscles 

Video’ provides an in-depth understanding 

of the palpable equine muscles, illustrates 

their locations and shows their relationships 

from nose to tail. This is now available 

from our office on a USB stick for $30 

including postage in Australia. This is 

great value and all proceeds of USB sales 

from our office will go towards the purchase 

of a pressure reading walking mat 

for the college for future research into equine 

movement. We thank Sharon for her 

enormous generosity. 

Available from our office, phone 

03 5773 4306 or email 

admin@barehoofcare.com 

The World Wide Water Trough 

For any of our computer competent readers, if you find any interesting, relevant 

(and of course, legal) internet links, it would be good to be able to share them with 

our wider audience. Please forward any contributions to info@barehoofcare.com 


www.equinepodiotherapy.com.au 


Australian Association of Equine Podiotherapists 

On the Web 

Qualified Equine Podiotherapists can visit www.eptassoc.com to download a membership 

application form or, if you are already a member, contact the Association for a user name 

and password to log in. 

The Pony That Did Not Die : Healing Laminitis with Barefoot Rehab 

Available from our online store — Select Shop Online from the menu and 

choose Educational. 



Glenroy Equine 

Rehabilitation Centre 

(Located just outside Goulburn, NSW) 

1880 Pomeroy Road, Bannister NSW,2580 

Telephone: 02 4844 3217 Mobile: 0457 275 463 

Email: thebarefootbloke@bigpond.com 

Find us on Facebook. 

What do we offer? 

Perfect location, we are based only 2.5 hours from Sydney and 1.5 hours from Canberra 

Professional Hoof Care, specializing in the rehabilitation of Laminitis and other hoof 

pathologies. (Dave Leigh Dip. Ept.) 

Agistment for retired and spelling horses. 

Clinics offering Instruction for horse owners in maintenance trimming their own horses. 

Consultations for general equine well-being and nutrition. 



Newsletter produced by: The Barefoot Blacksmith ® Team 

info@barehoofcare.com ph: 03 5773 4306 

The views expressed in this publication are that of the editor and contributors. 

The editor and contributors shall have neither liability nor responsibility 

to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, 

or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly as a result of any reliance on the 

information contained in this publication. 

If professional assistance is required, such services should be sought from 

the appropriate practitioner. 

Articles and photos in this publication are Copyright © 

Editors may re-print articles provided they obtain 

the permission of the author.

Barehoofcare Spring 2018

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