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The debate among hoof-care camps is getting heated.
After the dreaded “long toe” from laminitis rehabilitation, along with its non-existent “lever forces,” was declared the ultimate enemy, even hoof trimmers who used to be moderate have now joined the trend of aggressively shortening the toe.
And here we are again:
The opposite of wrong is not necessarily right - especially when you swing to the other extreme just to distance yourself from what you believe to be wrong.
So here’s a short plea for the complete toe.
Only a complete hoof capsule, including the toe horn all the way to the ground, provides full protection, stability, and comfort.
Only a full solar surface allows the horse to move efficiently and without wear.
By the same logic, farriers and trimmers worried about “levering toes” should cut off the front of their own safety boots down to the socks - to neutralize the shoe’s lever forces - while raising the heels to protect their Achilles tendons. I’d love to see how long they’d last through a normal work week like that.
