the Hoof Balancer: A Unique Tool for Balancing Equine Hooves

By Jaime Jackson

The meaning of “balanced hooves” in the hoof care world is rife with unsubstantiated opinions and methods that compromise the natural integrity of the hoof and the ability of the horse to move naturally. Few agree on toe length, heel length, relative heel position to frog . . . relative lengths of the medial and lateral heels, front

• Language: English
• Publisher: NHC Press
• Release date: Mar 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9780984839971

Jaime Jackson

For 38 years, author Jaime Jackson has been an outspoken advocate for natural horse care based on his studies of America's wild, free-roaming horse living in the Great Basin. Jackson has been a professional "hoof man" (farrier turned natural hoof care practitioner) since the 1970s.

Book preview

the Hoof Balancer

A Unique Tool for Balancing Equine Hooves

Using Natural Trim Principles and Practices

Jaime Jackson

Author, The Natural Trim:

Principles & Practice

The Natural Horse: Lessons from the Wild

NHC Press

©2017 Jaime Jackson and the ISNHCP

For further information:

NHC Press — an imprint of J. Jackson Publishing

P.O. Box 1432

Lompoc, CA 93436

[e-mail]

ISBN-13: 978-0-9848399-6-4

ISBN: 978-0-9848399-7-1 (e book)

Note to the reader: The hoof care guidelines described in this training manual for the Hoof Balancer are intended by the author Jaime Jackson and the ISNHCP, to be conducted under the supervision of authorized ISNHCP clinicians and field instructors in keeping with the instructional protocols of the ISNHCP Natural Trim Training Program as presented and explained in the official ISNHCP Training Manual referenced on the ISNHCP Natural Trim website (www.ISNHCP.net). Natural hoof care is a sophisticated and highly technical process that should only be practiced by qualified natural hoof care practitioners trained and ideally certified in the principles and practices described in the ISNHCP Training Manual, or by persons under their immediate supervision. Neither the ISNHCP, the author, nor J. Jackson Publishing or its imprint NHC Press, accept responsibility for the applications or misapplications of these guidelines for the Hoof Balancer.

Contents

Introduction — About Hoof Balance

About the Hoof Balancer

ISNHCP Training Manual & Training Program

Foundational NHC Science

C1 Active and Passive Wear Patterns of the Hoof Wall

C2 Navigational Landmarks and the Hoof Plexus

C3 Heel Balance

C4 Hoof Balance

Instructions

C5 Heel Balance: Quick Method

C6 Hoof Balance (VP): Quick Method

C7 Trimming Recommendations

C8 Sighting Issues Due to Parallax

C9 Care of the Hoof Balancer

Appendixes

NHC Resources

NHC Recommended learning materials

Author’s bio

Photo Credits

Index

Introduction

About Hoof Balance

The meaning of balanced hooves in the hoof