Holistic Horses Lara Sportelli

Holistic Horses Lara Sportelli Veterinary Trained Hoof Care Specialist. Trimming and Hoof Rehab. Hoof Care Courses for Horse Owners.

Hooves are amazing at healing and trimming is a whole horse approach. The focus should not be on one specific thing, bec...
05/09/2026

Hooves are amazing at healing and trimming is a whole horse approach.

The focus should not be on one specific thing, because there are a whole lot of things all combined together.

Every hoof is different and every rehab hoof is different.

A one size fits all approach to hoof care is not really a very good idea.

To a certain degree, a hoof is also going to do what it’s going to do and we also have to let the hoof do its thing too.

We can only follow the hoof and keep the hoof balanced and comfortable.

The hoof in these photos, show the hoof at different stages.

You will also note the event line growing down, marked in red and the hoof wall to white line margin, marked in orange and some bruising on the sole.

This particular horse was obese and couldn’t weight bear on one hoof.

Diet, weight and bloods were addressed, together with a fortnightly balanced trim.

The changes within the hoof capsule do not happen overnight, either way and it takes time to correct imbalances.

The x-rays shown are taken approximately five months apart.

Even if a toe looks long from the X-ray or from the outside, the hoof needs to be lifted and examined from the underneath too.

What needs to be taken into very careful consideration, every single time, whether the hoof is a rehab hoof or not, is the angle, balance and trimming margin between the outer hoof wall and the white line.

You cannot go trimming what is not there and you definitely cannot trim too short at the toe or you will be going into the white line and laming the horse.

You also cannot go rasping the toe and hoof wall into the laminae either.

Everything is a tiny step by step, subtle process and what we are essentially trimming, is the old hoof.

We need to also keep a check on the new hoof wall growing down from the coronet band.

With rehab work, if you make any sudden big moves, you also risk the comfort and soundness of the horse.

The hoof capsule is also like an impermeable suit of armour, protecting the delicate inner foot.

People often see the hard outer shell, but they have no real idea what’s actually going on inside that shell.

There is the P3, third phalanx, pedal/coffin bone is the foundation of the hoof.

The coffin bone shape influences, but does not dictate the shape of the hoof capsule.

In very young horses, the distal phalanx correlates well with the hoof shape.

Foals are born with balanced, symmetrical pedal bones, but bone is very dynamic and is influenced by all kinds of different forces.

The coffin bone growth plates close around the time the foal is born.

The P3 is a very delicate and intricate bone and many very important structures are attached.

* Sensitive Laminae cover the bone.
* Soft Tissue surrounds the bone.
* The underside of the bone is blanketed with the Sole Producing Corium.
* Lateral Cartilages attach on either side of the Palmar Processes (wings).
* The Lateral Cartilage is securely attached to the second and third phalanx (Short Pastern and P3).
* The Impar Ligament connects and nourishes the Navicular Bone.
* Tendons, that move the horses leg and Ligaments, are securely anchored to the Pedal Bone.
* The Deep Digital Flexor Tendon extends down the back of the leg and attaches to the under-side of the Pedal Bone.
* The Extensor Tendon tracks down the front of the leg and attaches onto the bone beneath the Coronet Band.
* Papillae on the Coronet Band grow the Outer Hoof Wall and the Inner Hoof wall is produced by the Laminae.

Within the hoof capsule there is also a digital cushion, sensitive frog and the hoof has a remarkable vascular system.

The sole, bars, frog and outer hoof wall, all work together on the barefoot horse as a non-slip, balance, brake and weight bearing structure for the horse.

Each time you rasp away too much of the outer hoof wall, you risk the integrity of the hoof, protection of the foot and infection entering through a weak outer hoof wall.

There is no part of the hoof that should not be there, every part of the hoof has a function.

The hoof in the photo finished sound and ridden.

A whole horse approach to hoof balance and comfort.Trimming is all about posture and helping the horse to move correctly...
21/08/2026

A whole horse approach to hoof balance and comfort.

Trimming is all about posture and helping the horse to move correctly.

Hoof balance is one of the most important parts of my work.

A - Alignment
B - Balance
C - Comfort

Nearly all of my work these days is hoof rehabilitation.

Alongside teaching the horse owners hoof care trimming courses, hoof rehab is my favourite kind of work, it’s very rewarding and really fires my brain.

Hoof rehabilitation doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time.

Hooves that are overgrown or present with huge imbalances, also do not happen overnight either.

Many of you are familiar with seeing X-rays of the hoof capsule side on.

These are x-rays taken from behind.

Hoof imbalances, incorrect movement and laminitis don’t just cause distortion of the P3 inside the hoof capsule, they also have a knock on effect on the whole of the horses body.

A correct, balanced, regular trim is very important to the horse.

I take a whole horse approach to hooves and my hoof care work is all about balance, alignment, comfort and precision.

I trim for balance and correct movement and I teach students exactly the same way for their own horses.

Balance in the horse is not just about their hooves or body being in balance, it’s about the whole horse.

A balanced horse is about balanced hooves, the horses diet, teeth, correct bio mechanical exercises, saddle, bridle and plenty of healthy movement.

You cannot just have one kind of balance without the other, the horses whole body is connected and the hooves are the little digits, that carry all the horses weight, plus a rider if they’re ridden.

When a horses whole body is in balance and comfortable, they will also be balanced in their mind ♥️🐴

I may also add, that you do not see any hooves with a type of ledge around the outside of the bottom of the hoof wall, it doesn’t exist, unless it has been put there by a human.

Horses definitely should not be lame after a trim, especially if they were 100% sound before the trim.

I also cannot say this enough, please check out all the credentials and training of your hoof care provider and indeed any professional that you employ, to take care of your horses.

Ask all the questions you need to ask, listen to the responses and see if they make sense to you.

A good professional will always engage with you and be helpful.

Don’t forget to be the advocate for your beautiful horses, in all things 💜🦄

07/08/2026

Hoof Abscesses.

Hooves are fascinating ♥️🐴
I love my work and I don’t really write much about it, but here’s a little hoof video I put together on hoof abscesses, hope it’s helpful in some way 💓🦄

Hoof Abscesses.
Hooves are amazing and the horses body has a natural way of helping hooves to repair themselves.

You only have to look how fast the hoof repairs itself and closes over a tiny stone hole in the white line.

A hoof abscess is no different and as I always say, let the hoof do it’s thing and it will, the less interference the better.

The hoof may not always look pretty, but it knows itself better than we do and it knows what to do.

We can only keep the horse comfortable and the hoof in balance.

It’s impossible to dig in the hoof to let the pus out of an abscess, where are you digging exactly, because you cannot see precisely where the pus is, it’s only guess work and digging around in the sole, making various holes in the hoof is not very productive for the hoof.

You can’t dig an abscess out, but you can assist it.

The hoof cannot swell with inflammation and an abscess will find the path of least resistance and it might pop out in the coronet band, as shown in the video below.

The video shows the whole process of an abscess bursting via the coronet band and the healing process of the hoof over a year.

This hoof has one or two trim cycles left to go, before it’s healing process is complete.

The abscess pops out, the hoof grows down and does what it needs to do naturally, the hoof quietly repairs itself along the way and there are one or two trims left to go on this hoof, before the old hoof has completely grown out.

Giving your horse bute is not helpful for the abscess.

Bute is an anti-inflammatory, which is contradictory to what the horses body needs naturally, to help an abscess find it’s way out.

It’s the pressure of the fluid produced by the inflammation, that allows the abscess to fight its way out.

Bute is not good for an abscess, as it can stop the horses body trying to reject the infection of the abscess.

Think of a splinter, buried deep in your finger, it will find its way to the surface, it’s the pressure of the fluid produced by the inflammation, that helps the splinter out.

I have been treating all hoof abscesses the same way for twenty years and it’s never failed a horse yet.

Soak the hoof in warm water for approx 10 minutes, it helps to soften the hoof a little and circulate the blood.

Wrap the whole hoof in animalintex soaked in warm water and use gaffer tape to secure it.

Use a plastic feed sack or nappy wrapped over the animalintex, secure all round with gaffer tape or use a cloud boot and turn the horse back out.

The horse does not need to be kept in.

Movement is key and the horse will only move as much as they can and need.

Keep poulticing and changing the poultice every 24 hours.

Once the abscess has burst, you will see a greyish slimy substance, that also smells not too polite 😁 poultice a couple more times, to make sure there’s no more pus and then fill the hole.

Fill the hole with green French clay, mixed with water and a couple of drops of tea tree oil ♥️🐴

06/08/2026

Beautiful Mister Darcy 💫

Thank you for the lovely photo, I don’t have many of me working 🪅

I feel so lucky and privileged to work with such beautiful horses and their wonderful humans, thank you ♥️🐴

I do believe I have the best job in the world, working with horses 💞🦄

Fitting Hoof Boots Made Easy.There are so many different hoof boots on the market to choose from, which is a great thing...
29/07/2026

Fitting Hoof Boots Made Easy.

There are so many different hoof boots on the market to choose from, which is a great thing and they have come a long way over the years.

Very often it can be tricky with hoof boots to find the right fit, in both shape and size.

It can start to feel like a lucky dip and can fast become an expensive nightmare.

Before you measure for any boots, make sure your horse has a fresh trim.

Measuring the widest part of the hoof is the easy part, measuring the length is a different hoof game.

Each boot has a different length measurement place on the hoof.

The point up to where you need to measure the length of the hoof, changes for each particular boot, which is super helpful 😁

My advice to be sure, is to take photos of length and width, with a rigid ruler, with the size of the ruler measurement clearly visible and send them to Liz Hapgood at the Hoof Bootique.

They are hoof boot specialists and they will be able to advise you on the most suitable boots for your horses hoof shape.

Ask to hire the mixed fit kit with different shells, because even when you do that, for example out of three shells only one shape might be suitable and fit better than the others, then hire the boots, then buy those same hire boots, if they fit well.

A Long way round, yes.
Best way round, absolutely.

Good luck 💞🦄

https://hoofbootique.co.uk

I find Hydrohoof by Red Horse Products, a really useful hoof moisturiser, especially if hooves need a little extra helpi...
15/07/2026

I find Hydrohoof by Red Horse Products, a really useful hoof moisturiser, especially if hooves need a little extra helping hand, during the hot weather.

The Red Horse products are very good.

Hydrohoof Contains

Honey
Beeswax
Aloe Vera
Shea butter
Sweet Almond oil
Vitamin E

https://redhorseproducts.com/

The process of converting the growth plates to bone, goes from the bottom of the horse up.In other words, the lower down...
06/07/2026

The process of converting the growth plates to bone, goes from the bottom of the horse up.

In other words, the lower down toward the hooves you look, the earlier the growth plates will have fused and the higher up toward the horses back you look, the later they fuse.

The growth plate at the top of the coffin bone (the most distal bone of the limb) is fused at birth.

This means that the coffin bones get no taller after birth and it’s the first plate to fuse.

The last is the vertebral column.

A normal horse has 32 vertebrae between the back of the skull and the root of the dock and there are several growth plates on each one.

The most important of which, are the ones capping the centrum.

The centrum of the horse's back refers to the body of vertebrae, which are the bony structures that make up the spine and support the horse's back.

This structure is crucial for protecting the spinal cord and providing stability for movement.

It’s worth bearing in mind, that this is also where we sit and where we are asking the horse to carry our weight as a rider.

The growth plates of the vertebral column do not fuse, until the horse is at least 5 1⁄2 to 6 years old.

The taller your horse and the longer its neck, the later the last fusions will occur and for a male horse you can add six months or so.

In order of fusion after the coffin bone:

�Short pastern – top and bottom between birth and 6 months.

�Long pastern – top and bottom between 6 months and one year.

�Cannon bone – top and bottom between 8 months and 1.5 years.

�Small bones of the knee – top and bottom of each bone, between 1.5 and 2.5 years.

�Bottom of radius-ulna – between 2 and 2.5 years.

�Weight-bearing portion of glenoid notch at top of radius – between 2.5 and 3 years.

�Humerus – top and bottom, between 3 and 3.5 years.

�Scapula – glenoid or bottom (weight-bearing) portion – between 3.5 and 4 years.

�Hindlimbs – the lower portions are the same as the forelimbs.

�Hock – this joint is late and the growth plates on the tibial and fibular tarsals don’t fuse until the horse is four. The hocks are a known weak point and even 18th century literature warns against driving young horses in a plow, deep or heavy going footing and jumping them at height, for the danger of spraining their hocks.

�Tibia – top and bottom, between 3 and 3.5 years.

�Femur – bottom, between 3 and 3.5 years, greater and 3rd trochanters – between 2.5 and 3 years.

�Neck – between 2.5 and 3 years.

�Pelvis – growth plates on the points of hip, peak of croup (tubera sacrale) and points of buttock (tuber ischii), between 3 and 4 years.

The last is the vertebral column
The growth plates of the vertebral column do not fuse, until the horse is at least 5 1⁄2 to 6 years old.

03/07/2026

I believe trimming should be a calm, relaxing experience for horses.

These are my beautiful horses and I trim them all at liberty.

I also trim clients horses at liberty too and this is the energy I’m aiming for long term, with all the horses I trim, whether they are trimmed at liberty or not.

I would like all the horses I trim to be happy and have a calm, relaxing and positive experience with me.

My work is not just about trimming, it’s also about the experience the horses have with me when I’m trimming them and that is equally as important to me as my trimming work.

Over the last twenty years I have worked with all sorts of horses.

I work with very nervous horses.

I start a lot of foals on their trimming journeys and it’s wonderful to see them grow up, with a positive hoof handling experience.

I work with youngsters and I work with older horses, that might not be able to lift their legs or balance too long.

I always find a way, to help any horse have the best experience I possibly can for them.

I let them sniff tools and look at things and I love their curiosity.

I work with lameness, laminitis, founder, pathologies and hoof rehabilitation.

I work with horses that may have an injury.

I work with all sorts of horses and when I trim, I take all the time the horses need and adapt to them.

I’m not just about trimming.

I’m also looking at building trust and a positive connection with the horses I trim.

I’m looking at body language and how comfortable the horse is.

I’m looking at balance and how the horse moves.

I’m looking at conformation.

I’m looking at hoof balance and angles.

I’m looking at hoof wear patterns and if there are any indications, that the horse might be uncomfortable elsewhere in their body.

Hoof wear patterns are an indication of how the horse moves and carries themselves.

Very often when a horses hoof wear patterns are extremely different, there can often be an issue somewhere else in the horses body.

The horses hooves tell you a story and offer a history and a future.

Before I ask a horse for the lift, I check they are balanced and as square as possible.

When a horse needs their hoof back I don’t hang onto them, I politely pop their hoof down, I don’t just drop the hoof and they always offer it right back, usually of their own accord.

Horses will often lift the next hoof I’m arriving at, before I even ask them to lift and I love that, they’re already anticipating and helping me.

I believe trimming is a mutual agreement and cooperation.

I am also trimming the horse I have in front of me, according to their specific needs and requirements and every horse is different and each hoof is different.

I take the time that both the horse and the work needs and I’m never in a rush.

I am precise in my work and I’m reliable. I turn up when I say I will and I do what I say I’m going to do and I always message with an eta from sat nav.

I always explain what I’m doing and why.

All my clients and students receive after care and ongoing support.

They can reach out to me anytime, ask advice and send photos.

They can send me videos and also have live video calls.

I love it when the horses are so relaxed with trimming they’re sleepy, with floppy ears and letterbox lips and it’s also really helpful for me too.

Considering the work I do, so far I have never once been kicked, in twenty years of trimming.

I love horses and I love my work.

I am also lucky enough to have amazing clients and students, who love and care deeply for their horses.

It’s amazing what you can achieve with horses with patience, love and time ♥️🐴

For many years I have run horse owners trimming and hoof balance courses, thank you to everyone who comes along 💕🦄I love...
12/06/2026

For many years I have run horse owners trimming and hoof balance courses, thank you to everyone who comes along 💕🦄

I love everyone’s great enthusiasm and interest, to learn about something that I am deeply passionate about.

Horses and Hooves ♥️🐴

I love being able to facilitate these courses and I feel it’s empowering, for horse owners to learn how to trim and take care of their horses hooves.

My work is all about my love for horses and their hooves and I happily tick along very quietly with my work.

My work is based on people randomly finding me, word-of-mouth and recommendation, thank you 💖

I love horses and hooves and I don’t really advertise, as I’m a bit shy on that front and I have always thought that the people who need me will find me 😁

Whilst for the last twenty years that has been true, I have also recently received messages from horse owners, saying they had no idea I was here, they’d love to learn to trim their horses and they’ve been fascinated by hooves for years, so here is my little advert 😁

Horse Owners Trimming and Hoof Balance Courses.

I offer courses for small groups and one-to-one at your home.

I provide you with a tools list.

You will learn how to trim and balance your horses hooves, hoof handling and how to use your tools correctly.

After the course, you will receive an in-depth theory.

I provide a full after care service and ongoing support for you and your beautiful horses.

You can send me photos and questions anytime.

You can request live trimming video calls, to support your journey.

Refresher courses are also available.

For all enquiries please message me or email [email protected]

Thank you for your interest, Lara 💝🦄 ###

Horses seem to ask us so many different questions, their communication is beautiful, subtle and intelligent and they tea...
10/06/2026

Horses seem to ask us so many different questions, their communication is beautiful, subtle and intelligent and they teach us so much 🌸

Before I pick up a horses hoof for trimming, firstly I look to see they have all their legs square, best as possible, before I ask for the lift, that gives the best chance for the horse to be balanced, lift easily and stand on three legs.

If a horse is already resting a hoof, I start with that one.

I always ask at the shoulder or rump and then travel my hand down their leg, that way the horse knows something is happening.

If the horse shifts whilst I’m travelling down the leg, I still ask for the lift and just wait patiently for them to think and rearrange their feet, so they can balance themselves and lift.

If during trimming they need their hoof back, I give it back, placing it politely on the ground, not just dropping it and I do not hang onto their hoof.

It’s amazing how fast the horse will give you back their hoof, very often lifting again, before you even ask 💖🦄

I explain hoof handling on the trimming and hoof balance course and students are guided with their tools 💖🦄

When something is made easy, it’s not difficult.

When I’m taking a course, I ask for the horses to have hay and water and if the horse is standing a while and gets restless, I ask the student to give the horse a break, see if the horse needs the bathroom 😁 and take them for a walk.

It’s amazing how horses quieten again, after they’ve had a p*e or a stretch.

If the horse gets restless with a hoof, I suggest students trim a different one and then come back to that hoof.

It’s amazing what you can achieve with a little patience, conversation, kindness and thoughtfulness ♥️🐴

PS, when I say students, we are all lifetime students of the beautiful horses 💝🦄

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