The Equine Hoof: Inside-Out Care for Soundness and Performance

Your horse’s soundness starts from the ground up.

In this in-depth course, you’ll explore how hoof structure and function impact movement, performance, and long-term health, while learning practical tools to assess hoof quality and apply expert-level care.

Designed for farriers, veterinary professionals, technicians, students, and horse owners, this course offers a deep dive into the internal and external anatomy of the hoof. You’ll learn how its structure supports motion, protects sensitive systems, and adapts to different environments.

You’ll also gain a balanced understanding of barefoot vs. shod approaches, and how to evaluate the quality of a trim or shoeing job without being caught in a debate. Whether you’re checking angles, managing flare, or trying to decide if a horse can go barefoot, you’ll walk away more informed and more confident.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Evaluate hoof health and soundness using anatomy and biomechanics
  
• Understand how hoof shape and structure respond to conformation, environment, and care

• Determine when a horse can go barefoot, when it shouldn’t, and how to manage that transition

• Recognize signs of poor farrier work, improper balance, and early indicators of pathology

• Apply anatomy-based logic to help keep horses more comfortable and better performing

Whether you’re new to hoof care or a seasoned professional, this NBCAAM-approved course will deepen your knowledge and give you practical tools you can use in the field.