Bar Star Ranch & Rehab, Inc

05/03/2026

Things dont always have to remain as they are...

04/25/2026

I took a quick look at a horse today to assess balance. She had been recently trimmed so the plan is to trim her in 4 weeks. However...
..this Front Left stood out as a problem hoof. Its an issue I have seen a few times already in my early journey into hoof trimming. The quarters are left with too much sole material that is crying to come out, the heels are too high and the heels were left squared off. You can see from the green line I added that the coronet band is also being shoved up because the wall directly below that area is being left too long.

So...I trimmed a little from the heels thru the quarters to adjust the heel height, add a little "slippering" to round the heels slightly and I took some of the wall down where it is all jamming the coronet band up. I didnt touch the toe.

A healthy hoof has a shape and it isnt a blocky clubby looking foot.

Stay tuned for Oakley's hoof journey.

04/22/2026

From one horseowner to another, I'm holding an impromptu workshop on Sunday for anyone interested in learning more about the basics of hoofcare. Knowing how to assess the health of your horse's feet is an important aspect of caring for a horse.

We'll talk about things like thrush and white line disease, parts of the hoof, what a balanced hoof should look like and how to map a horse's foot to help identify imbalances along with other things I look at when trimming their feet.

You will get the chance to measure and map together and then we will discuss your findings. I'll also share with you the horses that started this part of my journey with horses.

Class size is limited.

04/17/2026

Teaching the next generation.

I will have a clinic/workshop coming soon to go over some hoof care basics... things like parts of the hoof, how to map the bottom of the foot for symmetry, measuring angles, ways to help check for balance in the foot, treating & preventing thrush, common hoof care tools horse owners should have, a simple check for NPA and what NPA is and why it matters, and whatever else I think to share. 😉

Participants will get the chance to assess different horses and discuss their findings. My goal is for you to become more aware of seeing feet, what is healthy and what balance means in hoof care.

Stay tuned for a date and details.

04/10/2026

I dont always share a lot of my hoof photos...namely because I forget to take them. But...I am SO excited about this foot. It has a lot of issues, medial/lateral balance and compromised soft tissue being a couple of them. This horse belongs to a friend/client of mine. We have been wrapping this foot with a hoof cast and some additional material to address the M/L imbalance and we have cut the imbalance in half.

But, the horse will work on what it needs to when it needs to. So, this mare has been putting a lot of energy into her soft tissue. You can see this by the development of the soft tissue/heels and how the new hoof growth is coming in much farther back than the old hoof. This will eventually help bring the heels back and get her angles where they really need to be and get them stood up off the ground.

Its not easy work and I dont always have the answers but the #1 rule is to listen to the horse. I try hard and the reward is in seeing them put in the work to heal.

I'm almost 55 and committed to learning how to fix hoof issues. If I can learn this stuff, so can you. Get involved in understanding proper balance for your horses. Learn what it means to have the hoof centered over the axis of the frog and how that helps the bones above the hoof with their alignment.

04/09/2026

Why have only 506 people (nationwide) signed this petition???

This one is specific to Texas, but other states are working on taking action and several states have already banned anyone but veterinarians from using many of the therapy modalities horsemen rely on to keep our horses feeling and working at their best.

We ALL need to sign and express our opposition. This is something that will continue to spread across the nation if we dont present our opposition and our ideas for cooperative collaborative care that can keep the right to work with bodyworkers and therapists.

This doesnt just affect horses. It affects alternative work for all animals.

Please take a minute to sign and another minute to share...our industry needs your help.

Join the community. Stay informed. Make your voice heard.

03/12/2026

We aren't just horses out here at Bar Star Arena. If your kids are taking riding lessons, chances are they will get in on taking care of goats and most recently, chicks/ducks.

Farm life is a great way to view the world. The critters need care and love and your kids learn responsibility, kindness, work ethic...

03/10/2026

So, I lunged this guy to the left just fine, reversed him to the right, he tripped and stabbed his toe essentially and came up like this.

I cleaned all 4 feet out. Guess what I found?

A small abscess draining on the...left HIND. Dramatic much?

I still haven't found anything else...🤦‍♀️🙄🧐🤔

03/10/2026

Sunday's Goat Tying portion of our clinic was hands down my favorite! These girls are all grit and hustle and they had SO much fun!