What is Natural Balance?
“Natural Balance” horseshoeing is using a wild horse’s hoof as a model to recognize differences in domestic horse hooves. In my eyes, the main difference between Natural Balance and traditional horseshoeing is that when using Natural Balance techniques we shoe around the bone column, not to the hoof capsule which is susceptible to distortions. The first step for me when preparing the hoof for shoeing is to map the bottom of the hoof. This allows me to locate where the coffin bone sits inside the hoof capsule. After that I can easily find the natural point of break over and place my shoe on it accordingly, thus allowing the horse’s hoof to break over exactly where his conformation is meant to.
