Heart & Sole - Equine Podiatry by Laura Evans

Heart & Sole - Equine Podiatry by Laura Evans I am a fully qualified and insured Equine Podiatrist with a Level 5 Diploma in Equine Podiatry - the highest standard in the UK.

🐴☀️A lovely weekend just doing what I love ☀️🐴Feet have started to dry out from a wet wet winter and there has been mass...
24/06/2026

🐴☀️A lovely weekend just doing what I love ☀️🐴

Feet have started to dry out from a wet wet winter and there has been massive growth on nearly all I have seen this weekend.

I have seen a wide variety including a chronically laminitic Shetland who was stomping her way about and looking great, an older gelding who we are transitioning from shoes, a cob who has tried to kick before but is now much more settled and more relaxed.

Each foot is attached to the animal. And each horse, pony or donkey has different stories and pasts. It makes it all so very interesting! 🥰😇

🫏🐴How often should your horse or donkeys feet be trimmed? 🫏🐴Ideally your horse/donkeys feet should be trimmed before the...
22/06/2026

🫏🐴How often should your horse or donkeys feet be trimmed? 🫏🐴

Ideally your horse/donkeys feet should be trimmed before they look like they need trimmed.

What do I mean by this?

Your horse/donkeys feet grow continously, and will also wear down if they are kept or ridden on abrasive surfaces.

This growth and wear can often be imbalanced. Feet left too long may start to flare, particularly at the quarters, and heels may under-run.

The 6 weekly trim allows me to reset feet back to being balanced and reduce flare. A 4 weekly trim would enable me to trim the feet before they start to flare so would be a better option.

Most of my clients are on a 6 weekly trim cycle. Some are shorter 3, 4 and 5 weekly as they are all individuals.

I will always advise my clients on the best trim cycle for their horse, pony or donkey.

🐴✨ Healthy Hooves at Nearly 30 Years Old! ✨🐴This hoof belongs to a pony approaching 30 years of age who lives with PPID ...
20/06/2026

🐴✨ Healthy Hooves at Nearly 30 Years Old! ✨🐴

This hoof belongs to a pony approaching 30 years of age who lives with PPID (known as Cushing's).

Despite the challenges that PPID can bring, this foot shows what can be achieved through consistent management and attention to hoof health.

🔹 Strong, well-developed frog making good ground contact
🔹 Healthy digital cushion and caudal hoof structures
🔹 Good sole depth and protection
🔹 Well-connected white line with no significant stretching
🔹 Balanced hoof capsule supporting efficient movement

PPID can increase the risk of hoof-related issues, particularly laminitis, making regular monitoring, appropriate trimming, dietary management, and veterinary support essential.

This pony is a great reminder that age and a PPID diagnosis do not automatically mean poor hoof quality. With the right care, older horses and ponies can maintain healthy, functional feet well into their senior years. ❤️

🐴🫏

18/06/2026

🌱 Did you know?

Common rush contains more lignin than grass, making it a valuable natural source of fibre for horses and donkeys.

Lignin helps provide structural fibre that supports healthy gut function and encourages natural foraging behaviour. That's one reason many equines will happily nibble rushes when given the opportunity!

I find donkeys find this more palatable than horses. Potentially due to donkeys thriving on more lignin, this is why we recommend straw rather than hay for donkeys as well.

Nature often knows best when it comes to meeting our horses' and donkeys' nutritional needs. 🐴🫏🌿

🐴 Hoof Boots 🐴Hoof boots can be a fantastic tool for supporting horses and donkeys, whether they're transitioning to bar...
16/06/2026

🐴 Hoof Boots 🐴

Hoof boots can be a fantastic tool for supporting horses and donkeys, whether they're transitioning to barefoot, recovering from hoof issues, or simply needing extra comfort on challenging terrain.

Recent I fitted both my own 18hh sports horse and Rio, a lovely cob for hoof boots.

My boy Ronnie is recovering from a winter abscess so we went for Cavallo boots with pastern wraps for his sensitive skin, and wool pads from The Hoof Boot Shop. Rio, the cob, fitted Scoot Boots really well.

✅ Cavallo Boots are known for their durability, ease of fitting, and excellent protection for rehabilitation or leisure riding.
✅ Scoot Boots are lightweight, breathable, and designed to allow natural hoof function while providing protection and grip over a variety of surfaces.

Very different boots, but both enabling these horses to get out hacking across miles of stoney Argyll forest tracks and more.

Every horse is an individual, and the best boot will depend on their hoof shape, workload, and lifestyle. When correctly fitted, hoof boots can help keep our equines comfortable, moving well, and enjoying life to the fullest.

It's official....my Clydesdales feet are indeed larger than my face 🤣
14/06/2026

It's official....my Clydesdales feet are indeed larger than my face 🤣

📚🐴 Continuous Professional Development 🫏📚One of the things I love most about working with horses and donkeys is that the...
12/06/2026

📚🐴 Continuous Professional Development 🫏📚

One of the things I love most about working with horses and donkeys is that the learning never stops.

Every time I pick up a hoof or speak with an owner, I learn something. Every time I review hoof photographs, assess progress, or reflect on recommendations I've made, I learn something. Even when I'm at home, I'm learning something.

Recently, I completed a hoof trimming course with The Donkey Sanctuary. As I have several donkey clients, it's important to continue developing my knowledge and understanding of their unique needs. Donkeys are often the quieter voice in the equine trimming world, but they deserve the same level of specialist care and attention.

The more I learn, the better equipped I am to support the horses and donkeys entrusted to my care. Ensuring I read information from a variety of sources is vital as I can always enhance my existing learning.

Continuous professional development isn't just about collecting certificates—it's about constantly improving, questioning, observing, and striving to do better for every animal I work with.

Because when it comes to hoof care, the learning never truly ends. 🐴🫏❤️

🐴🫏 Hoof Abscesses 🫏🐴When we think of a hoof abscess, we often picture a horse or donkey severely lame, pointing the affe...
10/06/2026

🐴🫏 Hoof Abscesses 🫏🐴

When we think of a hoof abscess, we often picture a horse or donkey severely lame, pointing the affected toe or refusing to bear weight.

While some abscesses can take several days to track and burst, not all follow this pattern. In fact, the ideal abscess is one that develops, drains and resolves naturally with minimal discomfort.

These photos show a great example of an abscess that has burst at the coronary band. As the hoof grows, the track left behind provides a useful marker for monitoring hoof growth.

This mare remained completely sound throughout, suggesting the abscess drained quickly and efficiently without causing significant pressure or pain. A great reminder that not every abscess results in obvious lameness, and sometimes the body does a remarkable job of resolving the issue itself. 💪

🐴 A nice top up of supplies 🐴For my clients who use the wonderful Red Horse Products, I have topped up my supplies so if...
07/06/2026

🐴 A nice top up of supplies 🐴

For my clients who use the wonderful Red Horse Products, I have topped up my supplies so if you need anything just let me know! I stock Sole Cleanse, Field Paste, Artimud, Hoof Stuff, Hydrohoof and Honey heel. This saves you spending extra on postage.

A new stocked product for you to try this summer is the RZ Summer Fly Spray. I was really impressed with this last year both for the horses and for me against midges and clegs.

Healthy feet come from an overall healthy horse, and that starts with every tooth 🦷. If your horse, pony or donkey can't...
06/06/2026

Healthy feet come from an overall healthy horse, and that starts with every tooth 🦷.

If your horse, pony or donkey can't break down their food properly then many nutrients can be lost. This can cause disruption in the gut, and leave cells without the nutrients they need.....which can be seen in the feet 🕵‍♀️.

A routine dentist visit ensures your horse or donkeys mouth is free from pain and their teeth are able to tear and chew as nature intended 🌿 My big guys had the amazing James Spy Equine Dental Services for their routine check up, giving me peace of mind they are chewing happily 😊

Address

Glenramskill Farm
Campbeltown
PA286RD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447974949778

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