Books We Love: The Essential Hoof Book

The Essential Hoof Book is just that…essential.  A good strong hoof makes for a good strong horse.  The Essential Hoof Book is a complete guide to equine feet, and how best to treat and maintain them to make sure your horse stays strong. 

Written by Susan Kauffman, a professional in the horse industry for more than thirty years, and Christina Cline, a certified trimmer and an instructor with the Equine Science Academy and mentor with Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners, The Essential Hoof Book is a fascinating and detailed work that contains everything needed to make sure the most important aspect of horse keeping is addressed properly.  The book is teeming with hundreds of photographs, technical drawings, and interviews with master farriers.  The information compiled provides horse owners with clarity and understanding about an issue that has plagued the equine industry for centuries.   

The Essential Hoof Book takes readers through the exterior and interior anatomy of the hoof, explains how to recognize healthy and unhealthy feet, and outlines the proper way to treat imbalances.  The book also includes tips on finding a good hoof-care provider and the types of therapy available to help horses suffering with foot pain issues.  The spiral bind design of the book makes it an easy reference while checking hooves for any abnormal stresses or bruises.  The Essential Hoof Book is a must-have for serious horse owners. 

Reviewed by Chris Enss, COWGIRL Book Editor, and a New York Times Best-selling author who writes about women of the Old West.