Natural Horsecare is holistic in its approach. One pillar of NHC is the Natural Trim, but for best results, it's meant to work in harmony with the other pillars of the nutrition that a reasonably natural diet provides, as well as a life of movement that a track system provides.
It's true that this holistic approach challenges conventions of how we keep and care for horses, and it may be that strict adherence to these pillars is more ambitious than is feasible for many horseowners, but inasmuch as you can, it will have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of your horse.
In the US, the habitat to which horses are most suited is in the deserts and high deserts of the western US. The grasses here which compose the majority of their daily forage are very low in sugar. These grasses are supplemented by herbs, bark, and smatterings of richer, higher sugar forage like clover found in lusher areas that dot the landscape. (Insert research/info about sugar and laminitis)
By contrast, New England is overwhelmingly lush and green. The grasses here are much higher in sugar, which poses an increased risk of laminitis and the inflammation that affects the soundness of the horse and the health of the hoof.
Whatever efforts are made to provide a natural diet help eliminate exposure to this risk, and make for less vet visits and happier horses!
Did you know that in their quest for food and water, wild horse bands travel up to 50 miles a day? Life on the move makes for strong, athletic horses with strong, tough hooves.
In a track system, hay bags, forage and water are spread out around a track loop, or even a series of interconnected track loops. This helps simulate their free-roaming lifestyle, keeping them on the move from feed station to feed station, watering hole to watering hole. At a track system boarding facility, horses are free to find their place in hierarchal bands, providing the mental-emotional comfort that comes from safety, security, and belonging.