Template A: monthly baseline
Who it is for: most owners.
- One complete 12-photo set each month.
- Good for busy schedules and multiple horses.
- Suggested rule: first weekend of the month.
Not medical advice.
This guide is about documentation habits and organization, not diagnosis or prediction.
Short answer
The monthly baseline default.
- Monthly: one complete baseline set (12 photos).
- Optional: one extra set after trims or shoeing for before and after context.
That is enough to build a reliable timeline without living inside your camera roll.
Why cadence matters
Cadence keeps the record usable.
- What did this look like last month?
- What changed since the last trim or shoeing?
- Can I share a clean timeline instead of a photo dump?
Cadence is the bridge between one-off photos and a record you can trust later.
Templates
Pick your cadence template.
Choose one and commit to it for 90 days.
Template B: baseline + after
Who it is for: owners who want before and after context.
- Monthly baseline.
- One extra set within 24 to 72 hours post-trim or post-shoeing.
Template C: seasonal anchors
Who it is for: very busy owners.
- Four baselines per year, one per season.
- Not as granular, but easy to maintain.
Baseline set
What you capture each time.
12-photo baseline
- Dorsal (front)
- Solar (bottom)
- Lateral (side)
3 views x 4 hooves = 12 photos per session.
Short on time?
Capture what you can and mark it as partial. Do not pretend it is complete.
Optional add-ons
Good times to add an extra session.
- Post-trim.
- Post-shoeing.
- Travel or show week.
- Major routine change (turnout, footing, stall).
Keep the note factual: post-trim, new shoes, footing change.
Missed sessions
If you miss a session.
Missed a month
Capture the next baseline when you can and keep moving.
Missed several months
Restart with a clean 12-photo baseline and resume your cadence.
The timeline still has value. Gaps are normal.
Minimum viable
Minimum viable baseline.
MV1: partial baseline
Capture as many of the 12 as you can and label it "Partial baseline (X/12)".
MV2: one hoof, three views
Pick one hoof and capture dorsal, solar, and lateral. Label it clearly.
Not a replacement for a full baseline, but it keeps momentum.
Make it stick
Use a tiny anchor habit.
- The first weekend of the month.
- The day you pay a bill.
- The day you schedule the farrier.
- The same day as another barn task.
Reduce remembering by tying it to something you already do.
Labeling reminder
Cadence only works if you can find sessions later.
Use a consistent format:
HorseName_YYYY-MM-DD_Hoof_View
Or let Eqvira handle session structure so baselines stay grouped by horse and date.
Downloads
Get the baseline checklist.
Includes a one-page checklist and quick labeling format.
Download options
No email required.
Next steps in the system
Keep the cadence simple and let the record build itself.