Wall of hoof. Why is it trimmed? I do have a strange question… :)
My mare has been barefoot all her life with great success. She is a POA and we trail ride several times a week.
Due to my mare being hospitalized for two weeks, she missed the trimmer while she was out at the barn.
While cleaning out her hooves, I noticed since she hasn’t been trimmed for awhile, the hoof wall has grown down approximately 1/4 inch or a tad more.
The rest of the hoof looks great.
At first glance, the “Wall” reminded me of how a shoe looks on a horse.
Here is my question, albeit a little strange. 
I went trail riding today and rode on a gravel road that either I have to use Hoof Boots to ride on, or avoid the road. She is fine a bigger rocks, but the small rocks on a gravel road make her ouchy.
Today with the longer hoof wall, she wasn’t ouchy at all. Again, it reminded me of a shoe on a horse, protecting the sole.
Can I ask what is the purpose of trimming and rasping down the hoof wall, to be even with the sole?? Risk of injury?
She honestly was not bothered by the small gravel and we haven’t been out there since last spring, so it isn’t as though her hooves have toughen up.
Quite the opposite with her eye surgery.
Can I request my trimmer to leave the walls? It really helped so much today.
Thank you. 
