The Apex Trim Method uprights the heel by developing the buttress. We do not lower the heels to upright the heel. Lowering the heels to the widest part of the frog is an error. The majority of farriers and barefoot trimmers still follow this incorrect theory. It’s why they struggle with navicular under run heels, and lack of sole depth. We allow the buttress to develop, and this uprights the heel and the entire hoof.
The vertical height of the upright heel allows room for the sole depth to develop. Just like the foundation supports a house, the buttress is the foundation of the hoof. The last photo in the slide show shows blue as the buttress. Red is the even amount of sole depth across the entire hoof.
This hoof was rehabbed with online instruction. The trimmer is now a certified Apex trimmer. She resides in Maine, USA