If you really want to learn, life tends to bring you the opportunities you need, you just have to be open-minded enough to take them on-board. And let’s not forget the youngster who really needs trimming all throughout its first two years to ensure proper growth and balance as well as getting him ready for hi If you've made a change in a horse's life - or one has made a change in yours - tell us about it here. GoHorse presents a Jan Hester Barefoot Hoofcare, a farrier in Jasper, Georgia! Click here to find out more. We were also ignorant of the importance of the barefoot horse's diet, and in Scotland the combination of rich grass in summer, and extremely wet conditions in winter, certainly didn't do our horses' feet any favors. This is our own experience of finding a real hoof trimming solution. University Vet Faculty, and Dr Neal Valk who is in private practice in Tennessee, USA. So our early hoof trimming was very rudimentary, and certainly not regular enough either. Depends! They won’t need a farrier to put the shoes on, only to trim the hooves, so they assume they will save lots of money and by doing a course they can even learn to do it themselves. At that point, our only knowledge of hoof trimming was from observing the farrier's trim, this was before natural hoof care had become popular, and we were oblivious of the whole realm of specialist barefoot trimming. Although farriers might have years of training I *think* a lot of that training is based on to prepare a foot for shoeing,which is quite different to trimming a horse to go barefoot. Apart from the trimming technique, Tara also stressed the importance of hoof boots in providing the protection the barefoot horse needs to move comfortably, and therefore stimulate the hoof structures in the right way. Comes with a free eBook supplement on Horse Trauma. So the next question is … what does a good trim look like? Even though the pasture trim may look similar at first, the trimming techniques are quite different – and will take the bare hoof trimmer longer than it would take a standard farrier trim. Hoof Boots: The Next Step. How to preform an Olsen Equine Barefoot Draft Trim! Every feature of the hoof has a purpose which requires the trimming techniques to be different. And why do these people trim the way they do? Ask Around If you have a friend with a barefoot horse, ask them who they use for trims and if they would recommend their services. Trimming this kind of horse, again and again, using the barefoot method is a waste of money, time, and causes undue stress on the horse. Keep your horses happy and sound. 26 years experience, has given me an insight on whether to trim or shoe. different approaches. So many people have been through wonderful experiences with horses, whether in training or otherwise. He even recommended cantering on the road as much as possible. trims from one farrier to the next. Unfortunately, it would not be until many years later that we discovered Paddock Paradise as a solution for managing the barefoot horse diet and lifestyle. Whereas before we tried to get rid of flaring, stretching of the white line and so on by artificially removing it, now these distortions have disappeared naturally, because the hoof is growing healthily from the inside. It emulates the form of the wild horse hoof without imposing a rigid geometry, allowing good form to develop from the inside out. So when owners hear and read about barefoot trimming they decide that will solve their problems. We have now been using the natural trim on our horses - of many different hoof types and histories - for more than four years, and the gradual transformation that has taken place in their hooves is quite amazing. Ohio Barefoot Hoof Trimming and training Service. Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages] prev. How To Train A Horse Without Force is a unique guide to training horses through energetic connection and gymnastic training. Barefoot; ... It’s harder to find good instruction on how to use traditional farrier’s tools to achieve that healthy hoof. It would take some time for the horses to completely let go of the tension that had crept in to their bodies as a result of sensitivity in their feet, but with hoof boots we certainly knew we were on the right track. Barefoot horses are very often neglected when it comes to trimming such as the case for broodmares, seniors and those rarely ridden. But what we had not realized was that we were artificially imposing an appearance of health onto our horses hooves from the outside, when this health can only genuinely come from the inside. If you would like to contribute your own experience of barefoot hoof care, and create your own page on Happy Horse Training, go to: The Barefoot Horse Revolution: Share Your Story! -- "It depends." HHT's free monthly newsletter, giving you wide-ranging insights into holistic horsemanship. The Trim vs Shoe Debate. How can we know which one is best for a healthy barefoot horse? Victorian-based trimmers. It’s simply to provide you with a way to find information so you can make your own decision. Relevant pages on Happy Horse Training that may interest you: It was as if they suddenly felt operational again, and no more desperate clinging to the grass verge when riding out on the roads. The Barefoot Horse Revolution: Share Your Story! The Horse Diet and its Importance in Hoof Care My answer? In the process of trimming, excess hoof wall is removed to restore the balance and integrity of the hoof. Click here to see back issues of The Whole Horse newsletter. "Owners who contemplate changing to a barefoot trim need to find a farrier who is trained and experienced in this manner of trimming, and they need to be prepared for a period of adaptation. Your email address will not be published. The Simple Seven-Step Natural Trim eBook, Return from Barefoot Trims to Happy Horse Training home. Her motion studies had shown that even on a soft arena surface the protection of hoof boots makes a significant improvement to heel-first landing. trimmed the way they did, listen to the panel discussion and ask questions about the respective approaches. Graduate of The Oregon School of Natural Hoofcare and Easycare hoof boot Dealer. We don't really regret having gone down the 'wrong' path in terms of barefoot trims initially, because we learned so much about the value of the respectful approach from the experience. Most of my clients call me a farrier even though I refer to myself as a barefoot trimmer, because it’s shorter and it’s the traditional term anyway. At the time we had quite a few young horses who were not shod, but the farrier's trim they received was always an ordeal because he was not patient enough, and often lost his temper if they didn't cooperate. Required fields are marked *, Sign up with to receive a free report on Read More. Click here for more details. Logistically, it was a big step for us to consider using hoof boots, in terms of the number of different horses we would need to fit them to, and the additional time taken to put them on every riding session. "Wild horse" shape vs. typical long-heeled style. So the next question is … what does a good trim look like? Craig Jones from Queensland and Michael Saunders from Tasmania. This in-depth, specialist approach to hoof trimming was a real eye-opener for us at the time, and we were keen to apply his technique to our own horses. Graduate North Texas Farrier School, Minerals Wells, Texas 1994. Well there certainly IS a difference …….. not only between a farrier and a barefoot trim, but between farrier Interested in learning more about Hoof Care? Classroom time consisting of a study of Applied Equine Podiatry and Holistic Hoof Care, and how it differs from and basic barefoot trimming and the traditional farrier practice. The price we payed for this was that our horses were becoming more and more sensitive in their feet, and this was actually inhibiting any real improvement in the hoof structure. At that point, our only knowledge of hoof trimming was from observing the farrier's trim, this was before natural hoof care had become popular, and we were oblivious of the whole realm of specialist barefoot trimming. Offering Barefoot Hoof Trimming based off the wild mustang model. ___________________________________________. This is an opportunity for vets, farriers, trimmers and body workers to see for themselves and evaluate the But learning how to handle and make the best use of your trimming tools will make trimming easier, and make it easier to achieve a balanced trim. SHOULD there be a difference? – know their limitations when trimming lame horses. For more info on the conference and to book go to: Your email address will not be published. Our Paddock Paradise trims from one farrier to the next. At least doing our own trimming meant that we could take more time and handle the youngsters in a more sensitive way. If you’re unsure of where to look to find a barefoot trimmer in your area, or if you’re looking for a second opinion on your horse’s trims, here are some options for you to try. Thanks to the American Farriers Journal which has kindly allowed The Functional Hoof Conference to use the. We quickly realized that, although previously we had always shod horses in work as a matter of course, in fact it was really unnecessary, considering that we mostly worked our horses in a soft arena. Since we constructed our own Paddock Paradise system here in France (photo left) it has revolutionized our horses lifestyle and diet. For us, our experience of discovering natural hoof care and different barefoot trims shows the importance of being prepared to keep evolving your ideas, no matter how much you think you've arrived at the right conclusion. It will be useful for about the first year, and some horses may need it a lot longer, especially if they live on soft ground (wet climate) or where grass-laminitis is an ongoing or occasional problem. The Importance of Natural Horse Hoof Care A natural trim leaves as much of the sole and frog as possible to build into thick callouses. Well, almost a year ago I wrote a series of posts having to do with trimming hooves and should it be a pasture trim or a barefoot trim. Barefoot Performance Natural Hoof care, Barefoot trimming of all breeds, including Donkeys, minis, ponies. Hmmmmm, a farrier or trimmer - who should I get to trim my horse? Sufficient wall and sole should be left intact to prevent the horse from becoming excessively sore following trimming. Jan Hester Barefoot Hoofcareis a Farrier in Jasper,Georgia. With the natural trim, we actually achieved the result we wanted, but by being patient and taking into consideration the whole picture, which includes, very importantly, the horse's comfort. Barefoot trimming is half podiatry engineering and half common sense. And also between barefoot trims, from one barefoot trimmer to the next. Hoof Boots: A Revolution In Horse Hoof Protection Can All Horses Go Barefoot? All my farrier did was take the height/growth off the hoof,which I believe is the case with a lot of farrier trims (hence the name pasture trim I assume?? Just enter your details below to join. But the definition of a farrier is someone who trims and shoes a horse. “Barefoot trimming” advocates may also point out – quite correctly – that horses don’t necessarily need shoes. Many factors can contribute to the soreness of a barefoot horse’s hooves after a visit with their farrier, the most common one being over-trimming. event? Our First Experience of Barefoot Trims. So our early hoof trimming was very rudimentary, and certainly not regular enough either. done by six well-regarded practitioners. Our Barefoot Journey. The Importance of Natural Horse Hoof Care. Interested in learning more about Hoof Care? Luke Wells-Smith is a farrier turned vet, who now specializes in hoofcare working for the Scone Equine Podiatry Hooves need stimulation above all to become healthy structurally, but stimulation goes hand-in-hand with comfort (if you've ever had, for example, sensitive teeth, or a bad headache you'll know that the last thing you want to do is stimulate the area of discomfort in any way). Well, thanks to the American Farriers Journal, we here in Australia will have the chance to compare actual trims and Lameness Centre. The trimmers are James Welz from Arizona, USA, who together with his wife Yvonne, runs The Horse’s Hoof Magazine. So that is one major difference between the pasture trim and the natural, barefoot trim – toes that are ‘shortened’ vs. toes that are ‘taken back’. We realized straight away the importance of what Tara was saying, because it made sense of the experience we were having with the other barefoot trim method. Here we are trimming an over due Budweiser Clydesdale. June McIntosh is a barefoot hoof trimmer with 6 years' experience, available to trim horses, donkeys, ponies, minis and mules in Franklin County, PA and surrounding … Go to The Horse Diet and its Importance in Hoof Care for more information about the barefoot diet. Specializing in rehabilitation of foundered, navicular and other hoof problems. The Natural Trim: The Solution For Healthy Horse Hoof Care How to preform an Olsen Equine Barefoot Trim, with step by step instructions. Next. Two of them are farriers who have represented Australia internationally – about the horse? And also between barefoot trims, from one barefoot trimmer to the next. The lower photo was taken at exactly the same moment in the stride, and shows the sole of the hoof parallel to the ground in preparation for the heel-first landing. IS there really a difference? 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